Social behaviour of cattle in tropical silvopastoral and monoculture systems

Abstract

Silvopastoral systems can be a good alternative for sustainable livestock production because they can provide ecosystem services and improve animal welfare. Most farm animals live in groups and the social organization and interactions between individuals have an impact on their welfare. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe and compare the social behaviour of cattle (Bos indicus × Bos taurus) in a silvopastoral system based on a high density of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) combined with guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus), star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) and some trees; with a monoculture system with C. nlemfuensis, in the region of Merida, Yucatán. Eight heifers in each system were observed from 0730 to 1530 h each day for 12 consecutive days during the dry season and 12 consecutive days during the rainy season. The animals followed a rotation between three paddocks, remaining 4 days in each paddock. The vegetation was characterized in the paddocks of the silvopastoral system to estimate the average percentage of shade provided. To make a comparison between systems, we used a t test with group dispersion, and Mann-Whitney tests with the frequency of affiliative and agonistic behaviours. We assessed differences in linearity and stability of dominance hierarchies using Landau's index and Dietz R-test, respectively. The distance of cows with respect to the centroid of the group was shorter, and non-agonistic behaviours were 62% more frequent in the intensive silvopastoral system than in the monoculture one. Heifers in the silvopastoral system had a more linear and non-random dominance hierarchy in both seasons (dry season: h' = 0.964; rainy season: h' = 0.988), than heifers in the monoculture system (dry season: h' = 0.571, rainy season: h' = 0.536). The dominance hierarchy in the silvopastoral system was more stable between seasons (R-test = 0.779) than in the monoculture system (R-test = 0.224). Our results provide the first evidence that heifers in the silvopastoral system maintain more stable social hierarchies and express more sociopositive behaviours, suggesting that animal welfare was enhanced.

Sustainable intensification of beef production in Colombia—Chances for product differentiation and price premiums

“…Most of the focus on SPS relate to their environmental or economic effects; nevertheless, these systems can also contribute to improving the animals' life quality by providing shades and reducing heat stress, promoting more stable hierarchies and positive behaviors among heifers, reducing anxiety, and providing more varied, higher quality diets (Améndola et al 2016;Broom et al 2013;Panadero 2010). As mentioned earlier, the sector's stakeholders have focused on the effects of animal welfare on productivity, but to the authors' knowledge, no research or sector strategy in the country has yet delved in the ethical aspects of the food industry and its repercussion in consumer choices, even though these aspects have been widely assessed in developed countries and reveal a growing concern for animal welfare (Gwin 2009;Harper and Makatouni 2002;Tonsor et al 2009).…”

Components of sustainable animal production and the use of silvopastoral systems

“…The beneficial effects of shade are substantial in hot weather with cattle skin temperatures up to 4 °C lower than in pastureonly systems. High temperature increases water and energy loss and reduces foraging times in paddocks fully exposed to the sun (Améndola, 2013;Améndola et al, 2016). Less sun exposure results in less sun-burn, less cancer, and less photosensitisation (Rowe, 1989).…”

“…This leads to better human-animal interactions and easier handling (Ocampo et al, 2011;Mancera and Galindo, 2011). More choice of food in silvopastoral systems results in more control by each individual animal of its environment and thus social behaviour is more normal (Améndola et al, 2016).…”

“…A study of welfare in three intensive silvopastoral systems was carried out in Colombia with Leucaena "Improved" monoculture pasture Semi-intensive silvopastoral system Re-analysed data from Murgueitio et al (2008), Broom et al (2013) and Améndola et al (2013Améndola et al ( , 2016 leucocephala and Guazuma ulmifolia as shrubs for browsing at more than 8,000 shrubs/ha and several tree species (Tarazona Morales et al, 2017). The needs of the cattle were met, there being good food and water availability, effective body temperature control and physical comfort, good social behaviour, and low parasite levels.…”

“…Some respiratory infection occurred on one farm, but this might be expected by chance. When the social behaviour of cattle was compared in a silvopastoral system and a pasture-only monoculture system in the region of Merida, Yucatán, Mexico, there was more affiliative social behaviour in the silvopastoral system (Améndola, 2013;Améndola et al, 2013Améndola et al, , 2016. Social licking was the main affiliative behaviour and was shown by 78% of the heifers in the silvopastoral system, but only 47% in the monoculture system.…”