Article - Ethology and Animal Welfare

Aspects of the behavior of beef cattle (Standard Nelore, Nelore Mocho, Guzera and other zebu or European cattle breeds).

In order to improve herd management, it is important that beef cattle technical professionals, breeder and field workers have basic ethological knowledge (animal behavior) of the species we work with. So, only by knowing the behavior of the species that we will know what the best management is for it and all this is clearly reflected in productivity. An inadequate, often aggressive management has negative consequences on productive performance and meat quality.

Cattle are gregarious animals, that is, they live in groups and delimit farms´ pasture area as follows:

a) feeding area, where animals graze;

b) bed-ground, where animals ruminate and rest.

See other concepts:

- Personal space - the minimum space that the animal needs to perform its movements and feel comfortable. Under breeding conditions of intensive production systems, the formation of large groups of animals kept in high density is very common. The expectation is that these conditions will lead to productivity growth, but we cannot forget the effects on animals´ behavior and individual performance. For example, at the farms where cattle breeding is made in conditions of high population density, animals cannot avoid the violation of their personal space, which can result in increased agonistic interactions and social stress.

- Flight Distance - it is the minimum distance allowed by the animal at the approach of a person or predator before it flees. It depends a lot on the management at which this animal has already been submitted. More docile and better managed animals need a smaller flight distance. It also depends on the race, because each one has a different behavior. E.g.: zebus in general and Nelore in particular are usually more reluctant and wilder than European breed cattle.

- Leader - it is the animal that usually takes the initiative and is followed by the herd. There is always an animal that starts the movement or activity changes. When followed by other animals, it is the leader. Older cows usually lead the herd.

- Dominant - individual or group individuals that occupy the highest positions in the hierarchy, dominating the others by attacking them with impunity. They have priority in any competition. The submissive ones (or dominated) are those that submit themselves to the dominant ones. The factors that usually determine the position in the hierarchy are the weight, the age and the race. Within a herd, this hierarchy is clearly perceived, but, in large batches, the animals have trouble to memorize all the group members. Due to this difficulty, it does not remember which one is dominant and which one is submissive to him, which results in a greater number of fights. Some researchers say that a batch must have at most 150 to 200 animals. This is also very relative due to availability of resources, that is, if there is enough water, salt (trough size), shadow etc. for all animals, there is no need for dispute between them.

Animal Welfare

Currently ambiance and animal welfare is a very popular topic in Brazil and worldwide, but there are doubts about what is actually good for the animal, what would really give it comfort and welfare. The overall goal of animal welfare is to know, assess and ensure the conditions for satisfying the basic needs of the animals that are living, for different reasons, under the man´s dominion. Therefore, we should treat animals with respect, avoiding that it does through unnecessary suffering during its lifetime.

It is known that appropriate management techniques, farming type, well-designed facilities and well-trained staff can be the difference between higher and lower profitability within the property because they all reduce the stress caused to animals, resulting in higher fertility, increased weight gain, lower losses by accidents or injuries.

A good example is when people who handle the cattle have good behavior knowledge and especially how to manage them, because during a poorly made management, inside or outside the enclosure, the animal can break a limb or suffer carcass injuries certainly condemned and/or deducted upon payment by the producer. Moreover, it can be the difference between a good work day and a work day when half the employees were injured in handling the cattle at cattle farms.

Technical Responsible: Iramaia M. Bassoi Hefner CRMV 01437/Z