Using an observer rating method to assess the effects of rotational stocking method on beef cattle temperament over time

Abstract

-The objectives of this study were to propose behavioral-based definitions for the adjectives used in an observer rating method, and to use this approach to characterize temperament over time in cattle kept under rotational stocking method. We also analyzed the feasibility of the rating method under commercial cattle farming conditions. We evaluated the temperament evolution of 1,979 pure and crossbred Nellore young bulls over time on three commercial farms located in Northeastern Pará State, Brazil. All animals were kept under a rotational stocking method. The observer rating method included 14 behaviorally predefined adjectives for which we defined the minimum and maximum scores. The first factor was considered a qualitative temperament index (QTI) ranging from 'relaxed'/'calm'/'comfortable' to 'fearful'/'agitated'. According to the QTI, cattle temperament improved over time. For Farms A and B, QTI decreased over evaluations, and for Farm C, QTI did not differ from the first to the second evaluations, but decreased from the second assessment onwards. The observer rating method consisting of behaviorally pre-defined adjectives is an adequate indicator of cattle temperament that may be feasible under farm conditions. The method captures different aspects of cattle temperament and distinguishes between slight variations in cattle body language that successfully reveal temperament changes over time.

Welfare of cattle kept in intensive silvopastoral systems: A case report

“…The handling within the ISPS involves constant contact between humans and animals, since the fences are modified daily, so the animals grow accustomed to seeing humans. This may represent an opportunity for animals to be conditioned with positive reinforcement, since the humans often drive the animals from an area with low availability of forage to another area with a better source of feed, making it easy to muster cattle every 12 or 24 h. Comparable results were reported by Ceballos et al (2016) and Góis et al (2016), indicating that cattle subjected to a positive and constant contact with humans, when kept under a rotational stocking method, reduced fear toward humans and their reactivity over time.…”

Animal Personality and Conservation: Basics for Inspiring New Research

“…The coding method has the advantage of being based on the behavior exhibited by the animals, which are recorded without the idea of personality classification, but has the disadvantage of being more time-consuming to gather data [ 128 ]. Some authors compared the two methods and found contradictory results, with studies showing that both methods generated similar results [ 135 , 136 , 137 ], and different results [ 128 , 138 ]. Some authors argued that personality researchers should apply both methods because they are complementary and generate important information about the personality dimensions of the animals [ 139 ].…”