Lambertz C, Farke-Röver A, Moors E, Gauly M
Department of Animal Sciences,Georg-August-University,Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3,37075 Göttingen,Germany.
Animal. 2015 Jan;9(1):122-9. doi: 10.1017/S1751731114002080. Epub 2014 Aug 28.
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of Burdizzo castration and abrupt weaning on the behaviour, blood traits and performance of beef calves when weaning was conducted concurrently or consecutively to castration. In total, 64 male beef calves aged between 6 and 7 months were assigned to a 2×2 factorial design with the following treatment groups (n=16 animals per treatment): (1) castrated and concurrently weaned in week 0 (CAS-WEA); (2) castrated in week 0 and weaned in week 4 (CAS-CON); (3) bulls weaned in week 0 (BUL-WEA); and (4) bulls weaned in week 4 (BUL-CON). The behaviour of the calves was observed for 3 days following weaning. Blood was collected weekly from weeks 0 to 5 and analysed for the acute-phase protein haptoglobin, and neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages. BW was recorded weekly from weeks 0 to 7. Animals were slaughtered at 17 months and weight, dressing percentage and carcass classifications were recorded. On day 1 after weaning, the number of vocalizations (calls/10 min) was higher in BUL-WEA (7.2) and CAS-WEA (5.4) than in calves of CAS-CON (2.8) and BUL-CON (2.9) groups (P<0.05). From days 1 to 3 vocalizations decreased in all groups. CAS-CON and BUL-CON animals spent 20% lying on day 1 after weaning compared with 40% in CAS-WEA and BUL-WEA calves (P<0.05). The haptoglobin concentration decreased during the first 5 weeks after weaning in all groups independent of the castration, weaning group or its interaction (P>0.05). WEA groups showed an increased average daily gain (ADG) during weeks 0 to 3 and a reduced ADG during 4 to 7 weeks in comparison with CON animals. At slaughter, bulls were about 80 kg heavier than castrates and had a superior dressing percentage and carcass classification (P>0.05). In conclusion, weaning had a greater effect on the number of vocalizations, standing/walking and lying behaviour and ADG compared with Burdizzo castration. In comparison with undertaking the procedures separately, concurrent castration and weaning neither affected behaviour and haematological parameters nor impaired performance. There was no evidence that the concurrent application of both treatments markedly increased the stress response compared with their application at intervals of a few weeks.
本研究的目的是评估在阉割与断奶同时或相继进行时，使用布尔迪佐去势法和突然断奶对肉牛犊行为、血液特征及生产性能的影响。总共64头6至7月龄的雄性肉牛犊被分配到一个2×2析因设计中，分为以下处理组（每组n = 16头动物）：(1) 在第0周阉割并同时断奶（CAS-WEA）；(2) 在第0周阉割并在第4周断奶（CAS-CON）；(3) 在第0周断奶的公牛（BUL-WEA）；(4) 在第4周断奶的公牛（BUL-CON）。断奶后对犊牛行为观察3天。从第0周到第5周每周采集血液，分析急性期蛋白触珠蛋白、中性粒细胞和淋巴细胞百分比。从第0周到第7周每周记录体重。动物在17月龄时屠宰，并记录体重、屠宰率和胴体分级。断奶后第1天，BUL-WEA组（7.2次）和CAS-WEA组（5.4次）的发声次数（叫声/10分钟）高于CAS-CON组（2.8次）和BUL-CON组（2.9次）的犊牛（P<0.05）。从第1天到第3天，所有组的发声次数均减少。与CAS-WEA和BUL-WEA犊牛的40%相比，CAS-CON和BUL-CON动物在断奶后第1天有20%的时间躺卧（P<0.05）。断奶后的前5周内，所有组的触珠蛋白浓度均下降，与去势、断奶组或其交互作用无关（P>0.05）。与CON组动物相比，WEA组在第0至3周的平均日增重（ADG）增加，在第4至7周的ADG降低。屠宰时，公牛比去势牛重约80 kg，且屠宰率和胴体分级更高（P>0.05）。总之，与布尔迪佐去势法相比，断奶对发声次数以及站立/行走和躺卧行为及ADG的影响更大。与分别进行这两种操作相比，同时进行阉割和断奶既不影响行为和血液学参数，也不损害生产性能。没有证据表明与间隔几周应用这两种处理相比，同时应用这两种处理会显著增加应激反应。
