Le Neindre P
Laboratoire de l'Adaptation des Herbivores aux Milieux, INRA Theix, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
J Anim Sci. 1993 May;71(5):1345-54. doi: 10.2527/1993.7151345x.
Limitations of space, diet, and social environment can impair the welfare of veal calves reared in intensive farms compared with those calves allowed to pasture with their dams. In intensive farms most of the animals are housed in tether stalls or in crates. Stalls that greatly restrict the behavior of calves are not an adequate housing system. If the crates are small enough to prevent calves from lying in a comfortable position, they also impair the welfare of calves and lower their growth rate and disease resistance. Social contacts are limited in crates with solid partitions, but even if this social isolation seems unnecessary, it does not have the long-term effects on social and maternal behavior previously described. Because mortality rate is lower in crates than in group pens, and considering the time a calf spends grooming itself and lying with its legs stretched, large crates with open partitions are an acceptable alternative to group housing. However, improving group pens by providing adequate floors and automated feeding systems should make that type of housing better than crates. Other types of veal production such as the rearing of the calves by their dams could also be promoted. Other factors interact with housing system to affect the welfare status of veal calves. Milk-only diets should be avoided, and it is necessary to provide calves with adequate roughage as a way to enrich their environment. Friesian calves adapt better to veal calf operations than do Salers calves, and this difference between breeds must be considered when designing housing systems. The age of veal calves at slaughter should be considered to avoid maintaining calves in a preruminant physiological state beyond the point of the naturally occurring transition.
与那些能与母牛一起放牧的犊牛相比，集约化养殖场中空间、饮食和社会环境的限制会损害犊牛的福利。在集约化养殖场中，大多数动物被关在拴系栏或围栏里。极大限制犊牛行为的栏舍并不是合适的饲养系统。如果围栏小到足以阻止犊牛舒适地躺卧，也会损害犊牛的福利，降低其生长速度和抗病能力。有坚固隔板的围栏中社交接触有限，但即便这种社交隔离看似不必要，它也不会产生先前所述的对社交和母性行为的长期影响。由于围栏中的死亡率低于群养栏，而且考虑到犊牛用于自我梳理和伸展腿部躺卧的时间，有开放式隔板的大围栏是群养的一种可接受替代方式。然而，通过提供合适的地面和自动喂食系统来改善群养栏，应会使那种饲养方式比围栏更好。也可以推广其他类型的犊牛养殖方式，比如让母牛饲养犊牛。其他因素与饲养系统相互作用，影响犊牛的福利状况。应避免只喂牛奶的饮食，有必要给犊牛提供足够的粗饲料，以此丰富它们的环境。弗里生犊牛比萨勒斯犊牛更能适应犊牛养殖操作，在设计饲养系统时必须考虑品种间的这种差异。应考虑犊牛屠宰时的年龄，以避免在自然过渡点之后仍将犊牛维持在前反刍生理状态。
