Cattle

On-farm assessment of the lying behaviour of finishing bulls kept in housing systems with different floor qualities

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of floor quality (straw-bedding lying area, rubber-coated slats, concrete slats) on the lying behaviour of finishing bulls. Rubber-coated slats improve traction on the ground but are not able to provide...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Gygax, L., Mayer, C., Schulze Westerath, H. et al. 2007. On-farm assessment of the lying behaviour of finishing bulls kept in housing systems with different floor qualities. Animal Welfare 16(2), 205-208.

Rank correlated use of soft flooring by dairy cattle

The present study covers rank correlated use of soft flooring during partial replacement (45% of the total floor space) of concrete slatted floor by rubber covering. The results demonstrate that the extent of use of soft rubber flooring correlates to...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Platz, S., Ahrens, F., Bendel, J. et al. 2007. Rank correlated use of soft flooring by dairy cattle. Animal Welfare 16(2), 255-257.

Designing welfare-friendly housing for dairy cows

Year Published: 2008Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Cook NB, Smith RA. 2008. Designing welfare-friendly housing for dairy cows. Proceedings of the 41st Ann Conf of the Am Assoc of Bovine Practitioners. 78-84.

How important is shade to dairy cattle? Choice between shade or lying following different levels of lying deprivation

Provision of shade to dairy cattle in summer can alleviate negative effects of heat stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative importance of shade to lactating dairy cows in different ambient weather conditions in summer. The...

Year Published: 2008Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Schütz, K. E., Cox, N. R., Matthews, L. R. 2008. How important is shade to dairy cattle? Choice between shade or lying following different levels of lying deprivation. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 114(3-4), 307-318 .

CCAC guidelines on: the care and use of farm animals in research, teaching and testing

These guidelines aim to provide information for investigators, animal care committees, facility managers and animal care staff that will assist in improving both the care given to farm animals and the manner in which experimental procedures are carried out. The...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Canadian Council on Animal Care. 2009. CCAC guidelines on: the care and use of farm animals in research, teaching and testing. Ottawa, Canada.

Dairy cows prefer shade that offers greater protection against solar radiation in summer: Shade use, behaviour, and body temperature

There is considerable evidence that shade is a valuable resource for cattle in summer, but less is known about the important design features of effective shade. The aim of this experiment was to investigate if lactating dairy cows have a...

Year Published: 2009Animal Type: Cattle

Citation: Sch?tz, K. E., Rogers, A. R., Cox, N. R. et al. 2009. Dairy cows prefer shade that offers greater protection against solar radiation in summer: Shade use, behaviour, and body temperature. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 116, 28-34.

Space allowances for confined livestock and their determination from allometric principles

The amount of space provided to animals governs important elements of their behaviour and, hence, is critical for their health and welfare. We review the use of allometric principles and equations to estimate the static space requirements of animals when...

Year Published: 2009Animal Type: Cattle, Sheep

Citation: Pethericka, J. C., Phillips, C. J. C. 2009. Space allowances for confined livestock and their determination from allometric principles . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 117, 1-12.

From operant learning to cognitive enrichment in farm animal housing: bases and applicability

This study has its basis in recent findings by our own and other laboratories and proposes a type of rewarded operant learning that seeks the detection of discriminatory cues as a cognitive enrichment in intensive husbandry systems. This type of...

Year Published: 2009Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cattle, Equine, Goat, Pig

Citation: Manteuffel, G., Langbein, J., Puppe, B. 2009. From operant learning to cognitive enrichment in farm animal housing: bases and applicability. Animal Welfare 18, 87-95.

Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain: Past, Present and Future

The Council has examined the effectiveness of British policy on farm animal welfare since 1965 and sets out a strategy that will lead to steady improvements in welfare over the next 20 years. Proposals are made for Government and commercial...

Year Published: 2009Animal Type: All/General, Bird, Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Farm Animal Welfare Council 2009. Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain: Past, Present and Future. Farm Animal Welfare Council, London, UK.

Social behavior of young dairy calves housed with limited or full social contact with a peer

This study compared the effect of individual and pair housing and age at pair housing on the social behavior of young dairy calves. Twenty-seven pairs of calves were reared from birth until 6 wk either individually (limited social contact between...

Year Published: 2012Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Duve, L. R., Jensen, M. B. 2012. Social behavior of young dairy calves housed with limited or full social contact with a peer. Journal of Dairy Science 95(10), 5936-5945.