Activity, oral behaviour and slaughter data as welfare indicators in veal calves: a comparison of three housing systems

Bokkers, E.A.M.; Koene, P.

doi:10.1016/s0168-1591(01)00175-7

Cited by 64 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Moreover, Stull and McDonough (1994) reported that housing calves in individual stalls better results for NS not significant; * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001 Table 2 The feed intake (grams/day) values based on either average daily weight gain or the proportion of the body weight (feed intake/live weight (LW); %) and the feed conversion efficiency (FCE; kilograms feed/kilogram weight gain) during the fattening period fattening performance of late period of growth when compared housing in group pens. The adrenal glands of both groups were weighted after the slaughtering in the view of the literature (Veisser et al 1997;Bokkers and Koenne 2001) in order to determine the stress in the IC group, which could be caused by the locomotors inactivity and social depression; although, the proportion of the adrenal glands in the dressing percentage was not significantly important (Table 3). Veisser et al (1997) and Bokkers and Koenne (2001) reported that housing system did not significantly affect on adrenal gland weight of calves.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The adrenal glands of both groups were weighted after the slaughtering in the view of the literature (Veisser et al 1997;Bokkers and Koenne 2001) in order to determine the stress in the IC group, which could be caused by the locomotors inactivity and social depression; although, the proportion of the adrenal glands in the dressing percentage was not significantly important (Table 3). Veisser et al (1997) and Bokkers and Koenne (2001) reported that housing system did not significantly affect on adrenal gland weight of calves.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among them are the concentration of hemoglobin, the weight of adrenal gland, the number and size of the lesions on abomasums, and the existence of hairballs (Bokkers and Koenne 2001). Moreover, the GP calves had higher feed conversion efficiency and growth performances than the IC ones, which were thought to be related with the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood (Andrighetto et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of different housing systems on fattening performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics of Akkeçi (White Goat) male kids

Kor

Karaca

Ertuğrul

2010

Trop Anim Health Prod

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The aim of this study was to determine the fattening performance and the slaughter and carcass characteristics of Akkeçi (Saanen × Kilis (B(1)) crossbred) male kids raised in individual crates (IC) or in group pen housing (GP). In both GP and IC groups, total 13 heads of male kids, whose initial body weights were 21.43 ± 1.03 kg and 20.61 ± 0.98 kg, respectively, evaluated for their fattening performances. After 56 days of the fattening period, the final body weights and average daily weight gains of the GP and IC kids were recorded as 30.84 ± 0.82 kg and 25.84 ± 0.76 kg; 182.42 ± 14.77 g and 92.09 ± 13.76 g, respectively (P < 0.001). Adrenal gland weights of the GP and IC groups were similar as 1.66 ± 0.25 g and 1.77 ± 0.22 g, respectively. Although, the carcass conformation of kids was similar between groups, there were significant differences between GP and IC groups for some slaughter and carcass characteristics. In general, although housing kids reared in individual crates provides opportunity to individually feed and monitor a kid, the results obtained from the individual crates in the present study were not satisfactorily from the ethological and production points of view.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of different housing systems on fattening performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics of Akkeçi (White Goat) male kids

Kor

Karaca

Ertuğrul

2010

Trop Anim Health Prod

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“…Lying seems more linked to the housing system than to SF provision, with grouphoused calves (i.e., 40-80 calves per pen) fed MR via AMD lying more than conventional group-housed (i.e., 5 to 7 calves per pen) or individually housed calves (Bokkers and Koene, 2001). In the present study we observed a decrease in lying (i.e., increase in activity) in AMD calves from 15 to 24 wk of age.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diets commonly used in veal production have been linked with several welfare impairments, including behavioral and gastrointestinal health problems (Bokkers and Koene, 2001;Brscic et al, 2011). Veal calves develop abnormal oral behaviors such as excessive oral manipulation of the pen and abnormal rolling of the tongue, that is, tongue playing (Leruste et al, 2014), most likely due to an inadequate provision of solid feed (SF) and, in particular, insufficient structure in the SF (Mattiello et al, 2002;Webb et al, 2013;Leruste et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of solid feed amount and composition and of milk replacer supply in veal calf welfare

Webb

Reenen

Berends

et al. 2015

Journal of Dairy Science

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Diets used in veal production were linked with welfare problems: that is, behavioral and gastrointestinal health disorders. This study aimed to determine how indicators of calf welfare, that is, behavior and some characteristics of the feces reflecting gastrointestinal health status, are affected by (1) different amounts and compositions of solid feed (SF), (2) the addition of ad libitum long straw to a typical veal diet, and (3) milk replacer (MR) being fed via automated milk dispensers (AMD). Two-week-old Holstein-Friesian bull calves (n=270) were used in this study. In a 4×2 factorial design, 32 pens (5 calves per pen) were allocated to different levels of SF (SF1, SF2, SF3, or SF4) and roughage-to-concentrate ratios (20:80 or 50:50). The experimental period (13 to 29wk of age) was preceded by an adaptation period (3 to 12wk of age). Targeted total dry matter (DM) intake from SF during the experimental period was 20 kg of DM for SF1, 100 kg of DM for SF2, 180 kg of DM for SF3, and 260 kg of DM for SF4. The roughage part of the SF was 50% maize silage and 50% chopped wheat straw (on a DM basis). Ten additional pens were allocated to 2 treatments with ad libitum SF, with either (1) SF components in separate troughs (SEP) or (2) SF components mixed, with the composition being equal to the choice of SEP calves in the preceding week (MIX). Another 4 pens were fitted with racks filled with long wheat straw (STR) and fed SF2 with a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 20:80. All the aforementioned pens received MR in buckets. Finally, 8 pens were allocated to 1 of 2 SF levels: SF1 or SF2 (with a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 50:50) and fed MR via an AMD. Milk replacer provision was adjusted every 2wk to achieve similar rates of carcass gain across treatments (excluding SEP, MIX, and STR). Behavior was recorded at 15 and 24wk using instantaneous scan sampling. The prevalence of diarrhea and clay-like feces, which signal ruminal drinking, was monitored at 14 and 25wk. More roughage, but not concentrate, increased rumination and decreased tongue playing. The STR calves had higher rumination and lower abnormal behavior levels compared with calves without ad libitum straw. Offering MR via an AMD reduced tongue playing at 15wk. Tongue playing frequency was related to both roughage amount and AMD feeding, suggesting 2 separate motivations (i.e., rumination and sucking) underlying the development of this behavior. Only SF amount affected aspects of feces: SF1 calves had the highest diarrhea incidence. No effect of diet was found on clay-like feces.

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PRESLAUGHTER HANDLING | Welfare of Animals

Lawlis¹,

Allen²

2014

Encyclopedia of Meat Sciences

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Activity, oral behaviour and slaughter data as welfare indicators in veal calves: a comparison of three housing systems

Cited by 64 publications

References 17 publications

Effect of different housing systems on fattening performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics of Akkeçi (White Goat) male kids

Effect of different housing systems on fattening performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics of Akkeçi (White Goat) male kids

The role of solid feed amount and composition and of milk replacer supply in veal calf welfare

PRESLAUGHTER HANDLING | Welfare of Animals

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