Transportation of beef cattle to slaughterhouses and how this relates to animal welfare and carcase bruising in an extensive production system
The objective of this study was to evaluate conditions during transport and their effects on welfare and carcase bruising of beef cattle in Uruguay, a country with an extensive, pasture-based, production system. Twelve abattoirs were visited periodically during two years (2002-2003) and 448 trucks were inspected on arrival. The state of vehicle maintenance was deemed […]
Animal welfare issues associated with extensive livestock production: The northern Australian beef cattle industry
The animal welfare issues faced by the northern Australian beef cattle industry are similar to those faced by extensive livestock production industries in other countries. However, northern Australia is characterised by climatic extremes and large areas/distances and these factors, together with low management inputs, mean that the industry faces significant challenges to assure high standards […]
The behaviour of beef cattle at pasture
One of the Five Freedoms established by the British Farm Animal Welfare Council is the freedom for animals to express normal behaviour. However, for beef cattle, the major problem with this is to establish what constitutes “normal”. In the absence of surviving wild ancestors, the best that can be done is to study the behaviour […]
Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Standards: a welfare-labelling scheme that allows for continuous improvement
One challenge with animal welfare assessment programmes is that standards that make a meaningful difference to welfare can be difficult for a broad spectrum of producers to meet, thereby preventing many from engaging at all. Global Animal Partnership’s (GAP’s) 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating Standards are unique in that they are designed as a multi-tiered system […]
Administration of dexamethasone per os in finishing bulls. I. Effects on productive traits, meat quality and cattle behaviour as indicator of welfare
The study investigated the effects of prolonged oral administration of dexamethasone at a low daily dosage of 0.75 mg/head per day (Dexa) on beef cattle productive traits, behaviour and meat quality. In all, 14 finishing Marchigiana bulls were used in a trial that begun 56 days prior to slaughter, of which six bulls received treatment […]
Administration of dexamethasone per os in finishing bulls. II. Effects on blood parameters used as indicators of animal welfare
A set of hormonal, haematological and biochemical parameters was used to evaluate the physiological response and welfare status of 14 finishing Marchigiana bulls treated for 49 days with a low daily dosage (0.75 mg/head per day) of dexamethasone per os. Compared to the Control group, dexamethasone decreased cortisol concentrations (42.3 v. 5.7 nmol/l; s.e.d.54.17; P,0.001), […]
Perceptions of the importance of different welfare issues in livestock production
The opinions of seven respondent groups about the relative importance of different practices pertaining to the welfare of Australian beef cattle, sheep and goats were surveyed. Respondent groups comprised farmers, livestock transportation representatives, veterinarians, meat processors, animal welfare advocates, animal welfare scientists and government officers. The survey consisted of a web-based adaptive conjoint analysis questionnaire, […]
Maternal behaviour in beef cows is individually consistent and sensitive to cow body condition, calf sex and weight
Beef cows’ maternal care is essential for calf survival and fitness. In this study, we assessed the consistency of maternal care within and between lactations and investigated whether maternal care increases with mother’s parity and body condition and whether mothers care more intensely for males and for calves with lower body weight. The Trivers–Willard hypothesis […]
A comparison of welfare outcomes for weaner and mature Bos indicus bulls surgically or tension band castrated with or without analgesia: 1. Behavioural responses
Tension-band castration of cattle is gaining favour because it is relatively simple to perform and is promoted by retailers of the devices as a humane castration method. Furthermore, retailers encourage delaying castration to exploit the superior growth rates of bulls compared with steers. Two experiments were conducted, under tropical conditions, comparing tension banding and surgical […]
A comparison of welfare outcomes for weaner and mature Bos indicus bulls surgically or tension band castrated with or without analgesia: 2. Responses related to stress, health and productivity
Tension banding castration of cattle is gaining favour because it is relatively simple to perform and is promoted by retailers of the banders as a humane castration method. Two experiments were conducted, under tropical conditions using Bos indicus bulls comparing tension banding (Band) and surgical (Surgical) castration of weaner (7–10 months old) and mature (22–25 […]