Grazing, social and comfort behaviour of Ankole and crossbred (Ankole×Holstein) heifers on pasture in south western Uganda

Huber, R.; Baumung, Roswitha; Wurzinger, María; Semambo, D.K.N.; Mwai, Okeyo Ally; Winckler, Christoph

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2007.08.006

Cited by 22 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In agreement with Huber et al (2008), the lower object licking observed in group FR may be explained by the higher walking and feeding activities performed at pasture, whereas group C expressed more object licking while spending less time in walking and feeding. Abnormal oral behaviours are linked with the lack of opportunities to express explorative behaviours and to spend time feeding (Bergeron et al, 2006).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

Podolian beef production on pasture and in confinement

Braghieri

Pacelli

Rosa

et al. 2011

Animal

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the effect of rearing system (confined (C) v. free ranging (FR)) and season (spring v. summer) was evaluated on behaviour, immune and blood parameters and beef production (experiment 1). From February to August 2008, the effect of rearing system was only evaluated on beef production (experiment 2). A total of 12 Podolian young bulls were used each year. They were slaughtered at 18 and 15 months of age in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Herbage mass and pasture composition were monitored during the 2 years. Pasture availability, in terms of herbage mass and composition, as well as its seasonal development, was similar in the 2 years. In the first experiment, FR animals spent more time walking ( P , 0.05), feeding ( P , 0.001) and standing ( P , 0.01) and showed a lower number of agonistic ( P , 0.05) and non-agonistic social interaction than C animals ( P , 0.01). Significant lower concentrations of serum urea nitrogen ( P , 0.001) and creatinine ( P , 0.10) in FR animals indicated a lower protein nutritional status due to inadequate protein availability at pasture. As a consequence, average daily gains ( P , 0.05), slaughter weight ( P , 0.05) and body condition score ( P , 0.01) were lower in grazing animals as compared with C bulls. Cellular immune responsiveness was higher in FR animals ( P , 0.05). Similarly, antibody titre to keyhole limpet hemocyanin was higher in FR bulls at the 2nd and 3rd month after antigen injection ( P , 0.05), whereas it tended to be higher at the 4th month ( P , 0.10). In both experiments, grazing negatively affected meat colour in terms of lightness. Eighteenmonth-old bulls also showed lower final weight, weight gain and body conditions when kept outdoor: a possible consequence of nutrient deficits, as suggested by the metabolic status of FR animals. The same animals, however, benefited from FR in terms of natural behaviour expression and immune responsiveness. When the experiment was replicated the subsequent year, on animals slaughtered at 15 months of age, no differences between the performances of FR and C animals were detected. The earlier slaughter age system was also proportionally less dependent on external inputs as grazing was not extended to the dry season when herbage mass availability was lower.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

Podolian beef production on pasture and in confinement

Braghieri

Pacelli

Rosa

et al. 2011

Animal

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“…Farmers reported during the interviews that crossbred cattle cannot walk long distances with the same ease as Ankole cattle; hence the decision to keep them near homesteads and watering points. The influence of breeds on walking behaviour has been reported (Herbel and Nelson, 1966) although a study comparing Ankole with Ankole × Holstein‐Friesians did not find significant differences in walking behaviour (Huber et al. , 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pasture use and management strategies in the Ankole pastoral system in Uganda

Roschinsky

Mulindwa

Galukande

et al. 2011

Grass and Forage Science

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The Bahima ethnic group have been crossbreeding autochthonous Ankole with Holstein-Friesian cattle. Separate herds (pure Ankole and crossbreds) are common. A survey was conducted to characterize pasture utilization and management in the Ankole region to gain a better understanding of current and emerging practices. Herds are largely grazed by continuous stocking although there are efforts to establish paddocks. Factors considered for pasture allocation to cattle genotypes were high-quality feed, limited shrubs ⁄ weeds and close proximity to homestead for 80, 80 and 30% of farmers, respectively. Cross-bred cattle were kept on medium ⁄ high-quality, and Ankole cattle on medium ⁄ low-quality pastures. Pastures for crossbred cattle yielded 0AE17 t ha )1 more dry matter than pastures allocated to Ankole cattle. Crude protein (CP) content of Ankole pasture was significantly (P < 0AE05) lower than CP of cross-bred pasture (6AE3% compared with 7AE3%). Neutral detergent fibre content was similar (72AE8% vs. 69AE8%) for both pasture types. Farmers' perceptions of indicator plant species were important for allocation of pasture. Hyparrhenia rufa, Brachiaria spp., Themeda triandra and Chloris gayana were identified as the preferred pasture species. Sporobolus pyramidalis and Cymbopogon afronardus were the most undesirable pasture species. Brachiaria spp. offers an opportunity for utilization as hay for dry season supplementation.

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“…Tongue to nose, bar in the mouth, drink urine, licking the ano-genital region of a conspecific, etc. Raussi et al (2005) for "licking the anogenital area" Comfort behaviour Comfort behaviour Scratching with foot, scratching with horns, self-licking, rubbing against equipment or trees Adapted from Huber et al (2008) for "scratching with foot", "scratching with horns", "self-licking" and Krohn (1994) for "rubbing against equipment" Interactions Social licking Tongue in contact with the body surface (except ano-genital region, udder, teats or claws) of the recipient, repeated up and down head movements for at least 3 consecutive times Gutmann et al (2015) Being displaced Moving away (independent of the direction) for more than two steps as a result of being but, pushed, rubbed, threatened or approached by a conspecific Adapted from Gutmann et al (2015) and Huber et al (2008)…”

Section: Other Oral Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Doing nothing and what it looks like… Inactivity in fattening cattle

Hintze

Maulbetsch

Asher

et al. 2019

Preprint

Self Cite

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Animals kept in barren environments often show increased levels of inactivity and first studies indicate that inactive behaviour may reflect boredom or depression-like states. However, inactivity does not necessarily reflect negative welfare and can even be a sign of positive welfare, for example in terms of relaxation. To date, knowledge of how to reliably differentiate between positive and negative states associated with inactivity is scarce and methods to identify different forms of inactivity are thus warranted. To this end, we developed an Inactivity Ethogram including detailed information on the postures of different body parts (Standing/Lying, Head, Ears, Eyes, Tail) for fattening cattle, a farm animal category often kept in barren environments. The Inactivity Ethogram was applied to Austrian Fleckvieh heifers from intensive, semi-intensive and pasture-based husbandry systems. Three farms per husbandry system were visited twice; once in the morning and once in the afternoon to cover most of the daylight hours with our observations. During each visit, 16 focal animals were continuously observed for 15 minutes each (96 heifers per husbandry system, 288 in total). Moreover, the focal animals' groups were video recorded to later determine the inactivity level on the group level. Group level and focal animal data were analysed with (generalised) linear mixed-effect models with husbandry system as fixed effect and (group nested in) farm visit nested in farm as random effects. Husbandry system did not affect group level inactivity or the time the different postures were adopted (with the exception of asymmetrical ears, which were more prevalent in intensive than in semi-intensive than in pasture systems). In addition to the analysis of the time the single postures were observed for, simultaneous occurrences of postures of different body parts (Standing/Lying, Head, Ears and Eyes) were analysed using the machine learning algorithm cspade to provide insight into co-occurring postures of inactivity. Frequently co-occurring postures were generally similar between husbandry systems, but with subtle differences. The most frequently observed combination in intensive and semi-intensive systems was Lying with Head up, Ears backwards and Eyes open whereas in pasture systems it was Lying with Head up, ears low and eyes closed. To conclude, both the Inactivity Ethogram (including the description of detailed postures) and the machine learning algorithm cspade (for identifying frequently co-occurring posture combinations) are promising tools to understand how combinations of postures may be used to distinguish between different affective states associated with inactivity.

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Grazing, social and comfort behaviour of Ankole and crossbred (Ankole×Holstein) heifers on pasture in south western Uganda

Cited by 22 publications

References 21 publications

Podolian beef production on pasture and in confinement

Podolian beef production on pasture and in confinement

Pasture use and management strategies in the Ankole pastoral system in Uganda

Doing nothing and what it looks like… Inactivity in fattening cattle

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