Abnormal oral behaviours in fattening bulls: incidence, causation and implications (1994)

Graf, B.

Abstract

Abnormal oral behaviours, such as tongue playing and nibbling at objects or at coat, tail and ears of penmates, are common in fattening bulls housed on fully slatted floors and fed intensively. .. Half of the groups were fed with maize silage plus concentrate and the other half receive 1.5 kg of additional hay. .. Feeding hay resulted in a significant lower frequency of all five abnormal behaviour, whereas duration of feeding and ruminating were significantly longer. .. The studied abnormal behaviours are mainly caused by inadequate food and, beside welfare aspects, may have considerable economic implications.