scholarly journals A Case Study on the Use of Virtual Fencing to Intensively Graze Angus Heifers Using Moving Front and Back-Fences

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Verdon ◽  
Brian Horton ◽  
Richard Rawnsley
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Electrical Stimulus ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Exclusion Zone ◽  
Visual Contact ◽  
Electric Fencing ◽  
Virtual Boundary ◽  
Electrical Stimuli ◽  
Angus Heifers

Virtual fencing contains and controls grazing cattle using sensory cues rather than physical fences. The technology comprises a neckband-mounted device that delivers an audio cue when the animal nears a virtual boundary that has been set via global positioning system, followed by an electrical stimulus if it walks beyond the boundary. Virtual fencing has successfully been used to intensively graze cattle using a simple virtual front-fence, but a more complex intensive grazing system comprising moving virtual front and back-fences has not been assessed. We studied the effectiveness of virtual fencing technology to contain groups of Angus heifers within grazing cells defined by semi-permanent electric side-fences and virtual front and back-fences, compared to groups of heifers contained in cells defined only by electric fencing. Four groups of 10 Angus heifers were randomly allocated to a “control” (grazed with a conventional electric front and back-fence, n = 2 groups) or “virtual fence” treatment (grazed with a virtual front and back-fence, n = 2 groups). The groups of heifers grazed four adjacent experimental paddocks that were established using TechnoGrazing™ infrastructure. An estimated 9.5 kg pasture DM/heifer.day was offered in each of three 3 day allocations (9 day study period). Data collected include cues delivered by the neckbands, time beyond the virtual boundaries, pasture consumption for each allocation and heifer live weight changes over the study period. The virtual front and back-fences successfully contained one group of heifers in their grazing cell, but the second group of heifers spent an increasing amount of time in the exclusion zone during the second and third allocations and consequently received an increasing number of audio and electrical stimuli. There were no effects of electric or virtual-fence treatment on live weight change or pasture utilization. By grazing heifers in adjacent paddocks our experimental design may have produced a motivation for some heifers to cross the virtual boundary to regain close contact with familiar conspecifics. Despite this, valuable learnings were gained from this study. Most notably, virtual fencing should not be used to manage cattle that have close visual contact to other mobs. We conclude that the successful application of virtual fencing technology needs to accommodate the natural behaviors of cattle.

scholarly journals Pre-Exposure to an Electrical Stimulus Primes Associative Pairing of Audio and Electrical Stimuli for Dairy Heifers in a Virtual Fencing Feed Attractant Trial

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Verdon ◽  
Caroline Lee ◽  
Danila Marini ◽  
Richard Rawnsley
Keyword(s):  
Training Session ◽  
Electrical Stimulus ◽  
Lower Proportion ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
The Third ◽  
Electric Fence ◽  
Electric Fencing ◽  
Audio Stimulus ◽  
Electrical Stimuli ◽  
Strip Grazing

This experiment examined whether pre-exposure to an electrical stimulus from electric fencing attenuates associative pairing of audio and electrical stimuli in dairy heifers. Two treatments were applied to 30 weaned heifers naive to electric fencing. Heifers in the ‘electric-fence’ treatment were exposed to an electrified perimeter fence and two periods of strip-grazing using electrified poly-wire. Control heifers remained naïve to electric fencing. The pairing of audio and electrical stimuli was assessed in a feed attractant trial using manually controlled training collars. Heifers received an audio stimulus (2 s; 84 dB) when they breached a virtual fence after which a short electrical stimulus (0.5 s; 120 mW) was administered if they continued to move forward. If the animal stopped moving forward no further stimuli were applied. By the third training session, electric-fence heifers received a lower proportion of electrical stimuli than control heifers (p = 0.03). The more exploratory interactions a heifer had with the electric fence, the lower the proportion of electrical stimuli she received during training (rs = −0.77, p = 0.002). We conclude that experience with electrical fencing enhanced the salience of the electrical stimulus delivered by manual collars used for virtual fence training.

scholarly journals Diet selection and live-weight changes of two breeds of goats grazing on heathlands

animal ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Osoro ◽  
U. García ◽  
B.M. Jáuregui ◽  
L.M.M. Ferreira ◽  
A.J. Rook ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Diet Selection ◽  
Weight Changes

Effects of nutrition in late pregnancy on subsequent milk production in Ewes

1970 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. T. Treacher
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Lower Content ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Total Birth ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Intake

SUMMARY1. Scottish Half-bred ewes carrying twin foetuses were fed individually to make live-weight gains in the last six weeks of pregnancy of (1) 20%, (2) 10% and (3) 0% of their live weight in week 14 of pregnancy. In lactation the ewes were fed ad libitum. The lambs were removed 12 to 16 hr after parturition and the ewes were machine-milked twice daily for the first six weeks of lactation.2. Total birth weights per ewe of twin lambs from the treatments were (1) 10·10 kg, (2) 9·44 kg and (3) 8·18 kg and differed significantly.3. The level and pattern of voluntary intake in lactation did not differ significantly between the treatments. Total dry-matter intakes in the six weeks of lactation were (1) 121·9 kg (2) 105·9 kg and (3) 109·5 kg.4. The pregnancy treatments affected the level of milk production and the shape of lactation curves. The total yields in the first six weeks of lactation were (1) 58·8 kg, (2) 43·5 kg and (3) 26·9 kg. Higher contents of fat and protein and the lower content of lactose in the milk from treatment-3 ewes on days 1 and 3 of lactation indicated a slower onset of lactation in these ewes. Between days 7 and 35 of lactation the contents of fat and SNF were lowest on treatment 3 but the differences were not significant.5. The live-weight changes in lactation, which were in inverse order to the gains in late pregnancy, were (1) 3·4 kg, (2) 5·5 kg and (3) 9·5 kg.

A preliminary study of protein requirements of African cattle

1963 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Protein Requirements ◽  
African Cattle ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Digestible Protein ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Subsequent Improvement

1. A preliminary study of the protein requirements of young steers of two breeds of African cattle has been described. These requirements were assessed by studying body weight changes of groups of animals fed for 140 days on rations varying in protein content.2. There were only small differences between the breeds in their voluntary food intake while appetite seemed to be linearly related to protein content.3. The two breeds were equally efficient in food and protein utilization.4. Live-weight gain improved significantly as the protein content of the ration increased from 6 to 10%, but a further increase to 14% produced only a small subsequent improvement in growth.5. Maintenance of weight was estimated to occur at a digestible protein intake of only 48% of that recommended by Brody (1945), while the required digestible protein for one pound daily gain was in agreement with the National Research Council (1950) standard.

scholarly journals Live Weight Changes and Their Relationship with the Ovarian Status of Maiden Fat-Tailed Barbarine Ewes

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Imēne Ben Salem ◽  
Mourad Rekik ◽  
Mohammed Ben Hamouda ◽  
Narjess Lassoued
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Ovarian Function ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Ovarian Status ◽  
Weight Variation ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Semi Arid

The current study assessed the effect of the pattern of live weight change on the ovarian function of maiden Barbarine ewes at approximately 1 year of age. For this purpose, a total of 171 weaned ewe lambs (mean live weight  ± s.d. 34.7±3.07 kg and mean age ± SD 196±10 days at weaning) were selected for the experiment. Adjustment of live weight variation  was used. Based on the slope of the curve, animals were grouped into three classes LWCI (n=46),  LWCII (n=91) and LWCIII (n=34) with live weight loss being highest in LWCI and lowest in LWCIII.  Following laparoscopy at 13 months of age, the proportion of ewe lambs found cycling in LWCIII  (85.3%) was higher in comparison to animals in LWCI (43.4%; P<0.001) and tended to be superior to those in LWCII (61.5%; P<0.05). Following synchronisation with progestagen of the females found cycling, levels of plasma IGF-I concentrations between 6 and 42 hrs after removal of sponges were not significantly different between the three classes of live weight, and respectively averaged 94.2, 90.8 and 89.8 µg/l for LWCI, LWCII and LWCIII females. Levels of estradiol were also not significantly different between the three groups (0.73, 0.70 and 0.67 pg/ml for LWCI, LWCII and LWCIII ewe lambs, respectively). It was concluded that, in low input systems of semi-arid and arid Tunisia, mating ewe lambs at the approximate age of 1 year is likely to lead to depressed reproductive performance particularly when the summer live weight-loss is elevated. 

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF Albizia saman PODS SUPPLEMENTATION ON FEED INTAKE AND LIVE WEIGHT CHANGES OF WHITE FULANI CALVES

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-71
Author(s):  
B. A. ADEBIYI ◽  
J. A. ADENEYE
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Grass Hay ◽  
Guinea Grass ◽  
White Fulani ◽  
Albizia Saman ◽  
Cassava Waste

Nine weaned White Fulani Calves aged between 3 - 13 months, weighing between 28 - 71kg werte fed on ratios consisting of basal Guinea grass hay and 0, 15, 30% Albizia saman replacement for cassava waste in a concentrate ration and each period lasting 28 days feed intake and live weight changes of White Fulani Calves were determined. The DM intake increased with increased level of Albizia saman in the ration, the highest liveweight changes was recorded when the animals were fed 30% Albizia saman whole pod. The result showed that Albizia saman whole pod promotes intake and live weight changes of White Fulani calves, thus can be fed without any adverse effect on calves.

Nutrition

1937 ◽  
Vol 10 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 38-88
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Percentage Mortality ◽  
Yellow Corn ◽  
Alfalfa Meal ◽  
Basal Ration

The vitamin A requirements of the laying pullet. W. C. Russell, C. S. Platt, M.W. Taylor, and D. F. Chichester. New Jersey Stas. Circ. 369, 1936.In the experiments herein reported seven pens of healthy pullets reared on range were started on experiment late in August and continued under confinement for a 12-mo. period. All lots received essentially the same basal ration, but the proportions of yellow corn and white corn and the supplements of alfalfa meal, vitamin A concentrate, and fresh green feed were varied so that the U. S. P. units of vitamin A per pound of feed were 400, 700, 1,300, 2,200, 3,800, 4,100, and 30,000 for lots 1 to 7, respectively. Data are reported on the percentage mortality, live weight changes, egg production, hatchability of eggs, mortality of chicks during the first 2 weeks of life, and vitamin A storage in the livers of the hens.

Milk production from diets of silage and dried forage. 1. Effects of methods of processing dried grass and of including barley in the supplementation of grass silage given ad libitum

1976 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Tayler ◽  
K. Aston
Keyword(s):  
Energy Content ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Female Cattle

SUMMARY1. Young adult and adult British Friesian female cattle (heifers and cows) which were lactating were individually fed on diets of grass silage ad libitum with supplements of dried grass, dried grass/barley or barley/groundnut in two randomized block experiments.2. In Experiment I, equal quantities of dry matter (DM) as dried grass in the form of a wafer (W), cob (C) or pellet (P) were given with the silage during weeks 8 to 18 of lactation, to three groups of 12 heifers. Silage DM intakes were respectively 14·2, 14·3 and 15·8 ± 0·43 g/kg live weight per day (P<0·05). Milk yields were 14·0, 15·6, 16·7 ± 0·35 kg/day (P< 0·001). Milk composition and live-weight change did not differ significantly.3. In Experiment II, five treatment groups of heifers and cows were offered silage with equal amounts of a supplement of either dried grass pellets (treatment 1) or dried grass/barley in the ratios of 2: 1 (treatment 2), 1: 2 (treatment 3), or a barley/groundnut supplement (treatment 4). In treatment 5 the cattle received the same supplement as in treatment 4, but at a 10% higher level. Silage DM intakes for treatments 1 to 5 during lactation weeks 6 to 22 were 8·64, 8·94, 7·96, 6·96, 7·63 kg/day (1, 2>4, P<0·01; 2>5, P<0·05). The intake of digestible organic matter, milk yields and live-weight changes over the whole experimental period were not influenced significantly by treatments 1 to 4, but in treatment 5 the milk was significantly higher in fat, protein and energy content than in treatments 1 to 4. Blood composition was normal and did not differ markedly between treatments.

Seasonal patterns of energy allocation to basal metabolism, activity and production for livestock in a nomadic pastoral ecosystem

1986 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Coppock ◽  
D. M. Swift ◽  
J. E. Ellis ◽  
K. Galvin
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Basal Metabolism ◽  
Energy Budgets ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Annual Basis

SummaryEnergy budgets and estimates of forage intake requirements were developed for adult camels, cattle, sheep, and goats managed by nomads in the arid Turkana District of north-western Kenya. The estimates were developed by combining our field data on livestock activity patterns, diet quality, weight changes and milk yields with literature based estimates of the associated costs and efficiencies. On an annual basis, the average animal walked 17 km/day and had a total metabolizable energy (ME) allocation of 47% for basal metabolism, 16% for travel, 14% for other activities, and 23% for production. Season and species influenced patterns of energy demand and allocation. Average daily ME requirements ranged from 8·7 MJ (sheep) to 76·7 MJ (camels). ME demand for all species peaked during wet (April-May) or early-to mid-dry periods (June-October), and decreased considerably in the late-dry season (November-March). In the wet season the average sheep or goat allocated 45% of its ME budget to production of milk and gain, followed by cattle (36%) and camels (25%). All species were more similar in ME allocation for production during the late-dry season (7–13%; all to lactation), yet patterns of weight loss during this time indicated that camels experienced the lowest degree of negative energy balance. On an annual basis, camel budgets were the most deviant, as they allocated relatively more ME to activity and relatively less to basal metabolism or weight gain. Estimates of forage dry-matter intakes (per unit live weight per day) ranged from 3·8% (cattle, camels) to 4·6% (sheep, goats) throughout the year, and intakes declined for most species by an average of 50% from the wet to late-dry intervals. This approach has revealed ecological differences among livestock species that help explain the utility of multi-species holdings in this system.

Allocation of feed based on individual dairy cow live weight changes

2009 ◽  
Vol 126 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 273-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorte Bossen ◽  
Martin Riis Weisbjerg
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Weight Changes
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