Francisco Galindo

The Effects of Lameness on Social and Individual Behavior of Dairy Cows

Lameness is one of the most important welfare problems in dairy cattle. Most studies on lameness have focused on wide ranging surveys to identify causal factors, but few have considered the welfare implications of this disorder. In this study, we compared the social and individual behavior of 10 lame cows and 10 nonlame cows. The 20 Holstein-Friesian cows calved in the summer and spent the autumn and winter together with another 36 nonlame cows in a Newton Rigg cubicle house building. The cubicle to cow ratio was 1:1, and wheat straw bedding was provided every day. The investigators fed the cows ad lib a silage-based diet and milked them twice a day, at which time they received adjusted amounts of concentrate. The investigators observed the 2 groups of cows a total of 32 hr to obtain information on social and individual behaviors through scan and behavior sampling. Although lame cows were less likely to start an aggressive interaction, there were no differences in times receiving aggression. No differences were found in the times licking other cows; however, the frequency of times being licked was higher in the lame cows. The lame cows spent more time lying out of the cubicles, had longer total lying times, and spent less time feeding. The behavioral differences seen show that lame cows do not cope as successfully with their environment as do nonlame cows. Also, these results provide useful information on how licking in dairy cows may play a role in alleviating discomfort of other herd members who are in pain or who are sick.

A note on possible link between behaviour and the occurrence of lameness in dairy cows

Lameness in cattle is a major welfare problem and has important economic implications. It is known that lameness has a multifactorial causation; however, it is still not clear why some individuals are more susceptible than others to present foot lesions under the same environment. Social and individual behaviour is thought to play an important role. The aim of this study was to assess the possible relationships between social behaviour, individual time budgets, and the incidence of lameness in 40 dairy cows. The incidence of lameness in the group of cows observed was 42%. There were no differences in the mean time standing between low-, middle- and high-ranking cows. Low-ranking cows spent more time standing still in passageways and standing half in the cubicles than middle- and high-ranking cows. No differences were found in the mean time standing between cows that got lame and cows that did not get lame. However, cows that got clinically lame spent longer standing half in the cubicles and had a significantly lower index of displacements than those cows that did not get lame. This study may offer a starting point to better understand the relationships between behaviour and the occurrence of lameness in dairy cows.

Behaviour and adrenal activity of first parturition and multiparous cows under a competitive situation

First parturition cows have to cope with several changes in their environment that can compromise their welfare and health. In addition to being separated from their calves they have to compete for eating and lying places with older and more experienced cows once they are introduced to the milking herd. The aim of this study was to compare the social and maintenance behaviour, and plasma cortisol levels after an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge test of first parturition cows with those of adult cows. Thirty cows from the same herd, 15 in each group, were observed during 178 h in a cubicle building where social and maintenance behaviour was recorded. An adrenal function test was carried out after the observation period to determine cortisol levels in plasma before and after ACTH injection (−60, 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 210 min). First parturition cows spent more time walking and lying out of the cubicle during a 24-h period and during the night than adult cows ( P< 0.05). Adult cows had on average a higher index of displacement than first lactation cows ( P< 0.05). Cortisol levels at 60 and 90 min after injection of ACTH were lower in adult cows than in first parturition individuals ( P< 0.05). In heifers, the proportion of time feeding during the day was negatively correlated with cortisol levels at 60 and 90 min after ACTH administration, and in multiparous cows the proportion of time lying out of the cubicles in a 24 h cycle and lying out during the night were positively correlated to cortisol levels at 60 min after ACTH administration. This information is useful to understand more about chronic stress in first lactation cows when introduced to a new herd and to make recommendations of management procedures to reduce welfare problems in these individuals.

Stress in Wildlife Species: Noninvasive Monitoring of Glucocorticoids

Depression and stress are related pathologies extensively studied in humans. However, this relationship is not well known in animals kept in zoos and even less known in wild animals. In zoo animals, acute and chronic stress caused by difficulties in coping with stressors such as public presence and noise, among others, can induce the appearance of repetitive pathological behaviors such as stereotypies, many times associated with organic pathologies that deeply affect their health and welfare. In the wild, factors such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation, lack of food and water, and human disturbances are potential causes of acute and chronic stress for the resident fauna. Glucocorticoids (GC) have been extensively used as stress indicators in many species including humans. Since chase and handling of wild animals immediately raise their GC serum levels, noninvasive methods have been developed to assess stress without interference caused by sample collection. The hormones and their metabolites can be measured in various body fluids and excreta and detect basal feedback free hormone concentrations as well as the response to ACTH and handling. In order to study the influence of disturbing factors we have measured GC as stress indicators by noninvasive techniques in dolphins and felids (ocelots, jaguarundis and margays) and cortisol and testosterone in spider monkeys.

Influence of social dominance on production, welfare and the quality of meat from beef bulls.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of social dominance on some indicators of welfare, production and meat quality of young bulls. A total of 60 bulls of the Gasconne breed, 9 months old, housed indoors were used. Indices of success order were calculated to reflect social dominance of each bull into three ranking categories (low, middle and high). Blood samples were taken to measure cortisol, lactate, glucose, creatine kinase, non-esterified fatty acid and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (N/L). M. longissimus samples were analysed in terms of pH, water holding capacity (WHC), texture, colour and sensorial attributes. Social rank influenced cattle stress response, which had an effect on productive performance but not on meat quality traits, with the exception of the sensory traits. These results emphasize the importance of implementing best management practices during pre-harvest handling of cattle in order to modulate any possible risk factor for social stress.

The Effect of Environmental Manipulation on Behavior, Salivary Cortisol, and Growth of Piglets Weaned at 14 Days of Age

Environmental enrichment can be a useful tool to reduce belly nosing behaviors in early weaned piglets. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of environmental enrichment on behavior, salivary cortisol, and productivity of piglets weaned at 14 days of age. The study assigned 112 piglets (line Camborough 22 of PIC™) into 2 treatments, control and enriched, and observed them for 192 hr in 3 periods: 14 to 28 days of age (Phase 1), 28 to 42 days of age (Phase 2), and 42 to 54 days of age (Phase 3). The study obtained saliva samples in each phase from 56 piglets selected randomly from each group for cortisol determination. Comparisons between both treatments and phases included the following: proportion of time belly nosing, latency of approaching a person, average levels of salivary cortisol, and daily weight gain. Belly nosing was higher and latency of approaching a person lower in the control group than in the enriched one (p < .05 and p < .01). Belly nosing was lower in Phase 3 (p < .05); latency of approaching a person was higher in Phase 1 with respect to Phase 2, and this was higher with respect to Phase 3 (p < .01). There were no differences in salivary cortisol levels between treatments or phases. Weight gain was higher in the enriched group (p < .001). Environmental enrichment in piglets weaned at 14 days of age resulted in a reduced proportion of time nosing, reduced latency of response to humans, and better growth than piglets in barren environments.

Application of the Hands-On Donkey Tool for Assessing the Welfare of Working Equids at Tuliman, Mexico

ABSTRACT Equids are still used for diverse chores in Mexico and are essential for the livelihoods of numerous families. Appropriate health and behavior are prerequisites for performing work without affecting welfare. This study aimed to assess the welfare of working equids in Tuliman, applying the hands-on donkey tool. This tool evaluates five dimensions (behavior, body condition score [BCS], wounds, lameness, and other health issues) and was applied to 438 working equids (horses, mules, and donkeys). The Kruskall-Wallis test was applied to investigate differences between species and sex. Donkeys were more common; they also presented more positive behaviors and less lameness (p < 0.05). No differences were found for BCS among species on a scale ranging from 1 to 5 (mean BCS for donkeys = 1.9; mules = 2; and horses = 1.8). Mares had significantly lower BCS (mean = 1.5) than stallions (p < 0.05) and geldings (mean = 1.9). Overall mules had better welfare evaluations. The tool allowed detection of welfare issues in working equids; a practical outcome would be implementing local welfare strategies according to its results.

Integrating links between tree coverage and cattle welfare in silvopastoral systems evaluation

Livestock production in Latin America is strongly associated with deforestation. Silvopastoral systems are an alternative; however, the relation between animal welfare and tree coverage has been poorly studied. We hypothesized that a connection between these features exist and that its evaluation can influence system management decisions. A general assessment of tree coverage percentage and tree distribution in ten Mexican cattle ranches was performed using satellite images. Animal welfare indicators from the Welfare Quality® dairy cattle protocol measurable in extensive conditions were also assessed. Tree coverage percentage was highly variable and formed a gradient (52.42% in Ranch J2 to 2.00% in Ranch S1). The tree coverage percentage of two ranches was deemed as silvopastoral (between 22 and 35%). Body condition was better in ranches with high tree coverage compared to those with low (P < 0.05). The percentage of wooded grassland was negatively correlated with flight distance reductions (P < 0.05). Less integument alterations were present in high tree coverage ranches compared to low (P < 0.05). Our landscape analysis showed the presence of different vegetal compositions in silvopastoral systems of the Mexican tropics. This knowledge can be applied to improve management decisions and promote the use of silvopastoral systems in the area. Additionally, this is the first study proving a relationship between landscape structure and welfare indicators, since body condition and integument alterations were positively affected. Although our results need further research, similar analyses can be implemented to improve cattle well-being in production systems associated to trees. In conclusion, landscape analysis in combination with animal welfare measurements could increase productivity by identifying important links between cattle welfare and the presence of trees, as well as help to identify areas of further research for the implementation of silvopastoral systems in Mexico.

Correction to: Integrating links between tree coverage and cattle welfare in silvopastoral systems evaluation

This study is also part of Karen F. Mancera’s postdoctoral project, supported by the postdoctoral scholarship program UNAM-DGAPA at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine—UNAM.