1 Effect of Conditioning, Rest, and Post-rest Transport Duration on Welfare Indicators of Beef Cattle Transported by Road

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 2-3
Author(s):  
Daniela M Melendez ◽  
Sonia Marti ◽  
Timothy D Schwinghamer ◽  
Derek B Haley ◽  
Karen S Schwartzkopf-Genswein
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Factorial Design ◽  
Random Effects ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Rest Period ◽  
Flight Speed ◽  
Beef Calves ◽  
Welfare Indicators ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
And Performance

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the effects of conditioning, rest, and post-rest transport duration on welfare indicators of 6–7 mo old beef calves. Three hundred and twenty-eight weaned calves (237 ± 29.7 kg BW) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 × 2 nested factorial design: conditioning, conditioned (C) or non-conditioned (N); rest, 0 (R0) or 8 (R8) h, and post-rest transport, 4 (T4) or 15 (T15) h. Calves were sampled prior to the first loading (L1), after 20h of transport, prior to and after the additional 4 or 15-h transport, and at 1, 2, 3, 5, 14, and 28 d after transport ended. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Fixed effects included conditioning, transport and time nested within rest period, while random effects included animal and pen. Greater shrink (P < 0.01) was observed in C than N calves after the initial 20-h transport. The N calves had greater (P < 0.01) ADG than C calves between L1 and d 5, while C had greater (P < 0.01) ADG than N calves between 14 and 28 d. L-lactate concentrations and flight speed were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in C than N calves between L1 and d 5. The R8-T4 calves had greater (P < 0.01) ADG than R8-T15 calves between L1 and d 5. The R0-T4 calves had greater (P = 0.02) L-lactate concentrations than R0-T15 and R8-T4 calves on d 1. The R0 calves had greater (P < 0.01) ADG than R8 calves between 14 and 28 d. Preliminary results show physiological, behavioral, and performance differences across treatments, however, additional indicators are required to accurately assess the effect of conditioning, rest, and post-rest transport durations on calf welfare.

PSIII-8 Genetic Parameter Estimates for Bull Prolificacy and Its Relationship with Scrotal Circumference in a Commercial Beef Cattle Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 158-159
Author(s):  
Chad A Russell ◽  
E J Pollak ◽  
Matthew L Spangler
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Random Effects ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Genetic Parameter ◽  
Additive Genetic Effect ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Contemporary Group ◽  
Scrotal Circumference ◽  
Heritability Estimates

Abstract The commercial beef cattle industry relies heavily on the use of natural service sires. Either due to the size of breeding herds or to safe-guard against injury during the breeding season, multiple-sire breeding pastures are utilized. Although each bull might be given an equal opportunity to produce offspring, evidence suggest that there is substantial variation in the number of calves sired by each bull in a breeding pasture. DNA-based paternity assignment enables correct assignment of calves to their respective sires in multi-sire pastures and presents an opportunity to investigate the degree to which this trait complex is under genetic control. Field data from a large commercial ranch were used to estimate genetic parameters for calf count (CC; n=623) and yearling scrotal circumference (SC; n=1962) using univariate and bivariate animal models. Average CC and SC were 12.1±11.1 calves and 35.4±2.30 cm, respectively. Average number breeding seasons per bull and bulls per contemporary group were 1.40 and 24.9, respectively. The model for CC included fixed effects of age during the breeding season (in years) and contemporary group (concatenation of breeding pasture and year). Random effects included additive genetic and permanent environmental effects, and a residual. The model for SC included fixed effects of age (in days) and contemporary group (concatenation of month and year of measurement). Random effects included an additive genetic effect and a residual. Univariate model heritability estimates for CC and SC were 0.237±0.156 and 0.456±0.072, respectively. Similarly, the bivariate model resulted in heritability estimates for CC and SC of 0.240±0.155 and 0.461±0.072, respectively. Repeatability estimates for CC from univariate and bivariate models were 0.517±0.054 and 0.518±0.053, respectively. The estimate of genetic correlation between CC and SC was 0.270±0.220. Parameter estimates suggest that both CC and SC would respond favorably to selection and that CC is moderately repeatable.

Forage management and concentrate supplementation effects on performance of beef calves

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joao M. B. Vendramini ◽  
Philipe Moriel
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
Creep Feeding ◽  
Beef Calves ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Metabolic Imprinting ◽  
Beef Cattle Production ◽  
And Performance

Proper grazing management is the most effective practice to provide adequate forage quantity and quality to cow–calf systems, and optimise beef-calf performance in tropical and subtropical regions. Supplementation of beef calves is not a commonly used management practice in beef-cattle production, primarily because calves can benefit from the cow’s milk production to offset some limitations in forage quantity and quality. Creep-feeding and supplementation of early weaned calves are the two main strategies to supplement beef calves. Creep-feeding can be used to overcome limited herbage allowance, improve calves uniformity, supply extra nutrients for calves, provide adaptation to concentrate diets before weaning, and increase weaning weight. Early weaning is an effective management practice to increase the likelihood of re-breeding of first-calf beef heifers in the south-eastern USA; however, it was observed that concentrate supplementation is necessary for early weaned calves to achieve desirable levels of gain on pasture in tropical and subtropical regions. In addition, concentrate supplementation during early stages of a calf life may permanently change calf development and performance in a process called ‘metabolic imprinting’. The metabolic imprinting concept in production agriculture is in the early stages of knowledge and further research should elucidate the benefits of this management practice in beef-cattle production.

scholarly journals 313 Effects of transport time and rest stop duration on welfare indicators of beef cattle travelling by road

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 9-10
Author(s):  
Daniela M Melendez ◽  
Sonia Marti ◽  
Desiree Gellatly ◽  
Wiolene Nordi ◽  
Derek Haley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Rest Period ◽  
Transport Time ◽  
Beef Calves ◽  
Behavioral Indicators ◽  
Physiological Indicators ◽  
Esterified Fatty Acids ◽  
Rest Periods ◽  
Resting Period

Abstract Forthcoming revisions to Canadian Transport regulations indicate un-weaned and weaned calves can be transported a maximum of 12 and 36 h, respectively, before an 8 h rest is required. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rest duration after 12 and 36 h of transport on physiological and behavioral indicators of welfare in 7–8 mo old beef calves. Three hundred and twenty weaned calves (258 ± 23.9 kg BW) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 4 factorial design: 12 and 36 h of transport; and 0 (R0), 4 (R4), 8 (R8), and 12 (R12) h of rest. After the resting period animals were transported for an additional 4 h. A subset of 12 animals/treatment were sampled for non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), haptoglobin and lactate concentrations prior to, and after the first and the 4 h transport, and 7 h, 2 and 28 d after the 4 h transport. Standing and lying behavior was assessed for 14 d after transport. Data was analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS, where transport, and time nested within rest period were fixed effects and animal was a random effect. NEFA concentrations were greater (P < 0.01) in 12-R4 than 12-R8 and 12-R12 calves, while 36-R0 calves had greater (P ≤ 0.05) NEFA concentrations than 36-R4, 36-R8 and 36-R12 calves after the 4 h transport. Haptoglobin concentrations were greater (P < 0.01) in 36 than 12 h calves. No differences (P > 0.10) were observed for lactate. The day after transport, 36-R8 calves spent more (P < 0.01) time lying than 12-R8 calves. Overall, physiological indicators were greater in calves transported for 36 than 12 h, while no differences were observed between rest stops with the exception of NEFA, where overall concentrations were greater after shorter than longer rest periods.

scholarly journals 319 Effects of repeated exposure to either energized or non-energized prods on the behavioral responses of beef cattle to handling

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 7-7
Author(s):  
Désirée Gellatly ◽  
Daniela M Meléndez ◽  
Sonia Marti ◽  
Diego Moya ◽  
Xiaohui Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Transit Time ◽  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Repeated Exposure ◽  
Flight Speed ◽  
Cattle Industry ◽  
Pulse Electric ◽  
Continuous Pulse

Abstract The cattle industry has adopted the use of low stress handling aids however, the continuous-pulse electric prod is still used on hard-to-move cattle. This study aimed to assess behavioral responses of beef cattle after five consecutive exposures to either energized or non-energized prods for 1 s while enclosed in a squeeze chute. A total of 208 7–8 mo old crossbred Angus steers (487.6 ± 41.68 kg BW) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: non-energized prod (CT), continuous-pulse electric prod (CP), broken-pulse electric prod (BP) and a vibration prod (VP) that did not produce a shock. Prior to (d -3, -2 and -1; baseline), during (d 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4) and after (d 5, 6 and 7) the application of treatments, behavior of each steer was assessed including: using voice and touch (VAT; score), race transit time (RTT; s), squeeze chute score (SC; score) and flight speed (FS; m/s). Data was analyzed using GLIMMIX procedure of SAS including treatment, day and interaction as fixed effects. No treatment effect (P > 0.05) was found for VAT. The VP steers had greater (P < 0.05) RTT on d 4 and 5 compared to CT and CP, respectively. The CP steers had greater (P < 0.05) SC than CT, BP and VP. The CP had greater (P < 0.05) FS from d 0 to 7 compared to all other treatments with the exception that no differences (P > 0.05) were observed on d 1 between CP and BP. Based on SC and FS, the CP prod was more aversive to cattle than all other prods. However, due to the lack of differences in VAT and RTT measures between control and electric prods, further studies are required to determine the aversiveness of prods balanced with their ability to move hard-to-move cattle.

ADDITIVE AGE OF DAM ADJUSTMENT FACTORS FOR WEANING WEIGHT OF BEEF CATTLE

1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. W. TONG ◽  
J. A. NEWMAN
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Random Effects ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Adjustment Factors ◽  
Interaction Term ◽  
Breed Crosses ◽  
Weight For Age

A study of 373 351 weaning weight records from the National and the Alberta Provincial Record of Performance programs for beef cattle, representing 279 061 cows from 5421 herds during the period 1971 through 1977, was used to examine age of dam by breed of sire interactions and to derive a set of additive age of dam adjustment factors for calf weaning weight. The model included fixed effects due to age of dam–sex of calf–breed of dam subclasses, breed of sire, age of dam–breed of sire interactions and year of calving plus random effects due to herds and cows within herds. A relatively small age of dam–breed of sire interaction mean square indicated that one set of adjustment factors could be used for calves from all the breeds of sire, even though the interaction term was statistically significant (P < 0.005). A set of additive factors to adjust calf weaning weight for age of dam within sex of calf and breed of dam are presented for the following breeds and breed crosses of dam: Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Shorthorn, British breed crosses, half Charolais–half British, half Simmental–half British and "others."

scholarly journals Genetic parameter estimates for bull prolificacy and its relationship with scrotal circumference in a commercial beef cattle population

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
C A Russell ◽  
E J Pollak ◽  
M L Spangler
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Random Effects ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Genetic Parameter ◽  
Additive Genetic Effect ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Contemporary Group ◽  
Scrotal Circumference ◽  
Heritability Estimates

Abstract The commercial beef cattle industry relies heavily on the use of natural service sires. When artificial insemination is deemed difficult to implement, multi-sire breeding pastures are used to increase reproductive rates in large breeding herds or to safe-guard against bull injury during the breeding season. Although each bull might be given an equal opportunity to produce offspring, evidence suggest that there is substantial variation in the number of calves sired by each bull in a breeding pasture. With the use of DNA-based paternity testing, correctly assigning calves to their respective sires in multi-sire pastures is possible and presents an opportunity to investigate the degree to which this trait complex is under genetic control. Field data from a large commercial ranch was used to estimate genetic parameters for calf count (CC; 574 records from 443 sires) and yearling scrotal circumference (SC; n=1961) using univariate and bivariate animal models. Calf counts averaged 12.2±10.7 and SC averaged 35.4±2.30 cm. Bulls had an average of 1.30 records and there were 23.9±11.1 bulls per contemporary group. The model for CC included fixed effects of age during the breeding season (in years) and contemporary group (concatenation of breeding pasture and year). Random effects included additive genetic and permanent environmental effects, and a residual. The model for SC included fixed effects of age (in days) and contemporary group (concatenation of month and year of measurement). Random effects included an additive genetic effect and a residual. Univariate model heritability estimates for CC and SC were 0.178±0.142 and 0.455±0.072, respectively. Similarly, the bivariate model resulted in heritability estimates for CC and SC of 0.184±0.142 and 0.457±0.072, respectively. Repeatability estimates for CC from univariate and bivariate models were 0.315±0.080 and 0.317±0.080, respectively. The estimate of genetic correlation between CC and SC was 0.268±0.274. Heritability estimates suggest that both CC and SC would respond favorably to selection. Moreover, CC is lowly repeatable and although favorably correlated, SC appears to be weakly associated with CC.

scholarly journals Benefits of Silvopastoral Systems for Keeping Beef Cattle

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 992
Author(s):  
Stella Maris Huertas ◽  
Pablo Ernesto Bobadilla ◽  
Ignacio Alcántara ◽  
Emilie Akkermans ◽  
Frank J. C. M. van Eerdenburg
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Zebu Cattle ◽  
Silvopastoral Systems ◽  
Native Grasses ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Welfare Indicators

The potential benefits of keeping Zebu cattle in silvopastoral systems are well described in tropical regions. In order to obtain information on European breeds of beef cattle (Bos taurus taurus) in temperate climate zones, individual records of body weight and welfare indicators were obtained from 130 beef cattle. These belonged to four herds and were randomly allocated to two contiguous plots: Silvopastoral Systems (SPS) and Open Pastures Systems (OPS). The SPS in this study were areas with exotic trees of Eucalyptus globulus globulus for paper pulp production planted in a 2 × 2 design (two meters between each tree) over diverse, native grasses. The OPS were large open areas with a great diversity of native grasses, herbs, and small plots of trees where the animals could rest and shelter from extreme weather conditions. Over the course of one year, individual body weights and a number of specific animal welfare indicators were measured every 45 days. After a descriptive analysis, a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with a Gaussian distribution, with time and system (OPS or SPS) fitted as fixed effects and individuals nested by herd as random intercepts, was used. The results showed that weight gain did not differ between the two systems. None of the animals showed any sign of impaired welfare in either system over the study period. Silvopastoral systems offer animals a sustainable and richer environment that will improves their welfare. The additional income provided by the wood production allows the farmers to maintain their traditional cattle farming lifestyle.

Effect of band and knife castration of beef calves on welfare indicators of pain at three relevant industry ages: II. Chronic pain

2017 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 0 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Marti ◽  
D. M. Meléndez ◽  
E. A. Pajor ◽  
D. Moya ◽  
C. E. M. Heuston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Beef Calves ◽  
Welfare Indicators

scholarly journals A random effects population dynamics model based on proportions-at-age and removal data for estimating total mortality

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 1881-1893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena M. Trenkel ◽  
Mark V. Bravington ◽  
Pascal Lorance
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Random Effects ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Total Mortality ◽  
Estimation Bias ◽  
Effective Sample Size ◽  
Dynamics Model ◽  
Population Dynamics Model ◽  
Study Parameter

Catch curves are widely used to estimate total mortality for exploited marine populations. The usual population dynamics model assumes constant recruitment across years and constant total mortality. We extend this to include annual recruitment and annual total mortality. Recruitment is treated as an uncorrelated random effect, while total mortality is modelled by a random walk. Data requirements are minimal as only proportions-at-age and total catches are needed. We obtain the effective sample size for aggregated proportion-at-age data based on fitting Dirichlet-multinomial distributions to the raw sampling data. Parameter estimation is carried out by approximate likelihood. We use simulations to study parameter estimability and estimation bias of four model versions, including models treating mortality as fixed effects and misspecified models. All model versions were, in general, estimable, though for certain parameter values or replicate runs they were not. Relative estimation bias of final year total mortalities and depletion rates were lower for the proposed random effects model compared with the fixed effects version for total mortality. The model is demonstrated for the case of blue ling (Molva dypterygia) to the west of the British Isles for the period 1988 to 2011.

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