Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Habituation Protocols Improve Behavioral and Physiological Responses of Beef Cattle Exposed to Students in an Animal Handling Class.
Ujita, Aska; Seekford, Zachary; Kott, Michelle; Goncherenko, Guillermo; Dias, Nicholas W; Feuerbacher, Erica; Bergamasco, Luciana; Jacobs, Leonie; Eversole, Dan E; Negrão, João A; Mercadante, Vitor R G.
Afiliação
  • Ujita A; Basic Science Department, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP 13635-900, Brazil.
  • Seekford Z; Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
  • Kott M; Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
  • Goncherenko G; Polo Agroflorestal CENUR-Noroeste, Faculdad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la Republica, Melo, CL 91500, Uruguay.
  • Dias NW; Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
  • Feuerbacher E; Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
  • Bergamasco L; Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
  • Jacobs L; Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
  • Eversole DE; Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
  • Negrão JA; Basic Science Department, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP 13635-900, Brazil.
  • Mercadante VRG; Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA.
Animals (Basel) ; 11(8)2021 Jul 21.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34438617
Our objective was to determine the impact of different habituation protocols on beef cattle behavior, physiology, and temperament in response to human handling. Beef heifers were exposed to three habituation strategies: (1) tactile stimulation (brushing) in the working chute for seven consecutive days (STI; n = 18); (2) passage through the working chute for seven consecutive days (CHU; n = 19) and; (3) no habituation (CON; n = 19). Individual heifer respiratory rate (RR; n/min), internal vaginal temperature (VAGT; °C), and blood cortisol were measured. Further, behavior parameters were observed to generate a behavior score, and heifer interaction with students and their behavioral responses were recorded. Habituation with STI and CHU resulted in improved numerical behavioral scores compared to CON, and greater (p ≤ 0.05) handling latencies. Vaginal temperature was decreased in STI compared to CHU and CONT (p ≤ 0.05). Cortisol concentration did not differ among treatments, but decreased (p ≤ 0.05) from the start of the experiment to 14 days after treatment initiation. Both habituation protocols showed benefits, but heifers that received the positive tactile stimulation in the chute had the greatest behavior improvements. Furthermore, these heifers responded more calmly during student-animal interactions in class, which is beneficial for the students' and animals' safety.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo
Adicionar na Minha BVS
Imprimir
XML
PubMed Links
Buscar no Google

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Tipo de estudo: Guideline Idioma: En Revista: Animals (Basel) Ano de publicação: 2021 Tipo de documento: Article País de afiliação: Brasil País de publicação: Suíça
Texto completo
Adicionar na Minha BVS
Imprimir
XML
PubMed Links
Buscar no Google

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Tipo de estudo: Guideline Idioma: En Revista: Animals (Basel) Ano de publicação: 2021 Tipo de documento: Article País de afiliação: Brasil País de publicação: Suíça