Rational weaning as a strategy to promote animal welfare in Braford breeds

Abstract

This work is in line with the concern of producers to avoid cow stress during traditional weaning, improve animal welfare and productivity. The effect of traditional weaning (DT) vs. rational weaning (TR) on cow behaviour was evaluated in a commercial farm in Artigas, Uruguay. A group of 109 multiparous Braford cows with calves was randomly divided into two groups: RW (n=54) and TW (n=55). For TW, calves were separated from their dams in the handing facility and removed from the farm, after which cows were returned to the paddock. For RW, calves were separated in a previously delineated corner of the paddock shared by the cow-calf pair and subsequently removed from the paddock and farm. Behavior (foraging, standing, eating) was evaluated for 6 days post-weaning, with observations every 15 minutes from 7 to 12 AM and 14 to 18 PM. A regression model with multinomial distribution was fitted to predict the probability that animals in each treatment were associated with walking, standing, and eating. Time spent on each activity was calculated as a daily proportion. In group WT, 89% of cows walked during 40% of the day, compared to 11% of the day in
RW, P<0.0001). Furthermore, 59% of TW cows were standing and occupied 23% of the day in this activity vs. 41% of RW cows that were standing and occupied 19% of the day (P<0.0001). In addition, 34% more cows in the RW treatment fed and spent 66% of the day feeding compared to cows in the TW treatment (P<0.0001). Body weight was not different between treatments (P>0.05), although RW cows were 2% heavier. Cows on RW resumed their usual patterns more quickly and responded better to weaning stress. It is suggested to investigate the impact of RW on homeostasis and performance and its potential on-farm incorporation.