The effects of environmental enrichment were assessed at different stocking densities on fattening cattle welfare. The study included four groups of heifers observed during four-month final commercial fattening. The heifers were housed in non-enriched and enriched environments at low (n = 14; 4.5 m2/animal) and high (n = 19; 3.3 m2/animal) stocking density. Environmental enrichment consisted of a grooming brush and salt blocks. Heifer welfare was assessed using selected indicators from the Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for cattle. The study results showed that the heifers housed at high stocking density used environmental enrichment materials significantly more frequently as compared with heifers housed at low stocking density (P<0.05), whereas there was no difference in their use of particular enrichment materials. The effect of environmental enrichment on heifer welfare was mainly manifested in a reduction in the expression of some forms of aggressive behaviour; therefore, this finding should encourage the use of enrichment materials such as those presented in this study which are commercially available, relatively inexpensive and simple to use.
Zum Schutz der öffentlichen Gesundheit und zur Gewährleistung der Sicherheit von lebenden Muscheln, die für den menschlichen Verzehr bestimmt sind, werden die Werte der mikrobiologischen Parameter von E. coli, die im Fleisch und in der intravalvulären Flüssigkeit auf der Produktionsebene in den Erzeugungs- und Umsetzgebieten auftreten können, durch ein Überwachungsprogramm und einen Probenahmeplan kontrolliert. In diesem Zusammenhang ist die zuständige Behörde - das Landwirtschaftsministerium, die Direktion für Veterinärmedizin und Lebensmittelsicherheit - verpflichtet, eine Hygienestudie zu erstellen, einen Plan zur Überwachung der Meeres- und Muschelqualität in den Erzeugungs- und Umsetzgebieten zu erstellen und in Kraft zu setzen sowie die Erzeugungs- und Umsetzgebiete, in denen die Ernte lebender Muscheln zugelassen wird, je nach dem Grad der fäkalen Verunreinigung/Meeresverschmutzung als Erzeugungsgebiete der Klassen A, B oder C einzustufen.
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of environmental enrichment and different stocking densities on the level of stress in the fattening cattle by measuring salivary cortisol concentration. A total of 320 saliva samples obtained from heifers during the final four-month fattening period was analyzed by a colorimetric competitive enzyme immunoassay. The heifers were housed at 3.3 and 4.5 m2/animal in standard production conditions that were additionally enriched with a mechanical grooming brush and salt blocks in experimental groups. The study results have demonstrated that a cortisol concentration at the end of fattening was significantly higher, as compared with the initial levels in all heifer groups, without significant intergroup differences. There was no significant correlation between the usage of a grooming brush and cortisol concentration, whereas a significant negative correlation was detected between the salt block usage and cortisol concentration, suggesting a beneficial effect of this simple, commercially available and relatively inexpensive environmental enrichment.
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