J Anim Sci. 2017 Dec;95(12):5230-5239. doi: 10.2527/jas2017.1788.
The effects of 2 exercise regimes on cattle productivity, immune function, and behavior were evaluated against a control ( = 4 pens/treatment) using weaned -cross calves ( = 203) housed in drylots (16-18 calves/single sex pens). Three treatments were applied 3 times per week for 4 wk: 1) programmatic exercise (PRO), in which cattle and a stockperson walked in the alleyway behind their home pen for 20 min; 2) free exercise (FREE), in which cattle were moved into the drovers alley for 60 min, not exercised by a stockperson, and were allowed free access to their home pen and alleyway; and 3) control (CON), in which calves were removed from their home pen only for routine husbandry. Behavior observations were conducted on d -2 and -1 relative to treatment implementation (d 0) and on d 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27. Instantaneous scan sampling was used to create behavioral profiles for cattle (posture: stand, lie, and walk; and behavior: feed, drink, and ruminate). Focal observations recorded the incidence of social behaviors (allogrooming, social play, and agonistic interactions) and animal-environment interactions (AEI; fencepost licking, rock eating, tongue rolling, and cross-suckling). Body weights, exit velocities, and antibody titers to a bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1b vaccine were measured on d -10, 10, and 28. A linear mixed model (PROC MIXED) was used to evaluate the impact of exercise treatment, sex, time, and their interactions on cattle behavior, health, and productivity. Statistical differences were not observed ( = 0.11) for overall ADG among cattle receiving FREE (1.00 kg ± 0.04) PRO (0.85 kg ± 0.04), or CON (0.86 kg ± 0.05) exercise treatments. Allogrooming ( = 0.05), lying ( < 0. 01), AEI ( < 0.01), rumination ( < 0.01), and agonistic interactions ( < 0.01) increased over time. Comfort-related behaviors (e.g., lying, rumination) increased over the evaluation period, suggesting that calves became acclimated to the environment. Exercise did not alter behaviors or vaccine response and did not reduce the performance of production-critical (e.g., feeding, resting, ruminating) behaviors.
这项研究评估了两种锻炼方案对牛的生产力、免疫功能和行为的影响，对照组（=4 个围栏/处理）包括断奶后的杂交牛（=203 头），这些牛被安置在干栏中（每个单性别围栏 16-18 头）。每周进行 3 次，持续 4 周：1）有计划的锻炼（PRO），牛和饲养员在牛舍后面的小路上走 20 分钟；2）自由锻炼（FREE），牛被转移到赶牛道 60 分钟，没有饲养员锻炼，并且可以自由进入牛舍和小路上；3）对照组（CON），小牛只在常规饲养时才从牛舍中取出。在处理实施前 2 天（d-2）和 1 天（d-1）（d0）进行行为观察，然后在 d5、6、12、13、19、20、26 和 27 进行观察。使用瞬时扫描采样为牛创建行为特征（姿势：站立、躺下和行走；行为：进食、饮水和反刍）。焦点观察记录了社会行为（相互理毛、社交玩耍和争斗互动）和动物-环境相互作用（AEI；舔栏杆、吃石头、吐舌头和交叉吮吸）的发生率。在 d-10、10 和 28 时测量牛的体重、出口速度和牛病毒性腹泻病毒 1b 疫苗的抗体滴度。使用线性混合模型（PROC MIXED）评估锻炼处理、性别、时间及其相互作用对牛的行为、健康和生产力的影响。接受 FREE（1.00 公斤±0.04）、PRO（0.85 公斤±0.04）或 CON（0.86 公斤±0.05）锻炼的牛的总 ADG 没有统计学差异（=0.11）。相互理毛（=0.05）、躺下（<0.01）、AEI（<0.01）、反刍（<0.01）和争斗互动（<0.01）随时间增加。与舒适相关的行为（如躺下、反刍）在评估期间增加，表明小牛适应了环境。锻炼并没有改变行为或疫苗反应，也没有减少生产关键行为（如进食、休息、反刍）的表现。
