Effects of experience on voluntary intake of supplements by cattle

Experiments examined the effects of prior experience of young cattle on their voluntary intake of supplements, and variability among animals in intake of supplements. Variability was measured using supplement labelled with lithium salts. Experiment 1 examined the effects of offering a concentrate supplement to calves before and/or after weaning on their subsequent intake of the same supplement and of a loose mineral mix supplement. Experience of the concentrate supplement increased acceptance and reduced variability in intake of the loose mineral mix supplement. However, neither voluntary intake (mean is 105 g DM/head.day) nor variability in intake of loose mineral mix supplement was affected by prior experience. Experiments 2 and 3 examined variability in intake of loose mineral mix supplement by weaners in larger groups or offered molasses–urea supplement, respectively. Experiment 4 examined the effects of provision of supplements and/or exposure to human activity and handling on subsequent intake of loose mineral mix supplement. Supplementing grazing weaners with concentrates had a transient effect by increasing voluntary intake of loose mineral mix supplement, but increased exposure to supplements, and human activity and handling while held in yards after weaning had no effects. Variability among animals in intake of loose mineral mix supplement (CV is 52–103%) tended to be greater than with the concentrate or molasses-based supplements (CV is 23–43%), irrespective of previous experience. There were fewer than 1% non-eaters of concentrate supplement and 0–7% non-eaters of loose mineral mix supplement. In experiment 5, prior experience of loose mineral mix supplements increased intake of such supplements by weaners during weeks 1 and 2 but not from weeks 3 to 9. In experiment 6, intake of loose mineral mix supplement by adult cattle was not affected by their experience as weaners of a similar supplement. In conclusion, although prior experience of supplements by young cattle sometimes increased their initial acceptance and voluntary intake of supplements, longer-term intake of supplements was not affected

The physiological and behavioral responses of steers to gaseous ammonia in simulated long distance transport by ship.

Ammonia (NH3) can accumulate in high density cattle accommodation during live export shipments and could potentially threaten the animals' health and welfare. The effects of 4 NH3 concentrations, control ( 0.05) on hematological parameters or body weight. Twenty-eight days after exposure to NH3, the steers' pulmonary macrophage activity and neutrophil levels had returned to normal. It was concluded that ammonia concentrations of 30 and 45 ppm induced temporary inflammatory responses which indicate an adverse effect on the welfare of steers

Does the anticipatory behaviour of chickens communicate reward quality?

The anticipatory behaviour of animals has been credited with enabling scientists to more closely infer what an animal wants. From a welfare perspective, this knowledge could improve how we care for animals under our management, as information about how animals prioritise rewarding items may guide how we allocate resources effectively. Our goal was to determine if behaviour in anticipation of different types of reward was differentially expressed. We investigated whether certain behaviours were characteristic of anticipation of both food and non-food rewards, and whether signals indicating rewards led to increased activity levels. Twelve laying hens experienced a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm using sound cues to signal the availability of two different food rewards (mealworms, normal food), one non-food reward (a container of mixed soil and sand substrate suitable for foraging and dust bathing (Dusty substrate)) and a sound-neutral event, which was signalled by a sound, but no reward was given. A muted-neutral treatment (no reward and no sound cue) controlled for any specific behaviour as a result of the sound cues.Behavioural responses and the number of transitions between behaviours were measured during a 15 s anticipatory period, before birds accessed rewards in an adjoining compartment by pushing through a door. These responses and latency to access the rewards were analysed using linear and generalised linear mixed models. Differences in pushing and pecking at the door (frequency: Dusty substrate 4.87a, Meal-worm 3.18b, Normal Food 2.23b, Sound Neutral 0.30c, Muted Neutral 0.03d, �2(4) = 228.99, p < 0.001),standing (not walking) (duration (s): Sound Neutral 9.92c, Muted Neutral 7.49bc, Normal Food 7.39bc, Mealworm 7.05b, Dusty substrate 3.06a, �2(4) = 36.28, p < 0.001), reflected the perceived value of the rewards, with birds appearing to be more motivated to access the Dusty substrate compared with the food rewards. Rewarded sound cues elicited increased transitions between behaviours, compared with neutral events (Dusty substrate 10.16a, Mealworm 10.13a, Normal Food 9.22ab, Sound Neutral 7.89bc, Muted Neutral 6.43c, �2(4) = 72.05, p < 0.001). The sound-neutral treatment induced increased head movements,previously associated with anticipation of rewards (duration (s): Sound Neutral 1.58b, Muted Neutral 0.58ab, Normal Food 0.48a, Mealworm 0.27a, Dusty substrate 0.00a, �2(4) = 25.56, p < 0.001). Latency to access rewards conveyed the relative value of rewards (Dusty substrate 7.30a, Mealworm 10.06ab,Normal Food 16.53b, �2(2) = 10.88, p = 0.004). Our experiment indicates that, under certain conditions,hens increase their activity levels (behavioural responses and transitions) in anticipation of rewards.Importantly, we demonstrate that this response is not food specific, but rather a general response to both food and non-food rewards. This outcome extends our knowledge of reward-related anticipatory behaviour, and of how hens rank rewards of contrasting incentive value, which may have implications for the methods and environments applied to improve the welfare of laying hens in managed systems

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 standing and lying, and the space required for animals to feed, drink, stand-up and lie-down. We use the research literature relating to transportation and intensive housing of sheep and cattle to assess the validity of allometric equations for estimating space allowances. We investigated these areas because transportation and intensive housing provide points along a continuum in terms of the duration of confinement, (from hours to months) and spatial requirements are likely to increase with increasing duration of confinement, as animals will need to perform a greater behavioural repertoire for long-term survival, health and welfare. We find that, although there are theoretical reasons why allometric relationships to space allowances may vary slightly for different classes of stock, space allowances that have been demonstrated to have adverse effects on animal welfare during transportation correlated well with an inability to accommodate standing animals, as estimated from allometry. For intensive housing, we were able to detect a space allowance below which there were adverse effects on welfare. For short duration transportation during which animals remain standing, a space allowance per animal described by the allometric equation: area (m^2) = 0.020W^0.66, where W = liveweight (kg), would appear to be appropriate. Where it is desirable for all animals to lie simultaneously, then a minimum space allowance per animal described by the allometric equation: area (m^2) = 0.027W^0.66 appears to permit this, given that animals in a group time-share space. However, there are insufficient data to determine whether this allowance onboard a vehicle/vessel would enable animals to move and access food and water with ease. In intensive housing systems, a minimum space allowance per animal described by the allometric equation: area (m^2) = 0.033W^0.66 appears to be the threshold below which there are adverse effects on welfare. These suggested space allowances require verification with a range of species under different thermal conditions and, for transportation, under different conditions of vehicular/vessel stability. The minimum length of trough per animal (L in m) required for feeding and drinking can be determined from L = 0.064W^0.33, with the number of animals required to feed/drink simultaneously taken into account, together with any requirement to minimise competition. This also requires verification with a range of species. We conclude that allometric relationships are an appropriate basis for the formulation of space allowances for livestock

A note on the effect of feeding regime on the performance of sows housed in a novel group-housing system

The effects on sow reproductive performance of three feeding regimes (ration (R), ad libitum (A) and ration + straw (R + S)), in conjunction with partial barriers placed along the food trough, were investigated. Three groups of four sows were put on the regimes, in a group-housing system, over three consecutive gestations. Each trial lasted 13 days and took place during the first half of the gestation period. Sows on A ate about three times the amount of food that was allocated to them on R and R + S (2 kg per sow per day). Feeding regime did not affect any of the measures of reproductive performance (numbers of piglets liveborn, stillborn, weaned, birth and weaning weights). Sows of parity 7 and over had significantly fewer liveborn and more stillborn piglets compared with parities 2 to 6 (P < 0·05). It is probable that no adverse effects of the feeding regimes were found due to the short time that the sows were on them and because multiparous animals were used. It is suggested that the welfare of ration-fed sows, whose appetite is not satiated, is jeopardized and that this problem may be solved by the provision of fibrous foodstuffs

Effects of providing prior experience of a feedlot environment on the performance of feedlot cattle

Cattle sourced for feedlots from extensive properties will generally have little experience of conditions to which they will be exposed in feedlots, eg close contact with humans, confinement, crowding and feed in troughs. Such conditions can result in stress (Fell 1994) which can have adverse effects on health and performance (Moberg 1985). This experiment determined the effect of prior exposure to aspects of a feedlot environment on the feedlot performance of Bos indicus steers. 21st Biennial Conference. 8 - 12 July 1996. University of Queensland. Brisbane

Performance of lot-fed Bos indicus steers exposed to aspects of a feedlot environment before lot-feeding

Fifty Bos indicus steers, 2–3 years old, were exposed to aspects of a feedlot environment on their home property for 9 days (pre-exposed). A further 50 steers were placed in a holding paddock for the 9 days (naïve). Twenty steers in each group became 'focal animals' for periodic blood sampling and behaviour observations. The cattle were transported for 15 h (950 km) to an experimental feedlot where they were lot-fed for 100 days, with productivity (liveweight, body condition and feed intakes) and flight speeds recorded at intervals. A subjective fear of humans test was conducted on the pre-exposed group during the 9 days in the yards on the home property and carcass traits were measured on all cattle. Both groups lost substantial weight on the property and during transportation. On the property, the pre-exposed steers lost about 12% of their original liveweight and the naïve about 9%. Transit losses were a further 5 and 4% of pre-transport liveweights, respectively. The steers did not reach their initial liveweights until day 41 of feedlotting. The pre-exposure treatment did not affect final liveweight, but feed intakes were lower for the pre-exposed animals than the naïve ones during the first 16 days of feedlotting, and the pre-exposed steers had superior average daily gains and feed conversion efficiencies. These effects were probably due to a combination of compensation and improved feed digestibility, as a result of the pre-exposed animals being under-fed on the property, but receiving concentrated grain supplement. There was no effect of focal status on productivity. Flight speed and the subjective fear of humans test were significantly correlated. Neither treatment nor focal status affected flight speeds, but flight speeds decreased in the latter part of feedlotting, were highly correlated between days and negatively correlated with average daily gain and intakes

Effects of providing prior experience of a feedlot environment on the performance of feedlot cattle

Cattle sourced for feedlots from extensive properties will generally have little experience of conditions to which they will be exposed in feedlots, eg close contact with humans, confinement, crowding and feed in troughs. Such conditions can result in stress (Fell 1994) which can have adverse effects on health and performance (Moberg 1985). This experiment determined the effect of prior exposure to aspects of a feedlot environment on the feedlot performance of Bos indicus steers. 21st Biennial Conference. 8 - 12 July 1996. University of Queensland. Brisbane