Effects of sex and age on behavior and weight gain in beef calves after abrupt weaning

The effects of weaning on beef calves of different ages were investigated. Forty male and 40 female calves were either weaned at 6 (W6, n = 40) or 8 (W8, n = 40) months of age. The vocalization activity and behaviors (feeding, lying and standing/walking) were observed during the first 3 days following weaning. Body weight was recorded at 6 and 8 months and 2 weeks following weaning. W6 animals vocalized more often than W8 calves and females more than males on day 1 (P < 0.05). The vocalization activity decreased at a higher rate in W8 than in W6 from days 1 to 3. On day 2, W6 calves spent less time lying and more standing/walking than W8 calves (P < 0.05). The behaviors did not differ between males and females. The average daily gain after weaning did not differ between weaning ages (P > 0.05), but W8 calves gained more from 6 to 8 months of age. In conclusion, weaning distress was more pronounced in W6 than in W8 calves. W8 calves also had a superior growth performance during 6 to 8 months of age. The effect of the calves' sex was less pronounced. Therefore, it is recommended to wean beef calves later than 6 months of age.     

Effects of an environmental enrichment using a drum can on behavioral, physiological and productive characteristics in fattening beef cattle

To evaluate the effects of environmental enrichment on behavioral, physiological and productive characteristics, 71 Japanese Black × Holstein steers (8 months of age; 299.5 ± 22.6 kg) were allocated to three pens in two repetitive experiments. Pen C (n = 11 and 12) consisted of a feeding alley for grain feed, a trough for dry hay, a water bowl and a resting space as a control pen. Pen D (n = 12 and 12) included a drum can (58 cm diameter × 90 cm height) containing hay. Pen GD (n = 12 and 12) included a drum can that was placed around artificial plastic turf (30 × 120 cm) for grooming. The drum cans were removed after 5 months of installation. Behavioral observations were made for 2 h at 10 min intervals after feeding on three successive days each month for 10 months. Agonistic interactions were also continuously observed for 1 h after feeding to assess the dominance order (DO). Sampling blood and measuring bodyweight were performed bimonthly. The steers used the drum can frequently for 3 months after installation (1st, 2nd, 3rd months vs 4 months, all P < 0.05). The frequency of total eating of grain feed and hay was higher in pen D and pen GD than in pen C (both P < 0.01), while it was lowest in pen GD after removal of the drum can (P < 0.05). Grooming at the drum can was observed more frequently in pen GD than in pen D (P < 0.05). After they finished eating the grain feed, they ate hay at the drum can that contained additional hay rather than at the trough for hay (P < 0.01). Plasma dopamine concentrations were higher in pen D than in pen C (P < 0.05), and serum triglyceride concentrations were higher in pen C than in pen GD (P < 0.05) during the installation of the drum can. After removal of the drum can, serum total cholesterol concentrations became higher in pen D and GD than in pen C (both P < 0.05). Average daily gain correlated positively with the frequency of eating hay at the drum can in pen D (r_s = 0.52, P < 0.01). In pen GD, the frequency of using the drum can correlated negatively with DO (r_s = ?0.59, P < 0.01). Carcass belly fat was thicker in pens D and GD than in pen C (both P < 0.01). In pen GD, the frequency of eating hay (r_s = 0.79, P < 0.01) and grooming at the drum can (r_s = 0.63, P < 0.05) correlated positively with the marbling score. Although social factor affected the steers using the drum can, installing it in the early fattening stage encouraged the steers to eat and groom there and resulted in better carcass characteristics through the prolonged physiological positive effects.     

Effects of cow parity on voluntary hay intake and performance responses to early weaning of beef calves

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of early calf weaning from both primiparous and multiparous beef cows on hay intake and measures of performance. Over two consecutive years, 96 Brahman × British cows (48 cows/year) and their calves were stratified by parity and calving date and randomly assigned to one of two weaning treatments (n = 24 cows/weaning treatment; 12 primiparous and 12 multiparous). Weaning treatments consisted of normal-weaned (calf remaining with cow throughout the study) or early weaned (calves removed from cow at 86 ± 5 days of age). An estrus synchronization and fixed-timed artificial insemination protocol (CO-Synch + CIDR) was applied to all cows at 21 days after early weaning. Following fixed-timed artificial insemination, cows were put onto bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures (3 pastures/treatment; 4 cows/pasture) for a 60-day period to evaluate voluntary hay intake. During this time, cows were provided free-choice access to grass hay (‘Florona’ stargrass; Cynodon nlemfuensis) and 2.3 kg per head daily of a urea-fortified molasses supplement. Hay intake was determined by subtracting the dried weight of residual hay from the amount offered over the 60-day evaluation period. Cow body weight and body condition score were measured on day 0 and 60. Immediately following the hay intake determination period, all cows were grouped by weaning treatment and exposed to mature Angus bulls for 21 days. Pregnancy determination to artificial insemination and natural service was determined by transrectal utrasonography on two occasions conducted 60 days after artificial insemination and again 40 days after bull removal. Multiparous cows had greater hay dry matter intake (P < 0.001), body weight (P < 0.001), and body condition score (P < 0.001) than primiparous cows throughout the study. Overall, early weaning resulted in greater than a 16% decrease (P < 0.01) in hay dry matter intake, irrespective of parity. Early-weaned cows had greater (P < 0.01) body weight and body condition score than normal-weaned cows on day 60, but not day 0. Pregnancy rate to artificial insemination was greater (P < 0.01) for multiparous compared to primiparous cows. There was a weaning treatment × parity interaction for overall pregnancy rate, whereas early-weaned primiparous, but not multiparous, cows had a greater (P < 0.05) overall pregnancy rate compared to their normal-weaned contemporaries. These data imply that early calf weaning (90 days of age) will increase body weight and body condition in both multiparous and primiparous cows; however, early-weaning provides a greater advantage to overall pregnancy rate when applied to primiparous versus multiparous cows.     

Physical conditions in a cattle vehicle during spring and autumn conditions in Japan, and reactions of steers to long distance transport

The objective of this study was to investigate transportation conditions and behavioral and physiological responses of beef steers to long distance commercial transport in Japan. In spring (May) and autumn (September), eight (16 in total) Japanese Black × Holstein steers (7.8 ± 0.6 month of age; 310.3 ± 13.9 kg) were transported by truck. The transport distance was 1013.1 km (25 h including lairage periods) comprising 627.6 km (6.4 h) on expressways, 143.5 km (3.5 h) on arterial roads and 242.0 km (10.5 h) by ferry. The loading space of the truck gave a space allowance of about 1.62 m²/head. Internal temperature (±SD) and humidity (±SD) of the truck were 14.7 ± 4.7°C and 72.7 ± 22.4% in spring, 24.4 ± 2.8°C and 70.8 ± 14.4% in autumn. Vibration acceleration (±SD) of the truck in the longitudinal direction was greater in spring (?0.19 ± 0.43 m/s²) than in autumn (?0.15 ± 0.20 m/s²) (P < 0.05). There were no effects of season and driving conditions on the internal noise. Internal airflow velocity (±SD) of the truck was greater in spring (0.75 ± 0.70 m/s) than in autumn (0.45 ± 0.40 m/s) (P < 0.05), and it was greater while moving on expressways (0.77 ± 0.40 m/s) and arterial roads (0.63 ± 0.61 m/s) than when parked (0.16 ± 0.26 m/s) (both P < 0.05). Steers lay down more frequently while moving on expressways than the expected frequency (χ² = 121.9, P < 0.01). Steers were oriented parallel to the direction of travel (to the front cabin: 27.9%; to the tailgate: 23.4%) more frequently than the expected probability (12.5%). Blood glucose concentration, serum ALT activity and plasma cortisol concentration were greater in spring than in autumn (all P < 0.05). Serum pH was higher in autumn than in spring (P < 0.01). Blood glucose concentration was significantly higher at the market before transport, and serum total protein, triiodothyronine and total cholesterol concentrations were also significantly higher at the market and just after transport than 1 week after transport (all P < 0.05). However, the other physiological measurements such as plasma cortisol and blood lactate concentrations, serum pH and heart rate did not change after transport. The results indicate that in Japanese spring and autumn conditions, long distance transport with appropriate conditions including low stocking density and enough lairage time with provision of food and water might not cause severe stress for steers.     

Dietary zinc concentration and lipopolysaccharide injection affect circulating trace minerals,acute phase protein response,and behavior as evaluated by an ear-tag–based accelerometer in beef steers

To assess plasma trace mineral (TM) concentrations, the acute phase protein response, and behavior in response to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, 96 Angus cross steers (average initial body weight [BW]: 285 ± 14.4 kg) were sorted into two groups by BW (heavy and light; n = 48/group), fitted with an ear-tag–based accelerometer (CowManager SensOor; Agis, Harmelen, Netherlands), and stagger started 14 d apart. Consecutive day BW was recorded to start the 24-d trial (days −1 and 0). Dietary treatments began on day 0: common diet with either 30 (Zn30) or 100 (Zn100) mg supplemental Zn/kg DM (ZnSO₄). On day 17, steers received one of the following injection treatments intravenously to complete the 2 × 3 factorial: 1) SALINE (~2–3 mL of physiological saline), 2) LOWLPS: 0.25 µg LPS/kg BW, or 3) HIGHLPS: 0.375 µg LPS/kg BW. Blood, rectal temperature (RT), and BW were recorded on day 16 (−24 h relative to injection), and BW was used to assign injection treatment. Approximately 6, 24 (day 18), and 48 (day 19) h after treatment, BW, RT, and blood were collected, and final BW recorded on day 24. Data were analyzed in Proc Mixed of SAS with fixed effects of diet, injection, diet × injection; for BW, RT, dry matter intake (DMI), plasma TM, and haptoglobin-repeated measures analysis were used to evaluate effects over time. Area under the curve analysis determined by GraphPad Prism was used for analysis of accelerometer data. Body weight was unaffected by diet or injection (P ≥ 0.16), but there was an injection × time effect for DMI and RT (P < 0.05), where DMI decreased in both LPS treatments on day 16, but recovered by day 17, and RT was increased in LPS treatments 6 h post-injection. Steers receiving LPS spent less time highly active and eating than SALINE (P < 0.01). Steers in HIGHLPS spent lesser time ruminating, followed by LOWLPS and then SALINE (P < 0.001). An injection × time effect (P < 0.001) for plasma Zn showed decreased concentrations within 6 h of injection and remained decreased through 24 h before recovering by 48 h. A tendency for a diet × time effect (P = 0.06) on plasma Zn suggests plasma Zn repletion occurred at a greater rate in Zn100 compared to Zn30. These results suggest that increased supplemental Zn may alter the rate of recovery of Zn status from an acute inflammatory event. Additionally, ear-tag–based accelerometers used in this study were effective at detecting sickness behavior in feedlot steers, and rumination may be more sensitive than other variables.     

Improving effects of dietary rumen protected γ‐aminobutyric acid additive on apparent nutrient digestibility,growth performance and health status in heat‐stressed beef cattle

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of rumen‐protected γ‐aminobutyric acid (RP‐GABA) on apparent nutrient digestibility, growth performance and health status in heat stressed beef cattle. Fifty Jinjiang Yellow cattle were randomly assigned to 5 treatments (10 animals/treatment). Treatments 1 to 5 were basal diets affixed with 0 (control), 8, 16, 24 and 32 mg of RP‐GABA/kg of body weight (BW) respectively. The trial lasted 45 days. Apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF) and calcium (Ca) quadratically increased with increasing RP‐GABA (p < .01), while apparent digestibility of phosphorus (P) tended to quadratically increase (p = .09). Dietary supplementation with increasing RP‐GABA linearly increased DM digestibility and average daily gain (ADG) (p < .01), whereas the feed to gain (F:G) ratio linearly decreased with increasing RP‐GABA (p < .01). The average daily feed intake (ADFI) value tended to linearly increase with RP‐GABA supplementation (p = .08). Total protein (TP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels quadratically decreased (p < .01) with increasing RP‐GABA, however albumin (ALB), glucose (GLU), superoxide dismutase (SOD), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels quadratically increased (p ≤ .01). In conclusion, the present results indicated that dietary supplementation with RP‐GABA led to improved nutrient digestibility, growth performance and antioxidant status in heat stressed beef cattle.     

Gastrointestinal health and function in weaned pigs: a review of feeding strategies to control post‐weaning diarrhoea without using in‐feed antimicrobial compounds

For the last several decades, antimicrobial compounds have been used to promote piglet growth at weaning through the prevention of subclinical and clinical disease. There are, however, increasing concerns in relation to the development of antibiotic‐resistant bacterial strains and the potential of these and associated resistance genes to impact on human health. As a consequence, European Union (EU) banned the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in swine and livestock production on 1 January 2006. Furthermore, minerals such as zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are not feasible alternatives/replacements to antibiotics because their excretion is a possible threat to the environment. Consequently, there is a need to develop feeding programs to serve as a means for controlling problems associated with the weaning transition without using antimicrobial compounds. This review, therefore, is focused on some of nutritional strategies that are known to improve structure and function of gastrointestinal tract and (or) promote post‐weaning growth with special emphasis on probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, trace minerals and dietary protein source and level.