Preference of beef cattle for feedlot or pasture environments
Abstract Intensive feedlot finishing is perceived to affect welfare because cattle cannot perform normal behaviours evident in pasture environments. The objective of this study was to determine cattle preference for spending time at pasture (5 ha) or in a feedlot (25 × 10 m) under pastures with differing feed on offer; high (3900 kg DM/ha) […]
Relationships between temperament, feeding behaviour, social interactions, and stress in lambs adapting to a feedlot environment
The production of lamb meat is a large and important industry in Australia. Variability and seasonality of the climate and the demand for a consistent product (in terms of weight and age) have led to an increase in the use of feedlot systems for finishing lambs. While most lambs acclimatise to this environment, an estimated […]
The effect of trough space and floor space on feeding and welfare of lambs in an intensive finishing system
This study examined the effects of floor space and feeder space on the feeding behaviour, growth and stress physiology of lambs, at different times, over a 6-week period in a finishing feedlot. A total of 640 lambs in four time replicates (160 lambs per replicate) were studied in four 40-lamb intensive finishing systems (feedlots) for […]