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Behavioral and physiological changes in early-weaned multiparous and primiparous beef cows
R Ungerfeld1, M J Hötzel, A Scarsi
1Departamento de Fisiología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. rungerfeld@gmail.com
Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience
|March 24, 2012
Summary
Early weaning in beef cows causes stress, but multiparous cows show greater behavioral changes than primiparous cows after calf separation. This indicates a more intense stress response in older, more experienced mothers.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Veterinary Medicine
- Behavioral Biology
Background:
- Early weaning is a common practice in beef cattle production to accelerate postpartum ovulation.
- This practice, however, can induce a significant stress response in both cows and calves, impacting their welfare.
- Differences in maternal experience, such as parity, may influence the cow's response to weaning stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the physiological and behavioral responses to early weaning in multiparous (older, experienced) and primiparous (first-time) beef cows.
- To investigate how parity affects stress indicators and behavioral patterns following cow-calf separation.
- To provide insights into optimizing weaning strategies for improved animal welfare.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-one-day-old calves were weaned from 14 primiparous and 11 multiparous cows.
- Body weight (BW), body condition (BC), and milk yield were recorded from birth.
- Blood samples were analyzed for basophil/neutrophil ratio, total protein, and albumin.
- Behavioral observations (distance, standing, pacing, walking, ruminating, vocalizations) were conducted using scan sampling before and after weaning.
Main Results:
- Multiparous cows exhibited greater BW and BC, with higher milk yield, particularly those with male calves.
- Blood parameters showed increased total protein and a transient increase in the basophil/neutrophil ratio post-weaning, with no parity effect.
- Behavioral changes were more pronounced in multiparous cows, including decreased standing, increased pacing and vocalizations, and reduced rumination compared to primiparous cows.
Conclusions:
- Early weaning elicits a more intense behavioral stress response in multiparous beef cows compared to primiparous cows.
- Parity is a significant factor influencing the magnitude of behavioral and potentially physiological responses to cow-calf separation.
- These findings highlight the need for tailored weaning management strategies considering the cow's parity to mitigate stress and enhance welfare.
