Keeping growing cattle outside during winter: behaviour, production and climatic demand

Redbo, I.; Mossberg, I.; Ehrlemark, Anders; Ståhl-Högberg, M.

doi:10.1017/s1357729800014284

Cited by 29 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…By lying down on a dry and insulated surface, an animal can save energy, not only because of the lowered costs for locomotion, but also by minimising its body surface exposure which reduces radiation heat loss. Several studies have previously shown that cattle respond to extreme wind and cold by choosing a milder microclimate for resting (Senft et al 1985;Houseal and Olson 1995) and that they spend more time lying during cold days (Gonyou et al 1979;Redbo et al 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural responses to climatic demands of dairy heifers housed outdoors

Redbo¹,

Ehrlemark²,

Redbo-Torstensson³

2001

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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Redbo, I., Ehrlemark, A. and Redbo-Torstensson, P. 2001. Behavioural responses to climatic demands of dairy heifers housed outdoors. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 81: 9-15. The aim of the present study was to investigate the behavioural responses to different climatic demands of growing dairy heifers, during winter at a latitude of 60°N. Two groups (n = 11, 12) of yearling dairy heifers were housed in two similar 3-ha enclosures, characterised by deciduous forest, ley and pasture. Each enclosure also contained a lying area, a heated water source and a feed bunk from which the heifers had free access to grass silage. The behaviour and location of each heifer were recorded by instant interval observations every 5 min between 0600 h and 2000 h during 23 observation days spread over the entire winter period. Outdoor temperature, wind speed and solar radiation were measured continuously. The climatic energy demand (CED, W m -2 ) was measured with a heated animal model. The climate had significant effects on all the main activities and on the location of the heifers. Higher CED values corresponded to a greater number of observations of heifers in the lying area, and a greater incidence of lying and of ruminating, but to a decreased incidence of eating and grazing. Increased migration to the forested areas instead of to open areas reflected increasing CED values. The results from the present study show that dairy heifers adapt their behavioural activity and choice of location to the climatic conditions, to reduce energy expenditure. Thus, dairy heifers can be sustained in a cold climate if they are provided with wind breaks and dry lying places.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural responses to climatic demands of dairy heifers housed outdoors

Redbo¹,

Ehrlemark²,

Redbo-Torstensson³

2001

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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“…Accordingly, in outdoor or uninsulated conditions, growing cattle often exhibit good performance (e.g. Mossberg et al 1992, 1993, Redbo et al 1996, Manninen et al 2007), but opposite results have also been reported, e.g. by Delfino and Mathison (1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Animal performance and carcass characteristics of growing Hereford bulls under insulated, uninsulated and outdoor housing conditions in Northern Finland

Huuskonen¹,

Tuomisto²,

Joki‐Tokola³

2008

AFSci

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The objective of the present study was to compare the performance of Hereford bulls in an insulated tie-stall, an uninsulated barn and a forest paddock in Northern Finland (Ruukki: 64°44'N, 25°15'E). In November 1999, thirty Hereford bulls (age 6.8±0.5 (mean±SD) months; live weight (LW) 285±35 kg) were divided into six groups of five animals according to their LW and the groups were randomly allotted to one of three treatments: tie-stall in an insulated barn (IB bulls, ten animals in individual stalls), pen in an uninsulated barn (UB bulls, 5 animals per pen, two pens) and forest paddock (PAD bulls, 5 animals per paddock, two paddocks). The experiment ended in October 2000, when the bulls were 18.3±0.5 months of age and 772±51 kg LW. During the entire experiment the live weight gain (LWG) of the UB bulls was 7% higher than that of the IB bulls (1436 vs. 1339 g d -1 , p<0.05) and there was a tendency that the LWG of the PAD bulls was 6% higher than that of the IB bulls (1414 vs. 1339 g d -1 , p<0.1). Carcass gain of the UB bulls was 8% higher than that of the IB bulls (812 vs. 751 g d -1 , p<0.05). The carcass conformation score of the PAD bulls was 23% higher than that of the IB bulls (7.6 vs. 6.2 EUROP conformation, p<0.05), but there were no significant effects of treatments on the dressing proportion or carcass fat score. The dry matter and energy intakes (g/kg W 0.75 and MJ/kg W 0.75) of the IB bulls were significantly lower than those of the UB and PAD bulls during both feeding periods (winter: from 2 November 1999 to 25 April 2000, summer: from 26 April 2000 to 16 October 2000) and during the entire experiment. According to this study, finishing beef bulls can be overwintered outdoors in Northern Finland without warm housing facilities. Compared with the tie-stall system, the energy expenditure of walking and other exercise increases in outdoor housing systems, which also means increasing energy intake.

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“…Adult reindeer have previously been observed lying curled up during severe frost (Sokolov, 1990). A less active behaviour is a way to conserve energy and has been observed in farmed deer and steers during cold weather (Gilbert & Bateman, 1983;Redbo et al, 1996).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behaviour of reindeer as an indicator of an adaptation to feeding

Nilsson

Norberg²,

Redbo

et al. 2004

Ran

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Abstract:We assessed behaviour of reindeer affected by nutritional deprivation and how they adapted to various feeding strategies. The activity pattern of 61 penned eight month old female reindeer calves was observed during 20 of a total of 42 experimental days in winter 1997. The dominant activities were lying, ruminating, intake of feed and water, and standing. Few recordings of agonistic behaviour or snow intake occured. Restricted feed intake, half the ad lib. ration of a lichen-based diet, affected the eating behaviour of the reindeer, and more animals were standing and fewer lying compared to reindeer fed ad lib. Lack of energy in the diet correlated with animals lying curled up (lying with the muzzle close to the hind legs). This behaviour could be a useful complement to other measurements and registrations when studying adaptations to various feeding regimens.

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Keeping growing cattle outside during winter: behaviour, production and climatic demand

Cited by 29 publications

References 10 publications

Behavioural responses to climatic demands of dairy heifers housed outdoors

Behavioural responses to climatic demands of dairy heifers housed outdoors

Animal performance and carcass characteristics of growing Hereford bulls under insulated, uninsulated and outdoor housing conditions in Northern Finland

Behaviour of reindeer as an indicator of an adaptation to feeding

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