The welfare of extensively managed dairy cattle: A review

Hemsworth, P.H.; Barnett, J.L.; Beveridge, L.; Matthews, Lindsay R.

doi:10.1016/0168-1591(94)00538-p

Cited by 104 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…This is closely related to the lower inactivity (P , 0.01) observed in FR bulls, which needed to walk in order to feed, as also suggested by the higher percentage time spent standing (P , 0.01) and feeding (P , 0.001). This latter activity included walking with muzzle close to the ground in the group FR that was precluded to the group C. In general, cattle allowed to graze are perceived as animals with higher welfare standards because they can express natural behaviours, such as grazing and exploration (Hemsworth et al, 1995). The distance covered by FR animals in this study was similar to that reported by Krohn et al (1992) in dairy cows kept in extensive environment (1.7 km), whereas group C showed a walking distance similar to that covered by dairy cows (0.6 km) kept in loose housing systems (Kempkens and Boxberger, 1987).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Podolian beef production on pasture and in confinement

Braghieri

Pacelli

Rosa

et al. 2011

Animal

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the effect of rearing system (confined (C) v. free ranging (FR)) and season (spring v. summer) was evaluated on behaviour, immune and blood parameters and beef production (experiment 1). From February to August 2008, the effect of rearing system was only evaluated on beef production (experiment 2). A total of 12 Podolian young bulls were used each year. They were slaughtered at 18 and 15 months of age in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Herbage mass and pasture composition were monitored during the 2 years. Pasture availability, in terms of herbage mass and composition, as well as its seasonal development, was similar in the 2 years. In the first experiment, FR animals spent more time walking ( P , 0.05), feeding ( P , 0.001) and standing ( P , 0.01) and showed a lower number of agonistic ( P , 0.05) and non-agonistic social interaction than C animals ( P , 0.01). Significant lower concentrations of serum urea nitrogen ( P , 0.001) and creatinine ( P , 0.10) in FR animals indicated a lower protein nutritional status due to inadequate protein availability at pasture. As a consequence, average daily gains ( P , 0.05), slaughter weight ( P , 0.05) and body condition score ( P , 0.01) were lower in grazing animals as compared with C bulls. Cellular immune responsiveness was higher in FR animals ( P , 0.05). Similarly, antibody titre to keyhole limpet hemocyanin was higher in FR bulls at the 2nd and 3rd month after antigen injection ( P , 0.05), whereas it tended to be higher at the 4th month ( P , 0.10). In both experiments, grazing negatively affected meat colour in terms of lightness. Eighteenmonth-old bulls also showed lower final weight, weight gain and body conditions when kept outdoor: a possible consequence of nutrient deficits, as suggested by the metabolic status of FR animals. The same animals, however, benefited from FR in terms of natural behaviour expression and immune responsiveness. When the experiment was replicated the subsequent year, on animals slaughtered at 15 months of age, no differences between the performances of FR and C animals were detected. The earlier slaughter age system was also proportionally less dependent on external inputs as grazing was not extended to the dry season when herbage mass availability was lower.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Podolian beef production on pasture and in confinement

Braghieri

Pacelli

Rosa

et al. 2011

Animal

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“…In small to medium size herds the social structure may run throughout the entire herd. However, as herd size increases, the social order becomes more difficult to maintain as the ability of cows to recognise herd-mates declines, causing cows to split into sub-groups (Hemsworth et al, 1995;Stafford and Gregory, 2008). Social hierarchies are thus an important aspect of cow 'culture'.…”

Section: Cow 'Cultures' E Establishing a Positive Herd Dynamicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building ‘cowshed cultures’: A cultural perspective on the promotion of stockmanship and animal welfare on dairy farms

Burton

Peoples

Cooper

2012

Journal of Rural Studies

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a b s t r a c tImproving animal welfare is an important part of the development of the agricultural industry, particularly at a time when intensification and the encroachment of factory-style production systems is making the maintenance of human-animal relations increasingly difficult. Animal science deals with the issue of improving stockmanship by focusing on the relationships between attitudes and behaviour, under the premise that improved attitudes will lead to improved behaviour. From an analysis of 42 interviews with owners, sharemilkers and workers on dairy farms in New Zealand we present a different view, seeing behaviour instead as part of a self-reinforcing culture in which animals, humans and the physical structure all contribute to the development of farm specific ways of doing and being. We further suggest that changing one stockperson's attitude alone is insufficient to ensure a change in the culture as other actors e including animals and non-human actors e reinforce any existing culture that has developed, making both attitudinal and behavioural change difficult. We conclude by discussing the key importance of designing farm systems and structures that promote positive interactions between animals and humans and suggest that this, rather than simply promoting knowledge and attitudinal change, is likely to be the most effective way of maintaining stockmanship in the face of an industrialising agriculture.

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“…Rectal temperature (RT) may be used as a physiologic parameter related to thermal comfort and adaptability of environmental conditions (HEMSWORTH et al, 1995). Dunlap and Vincent (1971) reported a high significant negative correlation between RT and conception rate (CR); thus, the increase in body temperature compromises fertility in cows.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of seasonality, timing of insemination and rectal temperature on conception rate of crossbred dairy cows

et al. 2016

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This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rectal temperature (RT) on conception rate (CR), as well as the effects of seasonality (spring-summer vs. autumn-winter) and timing of artificial insemination (AI) (morning vs. afternoon) on RT and CR in crossbred dairy cows (Holstein x Gyr). The experiment was conducted on a dairy farm in Centralina, MG, where 1.219 conventional and fixed-time inseminations were analyzed. The RT was measured immediately before AI using a digital thermometer. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed using ultrasonography between 28 and 60 days after AI. T The effects of seasonality and timing of AI on RT were analyzed with a Mann-Whitney U test and the effects of RT (above or below the average), seasonality and timing of AI on CR were analyzed with a Chi-squared test, both using the SAS program. The RT average was 39.4°C. Cows with RT ≥ 39.4°C had lower CR than cows with RT < 39.4°C (25.78% vs. 32.54%; P = 0.0096). During spring-summer, cows had higher RT (39.44°C ± 0.025 vs. 39.27°C ± 0.022; P < 0.0001) and lower CR (25.49% vs. 31.75%; P = 0.0146) compared with autumn-winter. Cows inseminated in the morning had lower RT (38.96°C ± 0.022 vs. 39.60°C ± 0.018; P < 0.0001) and higher CR (32.86% vs. 26.06%; P = 0.0102) than cows inseminated in the afternoon. In conclusion, crossbred dairy cows with rectal temperature equal to or greater than 39.4°C had lower conception rate. Moreover, rectal temperature and conception rate were affected by seasonality and insemination time. Key words: Reproduction efficiency, heat stress, artificial insemination, crossbred cows ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar o efeito da temperatura retal (TR) sobre a taxa de concepção (TC), bem como os efeitos da estação do ano (primavera-verão vs. outono-inverno) e do momento da inseminação artificial (IA) (manhã vs. tarde) sobre a TR e a TC de vacas leiteiras mestiças (Holandês x Gir). O experimento foi realizado em uma fazenda leiteira em Centralina, MG, onde foram analisadas 1219 inseminações, tanto convencionais quanto em tempo fixo. A TR das vacas foi medida imediatamente antes da IA usando termômetro digital. O diagnóstico de gestação foi realizado por ultrassonografia entre 28 e 60 dias após a IA.Os efeitos da sazonalidade e do momento da IA sobre a TR foram analisados pelo teste de MannWhitney U e os efeitos da TR (acima e abaixo da média), sazonalidade e momento da IA sobre a TC foram analisados pelo teste de Qui-quadrado, ambos no programa SAS. A TR média encontrada foi de 39,4°C. Vacas com TR ≥ 39,4°C tiveram TC inferior à de vacas com TR < 39,4°C (25,78% vs. 32 P = 0,0096). Na primavera-verão as vacas apresentaram TR superior (39,44°C ± 0,025 vs. 39,27°C ± 0,022; P < 0,0001) e TC inferior (25,49% vs. 31,75%; P = 0,0146) em relação ao outono-inverno. Vacas inseminadas durante o período da manhã tiveram menor TR (38,96°C ± 0,022 vs. 39,60°C ± 0,018; P < 0,0001) e maior TC (32,86% vs. 26,06%; P = 0,0102) do que as vacas inseminadas à tarde. Conclui-se que vacas leiteiras mestiças com temperatura retal igual ou super...

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The welfare of extensively managed dairy cattle: A review

Cited by 104 publications

References 91 publications

Podolian beef production on pasture and in confinement

Podolian beef production on pasture and in confinement

Building ‘cowshed cultures’: A cultural perspective on the promotion of stockmanship and animal welfare on dairy farms

Influence of seasonality, timing of insemination and rectal temperature on conception rate of crossbred dairy cows

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