Cattle

The effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf

Calf response to separation also increases when the calf spends more time with the cow, but there are long-term benefits of prolonged contact in terms of sociality, fearfulness and future maternal behaviour. Health, weight gain and future reproductivity are also...

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Flower, F. C., Weary, D. M. 2003. The effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf. Animal Welfare 12, 339-348.

Taming and training of pregnant sheep and goats and of newborn lambs, kids and calves before experimentation

The relative value of taming and training [staff spends 10-15 minutes each day gentling, stroking and quietly talking to the animals, while holding them in the part of the pen where they would subsequently be required to stand for sampling...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Cattle, Goat, Sheep

Citation: Mellor, D. J. 2004. Taming and training of pregnant sheep and goats and of newborn lambs, kids and calves before experimentation. Alternatives to Laboratory Animals [ATLA] 32(Supplement), 143-146.

Previous handling and gentle interactions affect behaviour and heart rate of dairy cows during a veterinary procedure

Previously handled animals had lower heart rate during tests, kicked less when alone and tended to show less restless behaviour. Cows were further calmed by gentle interactions during the test, but people differed remarkably. In conclusion, stress reactions of cows...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Weiblinger, S., Menke, C., Korff, J. et al. 2004. Previous handling and gentle interactions affect behaviour and heart rate of dairy cows during a veterinary procedure . Applied Animal Welfare Science 85, 31-42.

Does repeated regrouping alter the social behaviour of heifers? App Anim Behav Sci

Regrouping of cattle according to age, live weight or production stage is a common practice on farms. Our study aimed at determining how repeated regrouping modifies the social behaviour of dairy heifers, and more specifically if dominance relationships are formed...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Raussi S, Kaihilahti J, Boissy A, et al. 2005. Does repeated regrouping alter the social behaviour of heifers? App Anim Behav Sci. 93;1-12.

The effect of flooring type and social grouping on the rest and growth of dairy calves

We studied the effect of softness of flooring and the presence of a companion calf on calves' growth and rest by housing 1-week-old calves for 20 weeks in one of the three housing treatments: housed in pairs (n = 12...

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Hanninen L, De Passille AM, Rushen J. 2005. The effect of flooring type and social grouping on the rest and growth of dairy calves. App Anim Behav Sci. 91;193-204.

Dairy calves social preferences and the significance of a companion animal during separation from the group

Calves seem to prefer a familiar calf to an unfamiliar calf, and the presence and familiarity of a companion calf affects the calves' reaction to separation.

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Faerevik, G., Jensen, M. B., Boe, K. E. 2006. Dairy calves social preferences and the significance of a companion animal during separation from the group . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 99(3-4), 205-221.

Progress and challenges in animal handling and slaughter in the U.S.

Most plants were able to greatly improve welfare by improving stunner maintenance; installing non-slip floor gratings in stun boxes and better training. They also had to make simple, low cost changes to eliminate distractions that cause animals to balk and...

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Cattle, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Grandin, T. 2006. Progress and challenges in animal handling and slaughter in the U.S. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 100(1-2), 129-139.

Stocking density and the feed barrier design affect the feeding and social behavior of dairy cattle

The objectives of this study were to: 1) evaluate how stocking density at the feed bunk affects feeding and social behavior of dairy cows; and 2) determine if this effect is further influenced by the type of feed barrier used....

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Huzzey, J. M., DeVries, T. H., Valois, P. et al. 2006. Stocking density and the feed barrier design affect the feeding and social behavior of dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 126-133.

A critical review of fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry and horses

Fear is arguably the most commonly investigated emotion in domestic animals. In the current review we attempt to establish the level of repeatability and validity found for fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, poultry and horses. We...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Bird, Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Forkman, B., Boissy, A., Meunier-Sala?n, M. C. et al. 2007. A critical review of fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry and horses. Physiology and Behavior 92, 340-374.

Oral behaviors of beef steers in pen and pasture environments

Steers in a pen environment under a restricted feeding period might compensate for a lower amount of time spent feeding by performing nonnutritive oral behaviors (self-grooming, allogrooming, licking objects, and tongue rolling). However, the level of nonnutritive oral behaviors was...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Ishiwata, T., Uetake, K., Kilgour, R. J. et al. 2007. Oral behaviors of beef steers in pen and pasture environments. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 10(2), 185-192.