Behaviour and welfare of veal calves fed different amounts of solid feed supplemented to a milk replacer ration adjusted for similar growth

Webb, L.E.; Bokkers, E.A.M.; Engel, B.; Gerrits, W.J.J.; Berends, H.; Reenen, C.G. van

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2011.12.004

Cited by 36 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Solid feed (SF) provision reduces nonnutritive oral behaviors (Kooijman et al, 1991;Veissier et al, 1998;Webb et al, 2012), thereby contributing to improved calf welfare. In addition, the increasing cost of milk replacer (MR) ingredients provides an economic incentive to replace MR with SF.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Utilization of roughages and concentrates relative to that of milk replacer increases strongly with age in veal calves

Berends

Borne

Mollenhorst

et al. 2014

Journal of Dairy Science

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We aimed to investigate the feeding values of milk replacer (MR), roughage, and concentrates for veal calves in a paired-gain setting, thus avoiding any prior assumptions in feeding values and major differences in nutrient intakes. One hundred sixty male Holstein-Friesian calves at 2 wk of age and 45 ± 0.2 kg of body weight (BW) were included in the experiment. Calves were allocated to pens (5 calves per pen) and pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 solid feed (SF) levels: SF1, SF2, SF3, or SF4, respectively, and to 1 of 2 roughage-to-concentrate (R:C) ratios: 20:80 or 50:50. An adaptation period from wk 1 to 10 preceded the experimental period (wk 11 to 27). Total dry matter (DM) intake from SF was targeted to reach 20, 100, 180, and 260 kg of DM for SF1 to SF4, respectively, during the 16-wk experimental period, and increased with preplanned, equal weekly increments. Roughage was composed of 50% corn silage and 50% chopped wheat straw based on DM. The quantity of MR provided was adjusted every 2 wk based on BW to achieve similar targeted rates of carcass gain across treatments. The reduction in MR provided (in kg of DM) to realize equal rates of carcass gain with inclusion of SF (in kg of DM) differed between the R:C ratio of 50:50 (0.41 kg of MR/kg of SF) and the R:C ratio of 20:80 (0.52 kg of MR/kg of SF). As carcass gain unintentionally increased with SF intake, the paired-gain objective was not fully achieved. When adjusted for realized rates of carcass gain, calves fed an R:C ratio of 20:80 still required 10% less MR than calves fed an R:C ratio of 50:50 for equal rates of carcass gain, indicating that the utilization of SF for gain increased with concentrate inclusion. Averaged for the 16-wk experimental period, the feeding value of MR relative to that of concentrates and roughages was close to that predicted based on their respective digestible energy contents. Nevertheless, the feeding value of SF relative to that of MR increased substantially with age. Therefore, additivity in feeding values of these ration components cannot be assumed. The results of the current study may contribute to the development of new concepts for formulation of veal calf diets with substantial amounts of SF.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Utilization of roughages and concentrates relative to that of milk replacer increases strongly with age in veal calves

Berends

Borne

Mollenhorst

et al. 2014

Journal of Dairy Science

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“…However, a recent study by Webb et al (2012) suggests that provision of roughage may not exert these beneficial effects in a simple dose response fashion (i.e. where the higher the amount of solid feed, the lower the level of abnormal oral behaviours).…”

Section: Weaning Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this latter experiment, an intermediate amount of roughage was associated with more abnormal behaviour than a relatively low amount. This was explained by the assumption that calves provided with intermediate amounts of solid feed experienced a decrease early in the fattening period in the time spent chewing and ruminating (due to an increase in chewing and ruminating efficiency over time), which led to greater frustration and higher levels of abnormal oral behaviours in comparison with the situation in calves fed relatively low amounts of solid feed, which maintained a constant, albeit relatively low, chewing frequency throughout the entire fattening period (Webb et al, 2012). Thus, it might be important to ensure a high level of chewing throughout the fattening period, especially at the beginning of the fattening period, that does not decline rapidly early on, and this may require increasing rather than constant amounts of roughage throughout this period.…”

Section: Weaning Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientific Opinion on the welfare of cattle kept for beef production and the welfare in intensive calf farming systems

2012

EFSA Journal

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Information given in previous Opinions "Welfare of cattle kept for beef production" (SCAHAW, 2001) and "The risks of poor welfare in intensive calf farming systems" (EFSA, 2006) is updated and recent scientific evidence on the topics reviewed. Risks of poor welfare are identified using a structured analysis, and issues not identified in the SCAHAW (2001) beef Opinion, especially effects of housing and management on enteric and respiratory diseases are reviewed. The Opinion covers all systems of beef production, although the welfare of suckler cows or breeding bulls is not considered. The Chapter on beef cattle presents new evidence and recommendations in relation to heat and cold stress, mutilations and pain management, digestive disorders linked to high concentrate feeds and respiratory disorders linked to overstocking, inadequate ventilation, mixing of animals and failure of early diagnosis and treatment. Major welfare problems in cattle kept for beef production, as identified by risk assessment, were respiratory diseases linked to overstocking, inadequate ventilation, mixing of animals and failure of early diagnosis and treatment, digestive disorders linked to intensive concentrate feeding, lack of physically effective fibre in the diet, and behavioural disorders linked to inadequate floor space, and co-mingling in the feedlot. Major hazards for white veal calves were considered to be iron-deficiency anaemia, a direct consequence of dietary iron restriction, enteric diseases linked to high intakes of liquid feed and inadequate intake of physically effective fibre, discomfort and behavioural disorders linked to inadequate floors and floor space. © European Food Safety Authority, 2012 KEY WORDSBeef cattle welfare, welfare of calves in intensive farming systems, risk assessment, updates. SUMMARYFollowing a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on the welfare of cattle kept for beef production and of calves in intensive farming systems.The European Commission is in the process of evaluating the European Union policy on animal welfare, taking account of socio-economic and trade issues. The overall aim is to improve the welfare of animals. To this end, the Commission requested EFSA to give an independent view on animalbased measures for the assessment of welfare in cattle, pigs and poultry. Before starting this work for beef cattle and calves, the Commission requested an update of scientific evidence relating to the welfare of cattle kept for beef production and calves in intensive farming systems; in particular, to consider the extent to which the conclusions and recommendations of two previous Scientific Opinions were still valid. These Opinions were the "Welfare of cattle kept for beef production" (SCAHAW, 2001) and "The risks of poor welfare in intensive calf farming systems" (EFSA, 2006).The SCAHAW (2001) Opinion "The Welfare of Cattle kept for Beef Production" differed from EFSA Opinions, in that it did not includ...

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“…In this study, abnormal behaviours consisted of two behaviours: tongue rolling and manipulation of pen mates (including urine drinking). Webb et al (2012) found that the expression of tongue rolling was relatively constant throughout a day. In contrast, sucking and manipulation of pen mates seem more related to specific events during the day as it has been found to be mostly observed after meals (Veissier et al, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, this behaviour is performed generally while standing and most calves stood when the observer was present. Second, calves might associate humans with feed (Jago et al, 1999), and manipulating substrates such as nibbling objects is mostly observed just before meals (de Passillé et al, 1992;Veissier et al, 1998;Webb et al, 2012). The behaviour manipulation of pen mates (included in abnormal oral behaviours) could have been affected by the Figure 1 Percentage of calves (1s.e.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the observation method (direct v. from video) and of the presence of an observer on behavioural results in veal calves

Leruste

Bokkers

Sergent

et al. 2013

Animal

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This study aimed at assessing the effect of the observation method (direct or from video) and the effect of the presence of an observer on the behavioural results in veal calves kept on a commercial farm. To evaluate the effect of the observation method, 20 pens (four to five calves per pen) were observed by an observer for 60 min (two observation sessions of 30 min) and videorecorded at the same time. To evaluate the effect of the presence of the observer in front of the pen, 24 pens were video-recorded on 4 consecutive days and an observer was present in front of each pen for 60 min (two observation sessions of 30 min) on the third day. Behaviour was recorded using instantaneous scan sampling. For the study of the observer's effect, the analysis was limited to the posture, abnormal oral behaviour and manipulation of substrates. The two observation methods gave similar results for the time spent standing, but different results for all other behaviours. The presence of an observer did not affect the behaviour of calves at day level; however, their behaviour was affected when the observer was actually present in front of the pens. A higher percentage of calves were standing and were manipulating substrate in the presence of the observer, but there was no effect on abnormal oral behaviour. In conclusion, direct observations are a more suitable observation method than observations from video recordings for detailed behaviours in veal calves. The presence of an observer has a short-term effect on certain behaviours of calves that will have to be taken into consideration when monitoring these behaviours.

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Behaviour and welfare of veal calves fed different amounts of solid feed supplemented to a milk replacer ration adjusted for similar growth

Cited by 36 publications

References 18 publications

Utilization of roughages and concentrates relative to that of milk replacer increases strongly with age in veal calves

Utilization of roughages and concentrates relative to that of milk replacer increases strongly with age in veal calves

Scientific Opinion on the welfare of cattle kept for beef production and the welfare in intensive calf farming systems

Effects of the observation method (direct v. from video) and of the presence of an observer on behavioural results in veal calves

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