Effect of environmental enrichment by providing trees as rubbing objects in grassland: Grazing cattle need tree‐grooming

Abstract

We examined the role of trees as grooming objects in grazing pasture and investigated their necessity. Four grazing Japanese Black cows were used. Experimental pastures with restricted (RST) and released (RLS) grooming with trees were established. Examination was carried out for 24 h in each RST and RLS. The respective frequencies and duration of self‐grooming, allo‐grooming (social grooming) and grooming with trees was recorded by a continuous scan sampling method, and maintenance behavior was recorded by a 2‐min group animal scan sampling method. Grooming with trees in RLS occurred 29 ± 12 times/24 h and for 1342 ± 475 s/24 h. Total frequencies and duration of grooming in RLS tended to increase from that in RST (P = 0.08, P = 0.06, respectively). However, self‐grooming and allo‐grooming exhibited no differences. The results indicate that cattle may enrich their grooming through the use of trees if the latter are available. Furthermore, they may not substitute grooming with trees with other forms of grooming if no trees are available in the grassland. No difference was observed in the general proportion of their maintenance behavior. These results suggest that trees in grassland provide a good environmental enrichment object that satisfies cattle's potential needs of grooming and did not restrict their general behavior.

Effects of ‘Five freedoms’ environmental enrichment on the welfare of calves reared indoors

“…However, only a few studies investigate the psychological aspects of animals in terms of freedom to express normal behavior and freedom from fear and distress. Environmental enrichment as one of the methods for improv-ing animal welfare in intensive animal husbandry is known (Takeda 2007) and has been studied in cattle (Pelley et al 1995;Wilson et al 2002;Ishiwata et al 2006;Kohari et al 2007). However, there are few studies regarding environmental enrichment in terms of the five freedoms (Young 2003).…”

Recent progress in the study of behavior and management in grazing cattle

“…2000). Looking at trees from another viewpoint, Kohari et al . (2007) determined the environmental enrichment effect of providing trees as rubbing objects in grasslands.…”

“…These studies could be supported by basic observation on the characteristics of tree-shade used by grazing cattle in a hilly pasture during the summer season (Yasue et al 2000). Looking at trees from another viewpoint, Kohari et al (2007) determined the environmental enrichment effect of providing trees as rubbing objects in grasslands. Braghieri et al (2007) reported that a grazing flock of ewes showed higher blood levels of triglycerides, urea and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in grazing flocks than in those bedded indoors.…”

Satisfaction of farm animal behavioral needs in behaviorally restricted systems: Reducing stressors and environmental enrichment

“…) and in an artificial pasture they use trees for self‐grooming (Kohari et al . ). Self‐grooming behavior keeps them clean and mitigates external parasites.…”