Flooring and driving conditions during road transport influence the behavioural expression of cattle

Abstract

This study examined whether observers could distinguish between cattle that were exposed to various road transport conditions: Experiment 1 compared a manipulated flooring treatment (non-grip flooring, NG) with a control transport event (grip flooring, G) and Experiment 2 compared a manipulated driving style (stop-start driving, SS) with a control transport event of smooth, continuous (C) driving. The behavioural expression of cattle was assessed through the process of Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA), and these assessments were tested for correlation with various physiological parameters. Fourteen Angus steers were assessed. Blood samples were collected immediately before and after transport, and heart rate and core body temperature were measured continuously throughout each transport event. Continuous video footage recorded during each transport event was edited to isolate short clips of individual animals which were randomly ordered and shown to observers for QBA and analysis by Generalised Procrustes Analysis (GPA) which identifies common dimensions of behavioural expression. There was significant consensus amongst 39 observers in their assessment of behavioural expression of the cattle (P < 0.001). In Experiment 1, observers scored cattle exposed to NG flooring during road transport relatively higher (on visual analogue scales) for terms such as 'agitated', 'restless' and 'anxious' compared with cattle exposed to G flooring, which were scored higher for 'calm', 'comfortable' and 'relaxed' (GPA dimension 1, P < 0.001). In Experiment 2, cattle exposed to SS driving received higher average GPA dimension 1 scores (P < 0.01) and higher GPA dimension 2 scores (P < 0.05). These cattle were therefore scored relatively higher for terms such as 'restless', 'agitated' and 'scared' (GPA dimension 1) or 'curious', 'interested' and 'inquisitive' (GPA dimension 2) compared with cattle exposed to C driving, which were scored higher for 'calm', 'relaxed' and 'comfortable' (GPA dimension 1), or 'stressed', 'tense' and 'alert' (GPA dimension 2). There were some significant correlations between physiological responses and behavioural expression of animals for both experiments, with informative correlations between the different dimensions of behavioural expression and white blood cell counts, red blood cell parameters and heart rate. For example, the neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio, a typical marker of stress in ruminants, was elevated in cattle that were described as more 'agitated', 'restless' and 'anxious' (G-NG flooring: GPA dimension 1) or 'stressed', 'tense' and 'alert' (C-SS driving: GPA dimension 2). These results suggest that the QBA process captured behavioural manifestations of stress in cattle. We conclude that QBA is a valuable method of assessing cattle welfare under the conditions tested since there was significant consensus in the ability of human observers to interpret behavioural expression of cattle during these experimental conditions (i.e. QBA is repeatable), observers could distinguish between transpo...

Effect of Transport on Physical and Haematological Status of Cattle in Bangladesh

“…One of the findings of present study was that insignificant variation of PCV before, after and after 24h of post transportation also supported by the findings of Stockman et al, 2013). While considering the white blood cell count in current study the TLC was highest after transportation compared to before and 24h of post transportation.…”

“…Globally a lots of research have been conducted on transportation stress including Europe (Averós et al, 2008;Averós et al, 2009), United States (Sporer et al, 2007;), Canada (Mitchell et al, 2008, Japan (Ishizaki et al, 2005), Australia (Phillips and Santurtun, 2013;Stockman et al, 2013), UK (Gregory, 2008), Turkey (Teke et al, 2014) Nigeria (Minka and Ayo, 2007;Minka and Ayo, 2013) etc. In transportation the degree of transport stress mostly depends on environmental condition (Aradom, 2013).…”

Qualitative behavioural assessment of the motivation for feed in sheep in response to altered body condition score

“…The results of this study indicate the sensitivity of qualitative behavioural assessment to environmental contexts (in this case the feeding system), therefore making the assessment informative in an integrative sense. Other studies to demonstrate significant treatment differences in QBA scores include studies of sheep and cattle exposed to varying transport conditions (Stockman et al 2011(Stockman et al , 2013Wickham et al 2012), horses before v. after 1 month of intensive handling (Minero et al 2009), or horses filmed at three stages of an endurance ride . These studies also found differences in the animals' affective states between treatment groups.…”

“…For example, assessments may determine if an animal is standing in a relaxed manner or in an alert or focussed manner. Previous QBA studies have shown significant agreement between observers in their assessment of pigs (Wemelsfelder et al 2000Rutherford et al 2012), cattle (Rousing and Wemelsfelder 2006;Brscic et al 2009;Stockman et al 2011Stockman et al , 2012Stockman et al , 2013, buffalo (Napolitano et al 2012), sheep , horses (Napolitano et al 2008;Minero et al 2009;Fleming et al 2013), poultry (Wemelsfelder 2007), and dogs (Walker et al 2010). …”

A balanced perspective on animal welfare for improved meat and meat products

“…Chulayo et al (2012), Gajana et al (2013), Stockman et al (2013) and Vimiso & Muchenje (2013) emphasized that animals experience stressful conditions in transportation, which negatively affect their welfare and meat quality. Delgado (2003) and Hoffman & Cawthorn (2013) carried out research that was aimed at finding ways of increasing protein sources that would meet all needs since meat is an important constituent of the diet for many consumers.…”