Fenceline contact of beef calves with their dams at weaning reduces the negative effects of separation on behavior and growth rate1

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that fenceline contact between beef calves and cows at weaning reduces indices of behavioral distress and associated temporary reductions in weight gain. One hundred Angus/Hereford-cross calves were randomly assigned to five treatments for 7 d in each of 3 yr to determine the effect of different weaning techniques on their behavior and subsequent growth. Treatments were 1) fenceline separation from dams on pasture (F-P), 2) total separation from dams on pasture (S-P), 3) total separation from dams in a drylot (corral) preconditioned to hay (S-D-P), 4) total separation from dams in a drylot not preconditioned to hay (S-D-NP), and 5) nonweaned controls on pasture (C-P). At the end of the 7-d postweaning period, all calves were placed on pasture in large groups. Calves were weighed weekly for 10 wk. In the days following weaning, F-P and C-P calves spent more time eating (grazing or eating hay) than S-P and S-D-NP calves (P < 0.05). The S-P calves spent more time walking (pacing) than calves in the other four treatments (P < 0.05), which did not differ. The S-P calves also spent less time lying down than C-P, F-P, and S-D-P calves (P < 0.05); S-P and S-D-NP calves did not differ in lying time. The F-P calves vocalized less than S-P and S-D-NP calves (P < 0.05). In general, treatment differences were greatest during the first 3 d following weaning with d 2 (20 to 30 h after weaning) showing the greatest disparity. The F-P calves spent approximately 60% of their time within 3 m of the fence separating them from their dams during the first 2 d following weaning, whereas F-P cows spent about 40% of their time within 3 m of the fence during this period. Postweaning cumulative body weight gains of the F-P calves were greater than the gains recorded for the calves in the three totally separated treatments (which did not differ). The F-P calves gained 95% more weight than the average calf in the three totally separated treatments in the first 2 wk and were still heavier at 10 wk (21.4 vs 11.0 kg, respectively, at 2 wk and 50.0 vs 38.2 kg, respectively, at 10 wk; P < 0.05). It was concluded that providing fenceline contact between beef calves and cows for 7 d following weaning reduces behavioral indices of distress seen in the totally separated calves. In addition, fenceline contact with dams at weaning minimizes losses in weight gain in the days following separation. Totally separated calves did not compensate for these early losses in weight gain even after 10 wk.

Effects of castration and weaning conducted concurrently or consecutively on behaviour, blood traits and performance in beef calves

“…This was supported by the lying and standing/walking behaviour that changed during the observation period and was affected by weaning. In contrast to our study, Price et al (2003) also found a decrease in the time spent feeding as an indicator for weaning distress. On day 2, a lower feeding activity was observed compared with days 3 and 4 after weaning conducted with different methods.…”

“…Studies in lambs emphasized the suitability of this method to reduce weaning stress (Schichowski et al, 2008). As another alternative, fence-line weaning allows the calf to have a certain level of social contact to the dam for several days while being prevented from suckling (Stookey et al, 1997;Price et al, 2003). However, these methods have drawbacks, and are for several reasons not widely used under practical conditions to reduce weaning stress in beef calves.…”

Maternal deprivation and the development of stereotypic behaviour

“…In this study, calves in pastures adjacent to their dams were able to stand within a few metres of their dam following weaning, and unfortunately the authors do not report the behaviour of the calves if or when the dams were later moved to a distant enclosure. However, in a similar study, Price et al (2003) note that fence-line contact between calves and dams decreases over the 5 days following weaning, possibly as the calves and dams gradually become more independent of each other.…”

Biomarker responses to weaning stress in beef calves

“…Similarly, Lynch et al (2011) reported that deferring housing at the time of weaning resulted in a less marked stress response in beef calves (25%) compared with the traditional practice of weaning and simultaneous housing indoors at the end of the grazing season (62%; (Lynch et al, 2010) and 46% (Lynch et al, 2012) increases, respectively). Compared with abrupt weaning, practices such as progressive weaning or fenceline weaning have reduced the frequency of behavioural distress, heart rate and neutrophil:lymphocyte (N:L) ratio in calves (Church and Hudson, 1999;Price et al, 2003;Rasby, 2007). More recently, O'Loughlin et al (2011) reported that beef calves, particularly bulls, had a strong stress response and may benefit from a weaning strategy where they are allowed visual, oral and olfactory contact with the dam but are prevented from suckling for a number of days prior to total separation.…”