Leruste H, Brscic M, Cozzi G, Kemp B, Wolthuis-Fillerup M, Lensink B J, Bokkers E A M, van Reenen C G
Groupe ISA, Equipe CASE, 48 Boulevard Vauban, 59046 Lille Cedex, France.
Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.
J Dairy Sci. 2014 Nov;97(11):7021-30. doi: 10.3168/jds.2014-7917. Epub 2014 Sep 11.
Veal calves raised under intensive conditions may express non-nutritive oral behaviors. When expressed in an abnormal way, these behaviors can be a sign of mental suffering and reduced welfare due to a mismatch between environmental or management features and the animal's needs. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of non-nutritive oral behaviors in a large sample of veal farms in Europe and to determine the potential influencing factors present at farm level. Data were collected on 157 commercial veal farms in the 3 main veal-producing countries in Europe (the Netherlands, France, and Italy). Observations of 3 non-nutritive oral behaviors (manipulating substrates, tongue rolling, and manipulating a penmate) were performed when calves were aged 14 wk, and the prevalence of these behaviors was calculated. Information on management practices and characteristics of the building and equipment were collected on all farms to assess potential influencing factors for each of the 3 behaviors. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to evaluate the effect of each individual factor within a generalized linear model. The mean percentage of calves per farm performing manipulating substrates was 11.0 ± 0.46%, performing tongue rolling 2.8 ± 0 .18%, and manipulating a penmate 2.7 ± 0.09%, with a high range between farms. Allowing more space for calves than the legal minimum requirement of 1.8 m(2)/ calf and housing them in groups of >10 calves/pen reduced the incidences of manipulating substrates and tongue rolling. Incidence of manipulating substrates was lower for calves fed maize silage compared with calves fed cereal grain, pellets, or muesli. A higher risk of tongue rolling was found when baby-boxes (i.e., single housing during the first 5 to 8 wk) were not used. Risk of calves manipulating a penmate was higher for calves of milk- or meat-type breeds compared with dual-purpose breeds and for calves fed with 280 to 380 kg compared with those fed >380 kg of milk powder in total for the fattening period. The study allowed assessment of multiple factors across farms that showed variety in terms of conditions and level of non-nutritive oral behaviors. Identification of the factors influencing non-nutritive oral behavior is helpful to define potential actions that could be taken on farms to improve the welfare of calves and reduce the prevalence of these behaviors.
在集约化条件下饲养的犊牛可能会表现出非营养性口腔行为。当这些行为以异常方式表现时，可能是由于环境或管理特征与动物需求不匹配而导致心理痛苦和福利降低的迹象。本研究的目的是估计欧洲大量犊牛养殖场中非营养性口腔行为的发生率，并确定养殖场层面存在的潜在影响因素。收集了欧洲3个主要犊牛生产国（荷兰、法国和意大利）157个商业犊牛养殖场的数据。当犊牛14周龄时，对3种非营养性口腔行为（摆弄垫料、卷舌和摆弄同栏伙伴）进行观察，并计算这些行为的发生率。收集了所有养殖场的管理实践以及圈舍和设备特征的信息，以评估这3种行为各自的潜在影响因素。在广义线性模型中计算比值比和95%置信区间，以评估每个个体因素的影响。每个养殖场中表现出摆弄垫料行为的犊牛平均百分比为11.0±0.46%，表现出卷舌行为的为2.8±0.18%，表现出摆弄同栏伙伴行为的为2.7±0.09%，不同养殖场之间差异很大。给予犊牛比每头犊牛1.8平方米的法定最低要求更多的空间，并将它们以每栏超过10头犊牛的数量成群饲养，可降低摆弄垫料和卷舌行为的发生率。与喂食谷物、颗粒饲料或混合饲料的犊牛相比，喂食玉米青贮饲料的犊牛摆弄垫料行为的发生率较低。当不使用幼崽箱（即在最初5至8周单栏饲养）时，发现卷舌行为的风险较高。与兼用型品种相比，乳用或肉用型品种的犊牛以及育肥期总喂食量为280至380千克奶粉的犊牛相比总喂食量超过380千克奶粉的犊牛，摆弄同栏伙伴的风险更高。该研究允许对不同养殖场的多种因素进行评估，这些养殖场在条件和非营养性口腔行为水平方面存在差异。识别影响非营养性口腔行为的因素有助于确定在养殖场可以采取的潜在行动，以改善犊牛福利并降低这些行为的发生率。
