Effects of Temperament on the Reproduction of Beef Cattle

Temperament is often defined as the behavioral expression of animals in response to human interaction. Cattle temperament can be evaluated using an association of chute score and exit velocity, with cattle then classified as adequate or excitable temperament. To assess the impacts of temperament on various beef systems, these evaluation criteria were associated with productive and reproductive parameters of Bos taurus and B. indicus-influenced cattle. Consistently across studies, excitable cattle had greater plasma cortisol compared to animals with adequate temperament. Studies also reported that excitable beef females have poorer reproductive performance compared to calmer cohorts, including reduced annual pregnancy rates, decreased calving rate, weaning rate, and kg of calf weaned/cow exposed to breeding. Acclimating B. indicus × B. taurus or B. taurus heifers to human handling improved behavioral expression of temperament and hastened puberty attainment. However, similar benefits were not observed when mature cows were acclimated to human handling. Collectively, temperament of beef females measured via behavioral responses upon human handling impacts their reproductive and productive responses independent of breed type, and should be considered for optimal beef cattle production.

Download Full-text

385 Awardee Talk: Impacts of temperament on productive and reproductive responses of Bos taurus and B. indicus females

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.256 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 139-139

Author(s):

Reinaldo F Cooke

Keyword(s):

Plasma Cortisol ◽

Production Efficiency ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

Evaluation Criteria ◽

Behavioral Responses ◽

Delayed Puberty ◽

Exit Velocity ◽

Breed Type ◽

Calving Rate

Abstract Temperament is defined as the fear-related behavioral responses of cattle when exposed to human handling. Our group evaluates cattle temperament using: 1) chute score: 1 to 5 scale that increases according to excitable behavior during chute restraining, 2) exit velocity: speed of an animal exiting the squeeze chute, 3) exit score: dividing cattle according to exit velocity into quintiles using a 1 to 5 scale (1 = slowest quintile; 5 = fastest quintile), and 4) temperament score: average of chute and exit scores. Subsequently, cattle are assigned a temperament type; adequate temperament (ADQ; temperament score ≤ 3) or excitable temperament (EXC; temperament score > 3). Our group associated these evaluation criteria with reproductive responses of Bos taurus and B. indicus-influenced females. Cattle classified as EXC had greater (P ≤ 0.04) plasma cortisol vs. ADQ during handling, independent of breed type or parity. Both B. taurus and B. indicus cows classified as EXC had reduced (P ≤ 0.09) annual pregnancy rates vs. ADQ cohorts, resulting in decreased calving rate, weaning rate, and kg of calf weaned/cow exposed to breeding. Bos indicus heifers classified as EXC as yearlings had less (P < 0.01) growth rate and delayed puberty attainment by 15 months of age compared with ADQ heifers. Bos taurus heifers that reached puberty by 12 months of age had less (P ≤ 0.05) temperament score and plasma cortisol concentrations at weaning compared with heifers that did not reach puberty. Acclimating B. indicus-influenced and B. taurus heifers to human handling after weaning improved (P ≤ 0.02) temperament and hastened puberty attainment. Hence, temperament impacts productive and reproductive responses of beef females independent of breed type and parity. Strategies to improve herd temperament are imperative for optimal production efficiency of cow-calf operations based on B. taurus and B. indicus-influenced cattle.

Download Full-text

Genetic and environmental influences on beef cattle production in Zambia 4. Weaner production from purebred and reciprocally crossbred dams

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0003356100040605 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 165-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

W. Thorpe ◽

D. K. R. Cruickshank ◽

R. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Mortality Rate ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Live Weight ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Weaning Weight ◽

Beef Cattle Production ◽

Calving Rate

ABSTRACTEstimates of dam reproductive performance are reported for purebred Africander, Angoni, Barotse and Boran dams, and the reciprocal crossbreds of the latter three breeds, under ranching conditions in Zambia.Mean performances based on a maximum of 1996 records collected over six parities were: calving rate, 65·6%; weaning rate, 62·8%; calf birth weight, 26·6kg; calf weaning weight, 163·6kg; and dam live weight at weaning, 363 0 kg.Purebred Africander and Barotse dams had significantly poorer calving rates, 542 and 57·6% respectively, than the purebred dams of the Angoni and Boran breeds, 69·1 and 66·0% respectively. Reciprocal crossbred dams of the latter two breeds had the highest calving rates, 71·2 and 74·4%. Heterosis estimates for calving rate were 0·8% for Angoni/Barotse crosses, 7·8% for Angoni/Boran crosses and 10·3% for Barotse/Boran crosses and, for weaning rate, 3·7, 6·7 and 11·5% respectively. There were no differences between reciprocal crossbred dams for calving and weaning percentages. The mortality rate of calves born to crossbred dams was 40% and that of the calves born to purebred dams of the same breeds 4·7%. Dam status at mating had an important effect on fertility with the calving rate of dams dry at mating, 89·1%, contrasting with a rate of 39·8% for those dams that were lactating at mating and that had calved late in the season.There were large differences between breeds for calf weights but heterosis estimates were small and nonsignificant. There were no differences between the progeny weights of reciprocal crossbred dams. Sex, date and period of birth, and dam status had significant effects on calf weights.Africander dams had the heaviest, and Angoni dams the lightest, live weights at weaning, 421·1 and 320·7 kg respectively. Heterosis estimates for dam live weights were small and non-significant, and reciprocal crossbred differences were unimportant. Dams which lost most live weight during the dry season, that had extremely light live weights at the beginning of the breeding season or that gained little weight during the breeding season had significantly poorer fertility than other dams.Overall estimates of heritability derived by dam/daughter regression were 0·20 for calving percentage, 0·76 for calf birth weight and 0·72 for calf weaning weight.

Download Full-text

Genetic and environmental influences on beef cattle production in Zambia 1. Factors affecting weaner production from Angoni, Barotse and Boran dams

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0003356100024004 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 217-234 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

W. Thorpe ◽

D. K. R. Cruickshank ◽

R. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Weight Change ◽

Live Weight ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Beef Cattle Production ◽

Calving Rate

ABSTRACTFactors influencing reproductive performance and calf and dam live weights were examined for two indigenous breeds, Angoni and Barotse, and an introduced breed, Boran, under ranching conditions in Zambia.Over 5 years, 675 Angoni, 731 Barotse and 815 Boran records gave calving percentages of 82·5, 78·1 and 75·4 respectively. Year was an important influence on calving and weaning percentages in all breeds; age of dam had little effect and status at mating was only important in the Angoni breed, in which lactating dams produced more calves than dry dams.Mean calf weaning weights were 147·3, 167·0 and 169·5 kg for the Angoni, Barotse and Boran dam breeds respectively. Hereford, Friesian and Boran bulls sired heavier progeny than Angoni and Barotse. Dam age and status did not influence calf weights, which were positively correlated with dam weights and negatively correlated with dam weight change during lactation.Dam live weights at the beginning of the breeding season were 313, 357 and 348 kg for the Angoni, Barotse and Boran breeds respectively. Angoni and Boran dams reached maximum live weight at 7 years and Barotses at 9 years. Subsequent calving rate was not influenced by live weight at the beginning of the breeding season nor, in lactating dams, by live-weight change between the autumn peak and mid breeding season.

Download Full-text

Environmental impacts of Brazilian beef cattle production in the Amazon, Cerrado, Pampa, and Pantanal biomes

Journal of Cleaner Production ◽

10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127750 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 127750

Author(s):

Milene Dick ◽

Marcelo Abreu da Silva ◽

Rickiel Rodrigues Franklin da Silva ◽

Otoniel Geter Lauz Ferreira ◽

Manoel de Souza Maia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Beef Cattle Production

Download Full-text

Identification of breeding objectives using a bioeconomic model for a beef cattle production system in Uruguay

Livestock Science ◽

10.1016/j.livsci.2013.12.006 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 160 ◽

pp. 21-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Maria Isabel Pravia ◽

Olga Ravagnolo ◽

Jorge Ignacio Urioste ◽

Dorian J. Garrick

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Production System ◽

Bioeconomic Model ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Breeding Objectives ◽

Beef Cattle Production

Download Full-text

Bioeconomic simulation of Rhipicephalus microplus infestation in different beef cattle production systems in the Brazilian Cerrado

Agricultural Systems ◽

10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103247 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 194 ◽

pp. 103247

Author(s):

Maria Paula Cavuto Abrão Calvano ◽

Ricardo Carneiro Brumatti ◽

Jacqueline Cavalcante Barros ◽

Marcos Valério Garcia ◽

Kauê Rodriguez Martins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Production Systems ◽

Rhipicephalus Microplus ◽

Brazilian Cerrado ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Beef Cattle Production

Download Full-text

183 Designing Research for Beef Cattle Production in Extensive Environments

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.177 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 98-99

Author(s):

Timothy DelCurto ◽

Sam Wyffels

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Statistical Inference ◽

Multiple Regression ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Modeling Tools ◽

Activity Monitors ◽

Multiple Observations ◽

Wide Range ◽

Beef Cattle Production

Abstract Designing research for beef cattle production in rangeland environments is an ongoing challenge for researchers worldwide. Specifically, creating study designs that mirror actual production environments yet have enough observations for statistical inference is a challenge that often hinders researchers in efforts to publish their observations. Numerous journals will accept “case study” or observational results that lack valid statistical inference. However, these journals are limited in number and often lack impact. Approaches are available to gain statistical inference by creating multiple observations within a common group of animals. Approaches to increasing statistical observations will be discussed in this presentation. Modeling animal behavior and performance on extensive rangeland landscapes is commonly practiced in wildlife ecology and, more recently, has been published in Animal Science journals. Additionally, new technology has made it possible to apply treatments (e.g., supplementation studies) to individual animals on extensive environments where large, diverse herds/flocks of cattle/sheep are managed as a single group. Use of individual animal identification (EID) and feed intake technology has opened a wide range of research possibilities for beef cattle production systems research in rangeland environments. Likewise, global positioning system (GPS) collars and activity monitors have created the opportunity to evaluate animal grazing behavior in remote and extensive landscapes. The use of multiple regression models to evaluate resource use in extensive environments will, in turn, help managers optimize beef cattle production and the sustainable use of forage/rangeland resources. Embracing new technologies such as GPS, activity monitors, EID tags, and feed intake monitors combined with multiple regression modeling tools will aid in designing and publishing beef cattle production research in extensive rangeland environments.

Download Full-text

PSVIII-19 Greenhouse gas emissions from beef cattle production in Brazil: how we can mitigate from animal operations?

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.771 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 430-430

Author(s):

Andre Pastori D Aurea ◽

Abmael S da Silva Cardoso ◽

Lauriston Bertelli Fernandes ◽

Ricardo Andrade Reis ◽

Luis Eduardo Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Primary Data ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Production Chain ◽

Beef Cattle Production ◽

Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

Abstract In Brazil beef cattle production is one of the most important activities in the agricultural sector and has an important impact on environmental and resources consumption. In this study assessed greenhouses gases (GHG) impacts from on farms representative productive system and the possible improvements of the production chain. Primary data from animal production index and feeding were collected from 17 farms, which covers 300.000 animals and 220.000 hectares. Emissions of methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide were made using intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) guidelines for national inventories. The GHG inventory included emissions from animals, feeds and operations for animal operation from “cradle to farm gate”. Emissions of each farm were converted to carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) and divided by carcass production. Regression analysis between carbon dioxide equivalent and productive index was run to identify possible hotspot of GHG emissions. A large variation between farms were observed. The GHG yield ranged from 8.63 kg to 50.88 CO2eq kg carcass-1. The productive index age of slaughtering (P < 0.0001), average daily gain (P < 0.0001) and productivity (P = 0.058) per area were positive correlated to GHG yield. While no correlation was found with stocking rate (P = 0.21). Improvements of the production chain could be realized by accurate animal management strategies that reduce the age of slaughtering (feeding and genetic improvements) and gain individual or per area using strategic animal supplementation and pasture management, in order to obtains reduction of GHG emissions of beef cattle.

Download Full-text