Beef cattle welfare in the USA: identification of priorities for future research

Tucker, Cassandra B.; Coetzee, Johann F.; Stookey, J. M.; Thomson, Daniel U.; Grandin, Temple; Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K. S.

doi:10.1017/s1466252315000171

Cited by 53 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 217 publications

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“…Based on the current results, the calf management prior to transportation (conditioning) may have reduced the cumulative stress experienced by the calves such that any transport associated stress (long duration and lack of rest) did not overwhelm the coping mechanisms of the calves. Transport has been reported to be stressful for cattle [2,3], however the majority of transportation studies have been conducted in newly weaned calves, which is common industry practice [61], and it is possible that increased indicators of stress could be due to lack of conditioning instead of transportation. Grandin has referred to unvaccinated and newly weaned calves as unfit for transport [62].…”

Section: Rectal Temperaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of transport and rest stop duration on the welfare of conditioned cattle transported by road

et al. 2020

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The effects of providing rest on physiological and behavioural indicators of welfare of cattle being transported by road has not been well studied in North America. New revisions to Canada's Health of Animals Regulations Part XII: Transportation of Animals indicate unweaned and weaned calves can be transported a maximum of 12 and 36 h, respectively, before an 8 h rest is required. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of rest duration, after 12 and 36 h of transport, on physiological and behavioural indicators of welfare in 7-8 mo-old beef calves. Three hundred and twenty conditioned calves (258 ± 23.9 kg BW) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 4 factorial design where the main factors included transport duration: 12 h (12; n = 160) and 36 h (36; n = 160) and rest stop duration: 0 h (R0; n = 80), 4 h (R4; n = 80), 8 h (R8; n = 80) and 12 h (R12; n = 80). After the resting period, animals were transported for an additional 4 h. Blood and hair samples were taken from 12 animals per treatment prior to and after the first and the 4 h transport; and then 7 h, 2 d and 28 d after the 4 h transport. The concentrations of haptoglobin, creatine kinase, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), lactate, and serum and hair cortisol were determined. Standing and lying behaviour was assessed for 14 d after transport, while feeding behaviour of calves in one pen per treatment were assessed for 28 d after transportation using an electronic feed bunk monitoring system. Body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and shrink (%) was assessed for all calves. The data was modeled using generalized linear mixed methods (SAS PROC GLIMMIX), where transport and time (nested in rest) were considered fixed effects and animal and pen were considered random effects. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) effects of transport were observed on BW and shrink, where 36 h-transported calves had lower (p < 0.01) BW and greater (p < 0.01) shrink than 12 h-transported calves. A transport × time (nested in rest) interaction (p < 0.01) was observed for lying percentage where, 36-R8 calves had greater (p < 0.01) lying percentage than 12-R8 calves on d 1 after transportation. The area under the curve (AUC) for NEFA was greater (p < 0.01) for 36-R0 calves than 12-R0, 36-R4, and 36-R8 calves, and greater (p < 0.01) in 36-R12 calves than 12-R12 calves. Haptoglobin AUC was greater (p = 0.05) in 36-R12 than 12-R12 calves. Overall, physiological indicators of reduced welfare were greater in calves transported for 36 than 12 PLOS ONE | https://doi.

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Section: Rectal Temperaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of transport and rest stop duration on the welfare of conditioned cattle transported by road

et al. 2020

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“…The most common painful procedures experienced by beef cattle in North America include castration, dehorning, and branding (Tucker et al 2015). Castration of calves is known to be painful regardless of the method and the age it is performed (Robertson et al 1994;Molony et al 1995;Marti et al 2017a;Meléndez et al 2017a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of a single dose of subcutaneous meloxicam before knife castration alone or combined with hot-iron branding on scrotal healing, inflammatory response, and behaviour in 2-mo-old beef calves over 42 d post procedure

et al. 2019

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single subcutaneous injection of meloxicam on scrotal healing, inflammatory response, and behaviour in castrated or castrated and branded beef calves for 42 d post procedure. Seventy-two 2-mo-old Angus crossbred bull calves were used to assess the effects of procedure (Trt): (1) sham control, (2) knife castration, and (3) knife castration and hot-iron branding; and pain mitigation (Med): (1) nonmedicated and (2) medicated with meloxicam according to a 3 × 2 factorial design. Body weight, scrotal circumference (SC), and healing scores were collected weekly until day 42. Blood samples were collected weekly until day 42 to assess haptoglobin, serum amyloid-A, and complete blood cell count. Hair was collected on day −1 and day 42 to assess cortisol concentrations. Lying and standing behaviour were recorded for 42 d, whereas pain-related behaviours were recorded on days 7, 15, 22, 29, and 34 post procedure. The inflammatory response (SC) and duration of standing was greater (P < 0.05) in calves castrated and branded than those only castrated. However, meloxicam did not reduce inflammation or improve wound healing in either castrated or castrated and branded calves.

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“…Behavioural reactions also comprise shade seeking and time that is generally spent near water troughs (Widowski 2001). Moreover, the innate thermal tolerance ability and acclimatization are also critical factors influencing the behavioural responses of cattle (Tucker et al 2015).…”

Section: Behavioural Responses To Heat Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological and rumen microbial responses of Angus cattle (Bos taurus) following exposure to heat load

Al-Hosni¹

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Heat stress, caused by excessive heat load, can impact on animal production. Although animals are able to adapt to hot climates, their adaptive mechanisms may be detrimental to their productive performance. Substantial reductions in productivity and even deaths may occur when cattle in feedlots do not have the opportunity to reduce their heat load which usually occurs during the night when Ta are lower than during the day time. The studies reported in this dissertation were undertaken to evaluate the impact of heat stress on the physiology, rumen fermentation and rumen microbiota of grain-fed cattle that were subjected to high heat load. Seventy-two Angus (Bos taurus) yearling steers were used in two experiments, each of which involved two treatments [control group (CON) and heat stress group (HOT)] with 3 replications of 12 steers per treatment. The experiments were undertaken in the Climate

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Beef cattle welfare in the USA: identification of priorities for future research

Cited by 53 publications

References 217 publications

Effect of transport and rest stop duration on the welfare of conditioned cattle transported by road

Effect of transport and rest stop duration on the welfare of conditioned cattle transported by road

Effect of a single dose of subcutaneous meloxicam before knife castration alone or combined with hot-iron branding on scrotal healing, inflammatory response, and behaviour in 2-mo-old beef calves over 42 d post procedure

Physiological and rumen microbial responses of Angus cattle (Bos taurus) following exposure to heat load

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