Effect of different periods of maternal deprivation on behavioral and cortisol responses at weaning and subsequent growth rate in zebu (Bos indicus) type cattle

Pérez, Leire; Orihuela, Agustı́n; Galina, C.S.; Rubio, I.; Corro, Manuel; Cohen, Abraham; Hernández, Adalinda

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2016.12.006

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Such weaning induces stress only transiently, because mother and calf quickly become accustomed to scheduled contact. Weaning stress leads to an increase in vocalizations and locomotor activity, which correlates with an increase in cortisol and weight loss [ 116 ]. Milk accumulation in the udder induces additional stress in the mother.…”

Section: Main Stressors In the Beef Cowmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Stress on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies in Beef Cattle—A Review

Fernández-Novo¹,

Pérez-Garnelo

Villagrá

et al. 2020

Animals

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Researchers have contributed by increasing our understanding of the factors affecting reproduction in beef, mainly physical health and nutrition aspects, which have been main concerns during decades. Animal welfare is of outmost relevance in all animal production systems and it is strongly associated to stress. Stress responses involve endocrine, paracrine and neural systems and the consequences of this stress on the reproductive efficiency of specifically, beef cattle and bulls, need to be highlighted. We, therefore, describe the fundamentals of stress and its quantification, focusing in beef herds, reviewing the highly valuable pieces of research, already implemented in this field. We examine major factors (stressors) contributing to stress in beef cattle and their effects on the animals, their reproductive performance and the success of reproductive biotechnologies. We include terms such as acclimatization, acclimation or temperament, very relevant in beef systems. We examine specifically the management stress due to handling, social environment and hierarchy or weaning effects; nutritional stress; and thermal stress (not only heat stress) and also review the influence of these stressors on reproductive performance and effectiveness of reproductive biotechnologies in beef herds. A final message on the attention that should be devoted to these factors is highlighted.

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Section: Main Stressors In the Beef Cowmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Stress on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies in Beef Cattle—A Review

Fernández-Novo¹,

Pérez-Garnelo

Villagrá

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…However, this practice may induce different levels of stress, defined as an “environmental effect on an individual which over-taxes its control systems and reduces its fitness” [8]. Pérez et al [9] found that separation of the offspring has a stressful effect on both the mothers and the offspring as shown by the display of behaviors associated with stress, like vocalizations and locomotor activity, increase in cortisol concentration, loss of weight, and close proximity to fence-line, among others. Nowadays, society demands fair treatment of animals [10], so the productive advantages of shortening the parturition-first ovulation interval and reducing the calving interval, must be considered together with the need to subject the animals to the minimum possible stress [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Separation of Cows and Calves on Reproductive Performance and Animal Welfare in Tropical Beef Cattle

Orihuela

Galina

2019

Animals

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Nursing a calf suppresses postpartum ovarian activity prolonging the period of anestrus. Diverse methods are used to reduce the effect of suckling; the most popular, restricted suckling, reduces the number of encounters mother-calf. Temporal weaning of the calf for periods of 24 h, 48 h, or even 72 h also suppress the effect of suckling and is commonly applied to cow-calf operations in the tropics. Early weaning of the calf, usually three to five months after birth, is a practice gaining popularity over the traditional system of weaning at seven months. Furthermore, the use of nose-flaps in the calf to avoid suckling is a common procedure in South America. Finally, weaning during the first week after calving is an established method to reduce postpartum anestrus. The objective of the present review is to discuss the effects of these methods on the reproductive performance of beef cattle and their animal welfare implications.

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“…Rearing with dams shows indications of reduced fearfulness and improved social competence in dairy calves (Krohn et al, 1999;Wagner et al, 2012Wagner et al, , 2013Wagner et al, , 2015Buchli et al, 2017), though inconsistencies in behavioural and physiological indicators of emotionality emerged (Le Neindre, 1989;Wagner et al, 2013;Wagner et al, 2015). In cattle, enhanced locomotor activity is an indicator of stress (Pérez et al, 2017) and reduced locomotion can be an indicator of fearfulness (Van Reenen et al, 2005). Calves reared with their dams for a minimum of 30 d are more submissive when confronted with an unfamiliar cow (Buchli et al, 2017) than calves reared without dams.…”

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confidence: 99%

The influence of maternal contact on activity, emotionality and social competence in young dairy calves

Santo

Borstel

Sirovnik

2020

Journal of Dairy Research

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The study reported in this research communication aimed to assess the influence of maternal contact on calves' activity, fearfulness, and social competence. Calves were either dam-reared for their first 14 d of age (Maternal Contact, n = 12) or were separated from their dams within 12 h after birth (Motherless, n = 12). Calves of both treatments and the dams of Maternal Contact calves were group-housed and suckling was prevented with udder nets. The general activity (lying, locomotion, swapping between lying and standing) was measured using pedometers in eight Maternal Contact and eight Motherless calves within a 24-d period. Since general activity might be affected by calves' age or the separation of Maternal Contact calves from the dams the 24-d period was additionally divided into two groups (period A: 3rd–13th day of age, period B: 14th–27th day of age). Emotionality and social competence were assessed in the open field, novel object, and confrontation test with an unknown cow at 14, 21, and 28 d of age, respectively. Mann–Whitney-U-tests were performed for statistical analysis. Locomotion was greater in Motherless calves than Maternal Contact calves during the 24-d period (A + B combined, P < 0.001) and period B (14th to 27th day of age, P < 0.001). There was no treatment difference in duration of lying or in the amount of swapping in any of the periods. After a Bonferroni correction, which we used due to the exploratory character of the study, there were no treatment differences in behaviours indicating emotionality. Compared to Motherless calves, Maternal Contact calves showed increased vigilance (P < 0.01) during the confrontation test. The results of this study indicate that mother-reared calves likely searched less for social contact and developed greater social skills than calves that were separated from their mothers soon after birth.

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Effect of different periods of maternal deprivation on behavioral and cortisol responses at weaning and subsequent growth rate in zebu (Bos indicus) type cattle

Cited by 17 publications

References 27 publications

The Effect of Stress on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies in Beef Cattle—A Review

The Effect of Stress on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies in Beef Cattle—A Review

Effects of Separation of Cows and Calves on Reproductive Performance and Animal Welfare in Tropical Beef Cattle

The influence of maternal contact on activity, emotionality and social competence in young dairy calves

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