Hot Iron Branding of Beef Cattle: Process Characterization, Implications for Animal Welfare, and Its Efficiency for Cattle Individual Identification

This study aimed to characterize the hot iron branding (HIB) procedure by assessing its implications for animal welfare and its efficiency for cattle identification. The study was carried out in two stages: First, with 37 Nellore calves, by measuring the skin temperatures in the place of HIB application (ONB) and 10 cm above it (OFFB) immediately after its application and during four consecutive days, the time required for application of each HIB digit and the occurrences of rebranding; second, with two batches of cows (N = 97 and N = 94, respectively, by measuring the time spent to read cattle ID and comparing the efficiency of HIB vs. EET (electronic ear tag) and visual ear tags (VET) vs. EET. Skin temperature was significantly affected by the interaction between the place where the skin temperatures were taken (on and 10 cm above the HIB) and assessment day, with temperatures in ONB on days d0 and d2 being higher than in OFFB (p p < 0.001), and fewer errors were made when reading EET than HIB (1/97 vs. 17/97) and VET (2/94 vs. 12/94). We concluded that HIB potentially compromises cattle welfare and has a lower efficiency for cattle identification than EET and VET

Efecto del volumen de dieta líquida sobre el consumo de concentrado y desempeño en terneras lecheras

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del volumen de dieta líquida sobre el consumo de concentrado y desempeño en terneras. Se utilizaron dieciséis animales divididos en dos tratamientos: el tratamiento de dieta líquida con orden creciente/decreciente (OC/D),ofreciendo6,8,10,8,6,4,2,1 litros de leche entera por día durante la semana 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 y 8, respectivamente y el tratamiento de6 l.d-1(n=8),ofreciendo6 litros diarios de leche entera desde el día 0 hasta el destete (57 días).Los datos se analizaron con el software STATISTICA (StatSoftV10) y GraphPadPrism V.8.0.2empleando la prueba no paramétrica de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados significativos se evaluaron con la prueba de Dunn ́s. Se empleó la prueba de no paramétrica Mann-Whitney U. El consumo de materia seca para el tratamiento OC/Dy 6 l.d-1fue diferente en la tercera (p<0,001) y séptima semana (p=0,02).Los resultados indican que en cuanto al consumo de materia seca (MS), proteína cruda (PC)y energía metabolizable (EM) no hubo diferencias significativas entre tratamientos, sin embargo, hubo un efecto de estos entre semanas. El consumo de concentrado al destete fue 0,80y 0,48 kg(p<0,05) para el tratamiento OC/Dy 6 l.d-1, respectivamente. Las terneras que recibieron el tratamiento OC/D y 6 l.d-1tuvieron un peso promedio al destete de 64,63±1,79y 56,00±3,26kg (p<0,05); ganancia diaria de peso de 0,50±0,03y 0,30±0,04kg.d-1(p<0,05);estatura al destete de 86,8±0,54 y 84,1±0,89 cm(p<0,05)y ganancia diaria de estatura al destete de0,22±0,009 y 0,17±0,01 cm.d-1 (p<0,05),respectivamente. Las terneras que recibieron6 l.d-1tuvieron un mayor costo de crianza (p<0,05). En conclusión, los resultados demuestran que la alimentación con volúmenes de leche entera con orden creciente-decreciente tuvo un impacto positivo en el consumo de concentrado, desempeño productivo y un menor costo de crianza durante el pre-destete.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of volume of liquid diet on the consumption of concentrate and performance in calves. Sixteen animals were divided into two treatments: the liquid diet treatment with increasing/decreasing order (OC / D), offering6,8,10,8,6,4,2,1 liters of whole milk per day during the weeks1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively, and the 6 l.d-1treatment (n = 8), offering6 liters of whole milk daily from day 0 to weaning (57 days). The data were analyzed with STATISTICA software (StatSoftV10) and Graph Pad Prism V.8.0.2 using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. Significant results were evaluated with Dunn's test. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used. The dry matter intake for the OC/D treatment and 6 l.d-1was different in the third (p <0.001) and seventh week (p = 0.02). The results indicate that in terms of dry matterintake(DM), crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) there were no significant differences between treatments, however, there was an effect of these between weeks. The consumption of concentrate at weaning was 0.80 and 0.48 kg (p <0.05) for the OC/D treatment and 6 l.d-1, respectively. The calves that received the OC/D treatment and 6 l.d-1had an average weaning weight of 64.63 ± 1.79 and 56.00 ± 3.26 kg (p <0.05); daily weight gain of 0.50 ± 0.03 and 0.30 ± 0.04 kg.d-1(p <0.05); height at weaning of 86.8 ± 0.54 and 84.1 ± 0.89 cm (p <0.05) and daily height gain at weaning of 0.22 ± 0.009 and 0.17 ± 0.01 cm.d-1(p <0.05),respectively. The calves that received 6 l.d-1had a higher rearing cost (p <0.05). In conclusion, the results show that feeding volumes of whole milk with increasing-decreasing order had a positive impact on the consumption of concentrate, productive performance, and a lower cost of rearing during pre-weaningUniversidad de PanamáSistema Nacional de Investigación, PanamáUniversidad Nacional, Costa RicaServicio de Reproducción Animal SRA, PanamáCalfSolution, PanamáEscuela de Ciencias Agraria