Human-animal interactions in early life in female pigs and the effects on subsequent behaviour, physiology and reproductive performance

Fear inducing stimuli are common in modern intensive husbandry systems. It is probable that a principal source of fear is the humans who work with the animals and who, by necessity, have close contact with the animals when carrying out routine husbandry practices.Signals generated by the stockman, either intentionally or unintentionally, may be perceived by the pig as threatening. There is growing evidence that the complex behavioural relationships between stockmen and their charges can profoundly influence productivity. Seabrook, (1985) found that the personality of the stockman influenced the behaviour and performance of dairy cows. Similarly, Hemsworth et al., (1981) found that on those farms where sows displayed increased avoidance behaviour to the experimenter, the number of piglets born per sow was depressed. In a subsequent study it was found that those pigs which were highly fearful of humans as a result of being aversively handled, exhibited impaired reproductive performance and elevated basal Cortisol levels.

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Intensity of Oestrus Signalling Is the Most Relevant Indicator for Animal Well-Being in High-Producing Dairy Cows

Veterinary Medicine International ◽

10.4061/2011/540830 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Emanuel Garcia ◽

Jan Hultgren ◽

Pontus Fällman ◽

Johanna Geust ◽

Bo Algers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Well Being ◽

Genetic Potential ◽

Human Animal ◽

Calving Rate ◽

Animal Interaction ◽

Rectal Palpation ◽

On Farm ◽

Complementary Value

Full signalling of oestrous behaviour is vital for proper timing of AI and good reproductive performance, currently jeopardized by shorter observations of oestrus behaviour. Alternative indicators including progesterone (P4) recordings on-farm are tested. Oestrous intensity of 37 heifers (H) and 30 1st-parity dairy cows (C1) either Swedish Red (32) or Swedish Holstein (35) with high genetic potential for milk production, was studied in relation to AI. P4-levels in blood or milk were monitored on-farm at 0, 7, and 20 d post-AI with a portable ELISA reader (eProCheck800). Avoidance distance and body condition were scored at day 7, and pregnancy diagnosed by P4(day 20) and trans-rectal palpation (day 50). More heifers (46%) than C1-cows (10%) showed standing oestrus (strongest intensity,P<0.05), leading to higher pregnancy rate at d50 (72% versus 37% for C1,P<0.01) and calving rate (H: 64%, C1: 33%,P<0.05). Avoidance distances were short (<1 m), reflecting good human-animal interaction. Visually-recorded standing oestrus yielded 4.8 fold higher odds of pregnancy, respectively 4.6-fold higher odds of calving. On-farm P4-recordings had complementary value yet less accuracy. Intensity of oestrus signalling relates to animal well-being, reflected in pregnancy-to-term being a good indicator for optimal welfare in high-producing dairy cattle.

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Productive and reproductive performance of crossbred and indigenous Dairy cows under rural conditions in Comilla, Bangladesh

University Journal of Zoology Rajshahi University ◽

10.3329/ujzru.v26i0.702 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 67-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Omar Faruk Miazi ◽

Md Emran Hossain ◽

Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Gestation Length ◽

Calving Interval ◽

Local Breed ◽

Lactation Length ◽

Heat Period ◽

Daily Milk Production ◽

And Performance ◽

Daily Milk

A comparative account of the productive and reproductive performance of crossbred and indigenous dairy cows at some selected areas of Comilla district. The survey was conducted on 50 dairy cows for a period of four months from June to September, 2004. Out of 50 cows 25 were crossbred and 25 were indigenous. Results showed that the average daily milk production of Local, Shahiwal x Local, Friesian x Local and Jersey x Local dairy cows was 2.26±0.19, 4.9±0.95, 6.0±1.0 and 5.71±0.87 liter respectively. The average age of calving interval and lactation length of the crossbred and indigenous cows did not differ significantly (P>0.05). However, the average age at puberty of Shahiwal x Local, Friesian x Local and Jersey x Local was significantly (P<0.01) lower than the local breed. The crossbred cows had significantly (P<0.01) lower pubertal age than local. The postpartum heat period and service per conception of different crossbred and local cows did not differ significantly (P>0.05). The average gestation length of Local, Shahiwal x Local, Friesian x Local and Jersey x Local was 289.88±1.44, 285.0±0.0, 285.0±4.18, and 282.08±2.42 days respectively. The productive and reproductive performance of Friesian x Local cows was superior to the rest of the breeds under study. Key words: Dairy cows, indigenous, crossbred, production, reproduction and performance Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 26, 2007. pp. 67-70

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Effect of Feeding on Reproductive Performance in Finnish Dairy Cows

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica ◽

10.1186/bf03547528 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 453-458

Author(s):

P. V. A. Miettinen

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Effect Of Feeding

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120. Short-term feed restriction and re-feeding alters rumen metabolism and performance of high yielding dairy cows fed different concentrate patterns and either with or without a live yeast

Animal - science proceedings ◽

10.1016/j.anscip.2021.03.121 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 99

Author(s):

Catherine Johnson ◽

Tim Snelling ◽

James Huntington ◽

Jules Taylor-Pickard ◽

Helen Warren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Feed Restriction ◽

Short Term ◽

Rumen Metabolism ◽

And Performance ◽

Live Yeast

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Effects of Intrauterine Infusion of a Chitosan Solution on Recovery and Subsequent Reproductive Performance of Early Postpartum Dairy Cows with Endometritis: A Pilot Field Trial

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11010197 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 197

Author(s):

Hiroaki Okawa ◽

Missaka M.P. Wijayagunawardane ◽

Peter L.A.M. Vos ◽

Osamu Yamato ◽

Masayasu Taniguchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes ◽

Prostaglandin F2α ◽

Chitosan Solution ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Groups ◽

Early Postpartum Period ◽

Early Postpartum ◽

And Control

This study investigated the efficacy of intrauterine infusion of a chitosan solution (CHT) on uterine recovery in early postpartum dairy cows with or without endometritis, and their subsequent reproductive performance. In Experiment 1, cows with endometritis at 3 weeks postpartum were administered CHT (n = 5) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) (n = 4). Untreated cows (n = 7) served as the control group. In Experiment 2, 18 cows with a normally recovered uterus at the fresh cow check (mean, 35 days postpartum) were assigned to the CHT (n = 10) and control (n = 8) groups, and intrauterine infusion was conducted in the CHT group. Overall, in Experiment 1, the percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes significantly declined in the CHT group (32.3 ± 10.2 to 5.5 ± 2.4, p < 0.05) from week 3 to week 5, but no decline occurred in the PGF2α and control groups. In Experiment 2, the CHT and control groups showed no significant differences in reproductive parameters, suggesting the absence of adverse effects of CHT on fertility. These results suggest that intrauterine infusion of CHT in the early postpartum period effectively accelerates uterine recovery from endometritis and might be a suitable replacement for PGF2α administration.

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A study of factors which influence the job satisfaction of stockpeople on commercial pig farms

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) ◽

10.1017/s0308229600018766 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 1990 ◽

pp. 95-95

Author(s):

R C Segundo ◽

P R English ◽

G Burgess ◽

S A Edwards ◽

O MacPherson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Job Satisfaction ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Research Work ◽

Farm Animals ◽

Considerable Influence ◽

Pig Farms ◽

And Performance ◽

The Uk ◽

Farm Livestock

The role of stockmanship in relation to the wellbeing of farm animals has been emphasised in the UK Codes of Recommendations for the Welfare of Farm Livestock (MAFF, 1983). Moreover, previous research work has demonstrated important effects of good and bad stockmanship not only on welfare but also on growth, lactational and reproductive performance of pigs and other farm livestock (Hemsworth et al, 1987). There is a need, therefore, to establish the factors which motivate and demotivate stockpeople since the degree of job satisfaction is likely to have a considerable influence on the attitude and performance of stockpeople and on their empathy with the animals in their care. With this objective in mind, a questionnaire was designed to investigate the aspects which could have an influence on the job satisfaction of the stockpeople involved in pig production.

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