Fujiwara Mayumi, Haskell Marie J, Macrae Alastair I, Rutherford Kenneth M D
Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
Animal Behaviour & Welfare Team, Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, SRUC, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.
Animals (Basel). 2020 May 26;10(6):922. doi: 10.3390/ani10060922.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal stocking density during late pregnancy (approximately 60 ± 4 days before calving) on offspring performance during the pre-weaning period. Forty-five dairy calves were born to cows that went through either industry minimum standards (H: 24, high stocking density) or more extensive space allowances (L: 21, low stocking density) during the dry period. Body weight and average daily gain during the pre-weaning period (day 1-49) were measured. Observations were made of: (i) activity levels (day 2-6); ii) the level of training required to use an automatic feeder, and behavioural reactions to the group environment (d7); (iii) feeding and social behaviour in the group pen (day 7-21); and (iv) responses to weaning (day 40-49) and disbudding (day 28+). Compared to L calves, H calves made more frequent social contacts with pen mates in the group pen ( = 0.003) and decreased their lying time around weaning ( = 0.045). Among the healthy calves, L calves displayed more severe behavioural reactions to the disbudding procedure ( < 0.001), a significant increase in salivary cortisol concentrations ( = 0.013), and more frequent pain-related behaviour ( = 0.036). This study indicated associations between maternal stocking density during late pregnancy and some welfare-relevant offspring outcomes during the pre-weaning period; these effects were found to be modulated by offspring health status.
本研究旨在调查妊娠后期（产犊前约60±4天）母体饲养密度对断奶前犊牛性能的影响。45头奶牛犊牛出生于在干奶期经历了行业最低标准（H：24，高饲养密度）或更宽松空间条件（L：21，低饲养密度）的母牛。测量了断奶前时期（第1 - 49天）的体重和平均日增重。观察了以下方面：（i）活动水平（第2 - 6天）；（ii）使用自动喂料器所需的训练水平以及对群体环境的行为反应（第7天）；（iii）群体围栏中的采食和社交行为（第7 - 21天）；以及（iv）对断奶（第40 - 49天）和去角（第28天及以后）的反应。与L组犊牛相比，H组犊牛在群体围栏中与同栏伙伴的社交接触更频繁（P = 0.003），并且在断奶前后躺卧时间减少（P = 0.045）。在健康犊牛中，L组犊牛对去角程序表现出更强烈的行为反应（P < 0.001），唾液皮质醇浓度显著升高（P = 0.013），且与疼痛相关的行为更频繁（P = 0.036）。本研究表明，妊娠后期母体饲养密度与断奶前犊牛一些与福利相关的结果之间存在关联；发现这些影响受犊牛健康状况的调节。
