Cattle

Artificial weaning of calves: Benefits and costs

Evidence indicates that allowing beef calves to stay in the maternal herd beyond the age of natural weaning promotes animal welfare and may enhance the cows' natural reproductive potential.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Husbandry & Management, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Reinhardt, V. 2002. Artificial weaning of calves: Benefits and costs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 5(3), 247-251.

Cattle Behaviour and Welfare Second Edition

Good discussion on welfare-issues in domestic cattle.

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Phillips, C. 2002. Cattle Behaviour and Welfare Second Edition. Blackwell Science, London, UK.

An assessment of several potential enrichment devices for feedlot cattle

The enrichment devices consisted of a scratching/rubbing walkway, a moveable scratching/rubbing device, a milk-scent releasing device, a lavender-scent releasing device and a control non-scented device. The scratching/rubbing devices had higher durations and frequencies of use than the scent devices (P

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Wilson, S. C., Mitlohner, F. M., Morrow-Tesch, J. et al. 2002. An assessment of several potential enrichment devices for feedlot cattle. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 76, 259-265.

Does nutritive and non-nutritive sucking reduce other oral behaviors and stimulate rest in calves? Journal of Animal Science 80, 2574-2587

We conclude that, for calves housed individually, teat-feeding reduces non-nutritive oral activities after the meal and induces a calmer state than bucket-feeding. Providing calves with a dry teat partly compensates for the lack of nutritive sucking. For calves housed in...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Veissier, I., de Passille, A. M., Despres, G. et al. 2002. Does nutritive and non-nutritive sucking reduce other oral behaviors and stimulate rest in calves? Journal of Animal Science 80, 2574-2587.

Grouping and social preferences in calves, heifers and cows

In order to improve animal welfare, a growing number of calves, heifers and dairy cows are reared in loose housing systems. However, (re)grouping unfamiliar animals may result in aggressive interactions and distress, especially for low ranked animals. Grouping of unfamiliar...

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Boe KE, Faerevik G. 2003. Grouping and social preferences in calves, heifers and cows. App Anim Behav Sci. 80;175-190.

Human-cattle interactions in group housing

In traditional European tie stall barns the stockperson has close interaction with the cattle several times a day. New barns are, however, mostly loose housing units where the animals are group housed and normally have space to evade people. As...

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Raussi S. 2003. Human-cattle interactions in group housing. App Anim Behav Sci. 80;245-262.

Fenceline contact of beef calves with their dams at weaning reduces the negative effects of separation on behavior andgrowth rate

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...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Price, E. O., Harris, J. E., Borgwardt, R. E. et al. 2003. Fenceline contact of beef calves with their dams at weaning reduces the negative effects of separation on behavior andgrowth rate. Journal of Animal Science 81, 116-121.

Dairy cattle’s choice of handling treatmentsin a Y-maze

24 cows were used to compare talking in a gentle voice versus control, gentle voice versus shouting, and shouting versus control. Cows showed no preference between talking in a gentle voice and control but chose control and talking in a...

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Pajor, E. A., Rushen, J., de Passill?a, A. M. B. 2003. Dairy cattle's choice of handling treatmentsin a Y-maze . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 80, 93-107.

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.