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Changes in stereotypies associated with tethering of dairy cows
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The effects of the social environment on calf responses to handling and transport H.R. Trunkfield and D.M. Broom Department of Clinical VeterinaryMedicine, Universityof Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
ABSTRACT A calf's previous experience may be expected to influence its subsequent response to acute stress. In the present study, the effects of the social environment on the response to transport have been investigated. Direct behavioural observations of all competitive interactions were recorded for 40 h in a group of 18 3-month-old Friesian male calves reared in an intensive barley beef system. Butts, head-to-head battles, approach and avoidance behaviour and displacement of one calf from the trough by another were noted. The interactions of each calf with all 17 others were scored in a matrix according to wins and losses. Calves were then ranked according to the mean proportion of wins and clear social order was found at this point in development of the group. At 14 weeks of age, these calves were transported in a trailer in two groups of nine animals, for a distance of 4 miles. Blood samples were taken for cortisol analysis before and after transport. All calves showed a significant increase in cortisol levels in response to handling and transport. Calves which won least in social interactions had the highest basal cortisol levels and showed the greatest cortisol response following handling and transport. Calves winning most showed the smallest cortisol response to the procedure. These results suggest that a calf's response to handling and transport can be affected by its position in the social order.
Changes in stereotypies associated with tethering of dairy cows I. Redbo Department of A nimal Nutrition and Management, Swedish Universityof Agricultural Sciences, Kungsangen Research Farm, S-753 23, Uppsala, Sweden
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate how tethering of lactating dairy cows after a grazing period affects the occurrence of stereotypies. Ten cows with stereotypies, mainly consisting of tongue playing, were observed for 2 h on each of 2 successive days, each week from the first to eighth week after being tethered. Five of the cows were tethered throughout the grazing season, to act as controls. The duration of stereotypies and related behaviours were recorded. While the control cows, which
178 were tethered indoors throughout, showed no significant change over the observation period, those tethered only after a period of outdoor grazing showed significant changes with time, attributable mainly to a decrease in, stereotypy incidence in Weeks 3-4. A multiple regression analysis indicated an increase in the amount of stereotyping with progression through the lactation, evident in both groups, as well as the reduction with time since being tethered in the second group. The lactationrelated effect suggests the implication of hormonal mechanisms, while the decrease after being tethered may be a sign of adaptation to the environment or to alteration in a physiological stress response.
How to judge animal welfare in commercial housing systems for farm animals? A functional approach
M. Stauffacher Department of Social and Applied Ethology, Institute for Zoology, University of Berne, CH-3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
ABSTRACT
The Swiss Federal Act on Animal Protection (1978) requires the sale of mass-produced housing systems for farm and laboratory animals to be authorized by the Federal Veterinary Office. Authorization is only granted for housing systems that safeguard the animals' welfare. A concept for the assessment of animal welfare has to provide a high forensic value. The capacity of farm animals to adapt to an intensive housing system can be examined directly, whereas the existence and extent of subjective feelings can only be assumed. Following K~immer and Tschanz, the examination focuses on the interaction of individuals with their artificial environment during a particular period of their lifespan. The main question is whether or not the individuals are able to cope with given non-specific (e.g. temperature, humidity) and specific (e.g. drinking troughs, behaviour of conspecifics) stimuli in order to reach the immediate (e.g. drinking, make way for) and ultimate (survival, reproduction ) goals. Animals of the same breed are observed in a highly diverse environment in order to determine "normal" behaviour patterns. Whether behavioural expressions which differ significantly from normal behaviour are adaptive to the restrictive housing conditions is judged by the consequences for both individuals and the environment. The Swiss and German authorities and courts responsible for animal welfare prefer conclusions based on this concept to others referring to the individual's motivational and emotional state. However, whether ethological assessments are fully considered in the final judgement also depends on whether it is reasonable for the animal keepers. This is often an unsatisfactory situation with respect to animals' welfare. REFERENCES K~immer, P. a n d Tschanz, B., 1982. A n i m a l welfare as judged by ethological methods. Appl. Anim. Ethol., 8: 404-406.
The effects of the social environment on calf responses to handling and transport H.R. Trunkfield and D.M. Broom Department of Clinical VeterinaryMedicine, Universityof Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
ABSTRACT A calf's previous experience may be expected to influence its subsequent response to acute stress. In the present study, the effects of the social environment on the response to transport have been investigated. Direct behavioural observations of all competitive interactions were recorded for 40 h in a group of 18 3-month-old Friesian male calves reared in an intensive barley beef system. Butts, head-to-head battles, approach and avoidance behaviour and displacement of one calf from the trough by another were noted. The interactions of each calf with all 17 others were scored in a matrix according to wins and losses. Calves were then ranked according to the mean proportion of wins and clear social order was found at this point in development of the group. At 14 weeks of age, these calves were transported in a trailer in two groups of nine animals, for a distance of 4 miles. Blood samples were taken for cortisol analysis before and after transport. All calves showed a significant increase in cortisol levels in response to handling and transport. Calves which won least in social interactions had the highest basal cortisol levels and showed the greatest cortisol response following handling and transport. Calves winning most showed the smallest cortisol response to the procedure. These results suggest that a calf's response to handling and transport can be affected by its position in the social order.
Changes in stereotypies associated with tethering of dairy cows I. Redbo Department of A nimal Nutrition and Management, Swedish Universityof Agricultural Sciences, Kungsangen Research Farm, S-753 23, Uppsala, Sweden
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate how tethering of lactating dairy cows after a grazing period affects the occurrence of stereotypies. Ten cows with stereotypies, mainly consisting of tongue playing, were observed for 2 h on each of 2 successive days, each week from the first to eighth week after being tethered. Five of the cows were tethered throughout the grazing season, to act as controls. The duration of stereotypies and related behaviours were recorded. While the control cows, which
178 were tethered indoors throughout, showed no significant change over the observation period, those tethered only after a period of outdoor grazing showed significant changes with time, attributable mainly to a decrease in, stereotypy incidence in Weeks 3-4. A multiple regression analysis indicated an increase in the amount of stereotyping with progression through the lactation, evident in both groups, as well as the reduction with time since being tethered in the second group. The lactationrelated effect suggests the implication of hormonal mechanisms, while the decrease after being tethered may be a sign of adaptation to the environment or to alteration in a physiological stress response.
How to judge animal welfare in commercial housing systems for farm animals? A functional approach
M. Stauffacher Department of Social and Applied Ethology, Institute for Zoology, University of Berne, CH-3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland
ABSTRACT
The Swiss Federal Act on Animal Protection (1978) requires the sale of mass-produced housing systems for farm and laboratory animals to be authorized by the Federal Veterinary Office. Authorization is only granted for housing systems that safeguard the animals' welfare. A concept for the assessment of animal welfare has to provide a high forensic value. The capacity of farm animals to adapt to an intensive housing system can be examined directly, whereas the existence and extent of subjective feelings can only be assumed. Following K~immer and Tschanz, the examination focuses on the interaction of individuals with their artificial environment during a particular period of their lifespan. The main question is whether or not the individuals are able to cope with given non-specific (e.g. temperature, humidity) and specific (e.g. drinking troughs, behaviour of conspecifics) stimuli in order to reach the immediate (e.g. drinking, make way for) and ultimate (survival, reproduction ) goals. Animals of the same breed are observed in a highly diverse environment in order to determine "normal" behaviour patterns. Whether behavioural expressions which differ significantly from normal behaviour are adaptive to the restrictive housing conditions is judged by the consequences for both individuals and the environment. The Swiss and German authorities and courts responsible for animal welfare prefer conclusions based on this concept to others referring to the individual's motivational and emotional state. However, whether ethological assessments are fully considered in the final judgement also depends on whether it is reasonable for the animal keepers. This is often an unsatisfactory situation with respect to animals' welfare. REFERENCES K~immer, P. a n d Tschanz, B., 1982. A n i m a l welfare as judged by ethological methods. Appl. Anim. Ethol., 8: 404-406.