Abstract
The objective was to investigate effects of 18 h feed and water restriction or transit on cattle behavior. Angus-cross steers (36; 353 ± 33 kg) were housed in pens of 6 and assigned to treatments: control (CON), full access to feed and water; deprived (DEPR), no feed or water for 18 h; or transported (TRANS), trucked for 18 h. Individual BW (n = 12 steers/treatment) was recorded on d 0, 1, 3, 8, and 14, and individual dry matter intake (DMI) was determined via GrowSafe bunks. Bunk displacements on d 1 were recorded for each pen (n = 2 pens/treatment) by one trained observer continuously for 2 h in 10 min intervals via video analysis. Steer need preferences were assessed as time individuals took to perform behaviors (eat, drink, lay) after treatments ended on d 1. Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed of SAS with fixed effect of treatment; displacements, BW, and DMI were analyzed as repeated measures. Upon return to pens, time to eat or drink did not differ between DEPR and TRANS (P ≥ 0.17), but time to lay was 70.5 min for DEPR vs. 16.5 min for TRANS (P = 0.01). Displacements were greater for DEPR than CON or TRANS during the first 90 min after accessing feed, while CON displaced more frequently than TRANS for the first 30 min (treatment × time; P = 0.02). While DMI for TRANS was not recovered until d 2, DEPR and CON had similar DMI on d 1 (treatment × day; P < 0.01). Similarly, TRANS BW were, and DEPR tended to be, lesser than CON on d 1; however, BW among treatments were not different on other days (treatment × day; P < 0.01). Thus, restricting feed increases aggressive interactions at the bunk and cattle trucked long distances are quick to lay down when allowed. These behaviors should be considered when managing an unintentional feed restriction event or receiving cattle into the feedlot.
Broiler growth and efficiency in response to relaxed maternal feed restriction
