Kim Na Yeon, Kim Seong Jin, Jang Se Young, Oh Mi Rae, Tang Yu Jiao, Seong Hye Jin, Yun Yeong Sik, Moon Sang Ho
Division of Food Bio Science, Korea Nokyong Research Center, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea.
Asia Pacific Ruminant Institute, Icheon 17384, Korea.
Asian-Australas J Anim Sci. 2017 Oct;30(10):1486-1494. doi: 10.5713/ajas.16.0992. Epub 2017 Apr 19.
This research analyzed behavioral characteristics of Hanwoo () steers during each season and growth stage to enable measurement of the animals' welfare level for precision livestock farming.
A hundred-eight beef steers were divided into three equal groups at a Hanwoo farm according to their growth stage: growing stage (GS), 8 months; early-fattening stage (EFS), 19 months; and late-fattening stage (LFS), 30 months. Twelve behavioral categories were continuously recorded for 13 day-time hours in each four seasons with three replications.
Time spent standing was found to be significantly longer in summer at all growth stages (p<0.05). Hanwoos at the GS spent significantly longer standing time in spring and summer than those at the EFS and LFS (p<0.05). Lying time in summer was the shortest for all growth stages (p<0.05). Steers at the LFS spent significantly longer lying time than that at the GS (p<0.05) in summer. For GS and EFS, time spent eating in spring and autumn were longer than in summer and winter (p<0.05). Eating time was the longest for the GS in spring, autumn, and winter, excluding for the LFS in winter (p<0.05). Regarding ruminating, steers at the LFS spent significantly shorter time than those at other stages in all seasons (p<0.05). GS and EFS steers showed the longest walking time in summer compared with other seasons (p<0.05). At GS and LFS, drinking time in summer was the longest of all seasons (p<0.05). Sleeping time was significantly shorter in summer compared with the other seasons (p<0.05). Self-grooming time was the longest in winter for all growth stages (p<0.05).
Steers were found to have more variable behavioral patterns during summer and the GS and less active behaviors during the LFS, thus extra care seems necessary during the GS, LFS, and summer period.
本研究分析了韩牛阉牛在各季节和生长阶段的行为特征，以便为精准畜牧业测量动物的福利水平。
在一个韩牛养殖场，108头肉牛阉牛根据其生长阶段分为三组，每组数量相等：生长阶段（GS），8个月；育肥前期（EFS），19个月；育肥后期（LFS），30个月。在四季中，每天白天连续记录13个小时的12种行为类别，共进行三次重复记录。
发现在所有生长阶段，夏季站立时间显著更长（p<0.05）。生长阶段的韩牛在春季和夏季的站立时间比育肥前期和育肥后期的韩牛显著更长（p<0.05）。所有生长阶段在夏季的躺卧时间最短（p<0.05）。育肥后期的阉牛在夏季的躺卧时间比生长阶段的显著更长（p<0.05）。对于生长阶段和育肥前期，春季和秋季的采食时间比夏季和冬季更长（p<0.05）。除育肥后期在冬季外，生长阶段在春季、秋季和冬季的采食时间最长（p<0.05）。关于反刍，育肥后期的阉牛在所有季节的反刍时间比其他阶段显著更短（p<0.05）。生长阶段和育肥前期的阉牛在夏季的行走时间比其他季节最长（p<0.05）。在生长阶段和育肥后期，夏季的饮水时间是所有季节中最长的（p<0.05）。与其他季节相比，夏季的睡眠时间显著更短（p<0.05）。所有生长阶段在冬季的自我梳理时间最长（p<0.05）。
发现阉牛在夏季以及生长阶段行为模式变化更大，而在育肥后期活动行为较少，因此在生长阶段、育肥后期和夏季期间似乎需要格外照料。
