Long-term effects of good handling practices during the pre-weaning period of crossbred dairy heifer calves
The aim of this study was to determine whether applying good practices of handling during the pre-weaning period have long-term effects on behavioral and physiological indicators, health status, and average daily gain (ADG) of crossbred Bos taurus × Bos indicus heifer calves. During the pre-weaning period, 98 crossbred of Holstein × Gir heifer calves were allotted into three treatments: (1) good practices of handling + brushing (GPB; n = 25), (2) good practices of handling (GP; n = 25), and (3) control (n = 48). Every 2 months, four evaluation periods (EV1 to EV4) were conducted to record data. Behavioral indicators comprised time to drive (TD), flight speed (FS), flight distance (FD), and composite reactivity score (CRS). Physiological indicators of acute stress during handling comprised respiratory and heart rates. Health status comprised data regarding occurrence of most common diseases (i.e., pneumonia and anaplasmosis). Collected data were analyzed by using a linear mixed model for repeated measures, Tukey’s test, and chi-squared procedures. Treatment influenced (P < 0.05) TD, FS, and FD but not CRS (P = 0.78). From EV1 to EV3, the control calves had the lowest TD. The GPB group had lower FS than the control but did not differ from GP. The GPB group had lower FD means than the other two groups in EV2, EV3, and EV4. No differences (P > 0.05) due to treatment were observed on heart and respiratory rates, ADG, or occurrence of pneumonia and anaplasmosis. It was concluded that adoption of good practices of handling during pre-weaning period may lead to long-term positive effects.
Consistency of temperament traits and their relationships with milk yield in lactating primiparous F1 Holstein - Gyr cows
Abstract The objectives of the present study were: a) to evaluate the consistency of temperament traits of primiparous F1 Holstein - Gyr cows throughout time and across distinct handling situations (milking temperament and handling temperament in the corral), and b) to assess the relationships between temperament traits and milk yield. The milking temperament was characterized by the movement of the hind legs (number of steps and kicks), in addition to recording the frequencies of defecation, urination, rumination and kicking off the milking cluster, as well as recording individual daily milk yield. To evaluate handling temperament in the corral, the following data were recorded: ET (entrance time, time to walk along the single-file race and enter the squeeze chute); CS (crush score, assessing the reactivity within the squeeze chute, in scores from 1 = no movement to 4 = frequent and vigorous movements); FS (flight speed); FD (flight distance) and NOT (novel object test, recording latency for the animal to interact with an unfamiliar object). The number of steps during milking was negatively correlated with ET (r = −0.285; P
Stockmanship and farm animal welfare
Human factors (attitudes, personality traits, self-esteem, job satisfaction) strongly determine our behaviour towards animals, animal production and animal welfare. Recent studies have emphasized positive human contacts as indicators of a stockperson's positive attitude towards animals and towards animal welfare in general. Stockmanship can be improved by careful selection of people and/or by training. However, little is known of the biological basis of the effect of stock handling procedures on the welfare of animals. The animal's perception of the stockperson (based both on emotional responses and cognitive aspects such as anticipation, recognition and categorization), and the existence of sensitive periods in an animal's life, need to be explored in more depth, especially under farm conditions. We need to consider the complexity of human behaviour (eg. husbandry practices, balance between positive and negative interactions, predictability, controllability) and its effect on animal welfare from the animal's point of view throughout its whole life. This paper identifies the importance of positive human contacts for both animals and stockpeople, and highlights the challenge to maintain such positive contacts despite the trend in modern agriculture to increase the number of animals per stockperson. This requires better knowledge of animal genetics, socialization to humans during sensitive periods, and management of the social group. We emphasise the ethical importance of the human-animal relationship in the context of farm animal welfare and productivity.