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    Evaluation of cattle handling categories in the beef quality assurance feedyard assessment, compliance of large feedyards with these guidelines, and influence of handling practices on behavior and performance of feedlot cattle, An

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    Includes bibliographical references.2015 Summer.Animal husbandry and management practices were surveyed in commercial feedlots to document compliance of select feedlots with Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines for cattle handling under the premise that this data warrants inclusion in the National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA). The BQA Feedyard Assessment for cattle handling has not yet been fully validated, and this work partially substantiates the current assessment categories. The inclusion of this handling data is essential in order to continue the track record of identifying target areas where improvement is needed, and to document growth and positive performance. Collecting and reporting of survey data is part of the verification and ongoing monitoring process that characterizes an effective HACCP plan, which was the system for management that was adopted during formation of the BQA program. It has been said that producers manage what they measure, and systematic measurement of categories for cattle handling and husbandry practices in the BQA can yield valuable information to assist producers in making management decisions. The NBQA, which has been conducted in five year increments since 1991 has accomplished just that, through the identification of targets where improvement is needed, with corresponding recommendations for improvement. The growing repository of data, collected over the course of time, reflects adjustments the industry has made in an effort to continuously improve the quality and consistency of beef production, and thus increase consumer confidence. BQA is a voluntary program that allows the use of self-assessment or third party audits to ensure compliance with the guidelines of the program. The BQA Feedyard Assessment (FA) provides guidelines for cattle handling in commercial feedlots, and is a useful tool for measuring cattle handling practices. Using these guidelines, select feedlots in 3 states (Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska) were assessed for six current BQA categories (electric prod use, falls, stumbles, jump and run, and chute operation). These states rank 5th, 3rd, and 2nd, respectively, among all states for the number of cattle on feed each year. These three states were selected based on their ranking among the top five states for number of cattle on feed, and for the high density areas of large (1000+ head) feedyards in each state, accounting for approximately 50% of all US fed cattle each year. The feedyards included in this study were all large (1000+ head capacity) yards, with a mean capacity of 34,000 head. Across 28 sites surveyed, rate of electric prod use was 3.8% vs. the 10% current BQA critical limit (CL); only 2 sites surveyed exceeded the CL with 15% and 45% respective rates; and 12 did not use an electric prod. The rate of cattle falling when exiting the squeeze chute was 0.6% vs. BQA CL 2%, and no site surveyed exceeded the CL. The rate of cattle stumbling when exiting the squeeze chute was 5.7% vs. BQA CL 10%, with 4 sites exceeding the CL and 4 sites that had no stumbles. The rate of cattle vocalizing was 1.4% vs. BQA CL 5%; for cattle that jumped or ran when exiting the squeeze chute, 52% vs. BQA CL 25%; and mean score for cattle that were improperly captured in the squeeze chute and not readjusted was 1.2%, vs. BQA CL 0%. A second study was conducted at a commercial feedlot in Kansas. The objective of this study was to investigate if a relationship exists between handling, and behavior and ADG of feedlot cattle. Upon arrival, Hereford steers (n = 496; initial BW = 304 ± 35.6 kg) of similar genetic background were sorted into four pens to determine the effects of handling on behavior and ADG. Two handling conditions prior to processing and two conditions of release from the squeeze chute were imposed. Prior to processing, handlers were required to quietly walk all steers from their home pen to the processing area (SLOW); or handlers were permitted to bring steers to the processing area in the normal fashion (FAST). Since this condition was applied to pens, pen was considered the experimental unit for the full model. Individual steers were randomly assigned to one of two conditions of release from the squeeze chute. The first was a delay no longer than 30 seconds following the completion of procedures to allow cattle to stop struggling (DELAY); the second was release immediately following the completion of procedures (NORM). Vocalization, chute temperament, exit speed and exit behavior scores were assigned to all steers during intake processing. Paired t-tests determined that cattle exiting the chute at a walk or trot vs a run tended (P=0.08) to have higher ADG. Cattle vocalizing during restraint had lower (P=0.04) ADG than those that did not vocalize. The FAST group showed a tendency to vocalize more frequently than the SLOW group. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a significant, positive correlation between exit speed and vocalization (P= 0.0021, r= 0.14256), and a significant, negative correlation between exit speed and ADG (P= 0.0036, r= -0.13542). Using this approach, handling was correlated with behavior and ADG

    Evaluation of a novel computer vision-based livestock monitoring system to identify and track specific behaviors of individual nursery pigs within a group-housed environment

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    Animal behavior is indicative of health status and changes in behavior can indicate health issues (i.e., illness, stress, or injury). Currently, human observation (HO) is the only method for detecting behavior changes that may indicate problems in group-housed pigs. While HO is effective, limitations exist. Limitations include HO being time consuming, HO obfuscates natural behaviors, and it is not possible to maintain continuous HO. To address these limitations, a computer vision platform (NUtrack) was developed to identify (ID) and continuously monitor specific behaviors of group-housed pigs on an individual basis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the capabilities of the NUtrack system and evaluate changes in behavior patterns over time of group-housed nursery pigs. The NUtrack system was installed above four nursery pens to monitor the behavior of 28 newly weaned pigs during a 42-d nursery period. Pigs were stratified by sex, litter, and randomly assigned to one of two pens (14 pigs/pen) for the first 22 d. On day 23, pigs were split into four pens (7 pigs/pen). To evaluate the NUtrack system’s capabilities, 800 video frames containing 11,200 individual observations were randomly selected across the nursery period. Each frame was visually evaluated to verify the NUtrack system’s accuracy for ID and classification of behavior. The NUtrack system achieved an overall accuracy for ID of 95.6%. This accuracy for ID was 93.5% during the first 22 d and increased (P \u3c 0.001) to 98.2% for the final 20 d. Of the ID errors, 72.2% were due to mislabeled ID and 27.8% were due to loss of ID. The NUtrack system classified lying, standing, walking, at the feeder (ATF), and at the waterer (ATW) behaviors accurately at a rate of 98.7%, 89.7%, 88.5%, 95.6%, and 79.9%, respectively. Behavior data indicated that the time budget for lying, standing, and walking in nursery pigs was 77.7% ± 1.6%, 8.5% ± 1.1%, and 2.9% ± 0.4%, respectively. In addition, behavior data indicated that nursery pigs spent 9.9% ± 1.7% and 1.0% ± 0.3% time ATF and ATW, respectively. Results suggest that the NUtrack system can detect, identify, maintain ID, and classify specific behavior of group-housed nursery pigs for the duration of the 42-d nursery period. Overall, results suggest that, with continued research, the NUtrack system may provide a viable real-time precision livestock tool with the ability to assist producers in monitoring behaviors and potential changes in the behavior of group-housed pigs
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