Behaviour response to two-step weaning is diminished in beef calves previously submitted to temporary weaning with nose flaps

Abstract

Temporary weaning (TW) of beef calves for 5–14 days is a husbandry practice that is frequently used to help advance rebreeding in postpartum cows. The aim of this study was to compare the behaviour response to two-step weaning with the use of nose flaps, in beef calves that had or not been submitted to TW with nose flaps during the breeding period. Thirteen calves that had been fitted with nose-flap anti-suckling devices from 71 to 84 days of age (TW group), and 11 calves that had not received nose flaps during breeding of their dams (C group) were weaned with a two-step procedure. At 189 days of age, they were fitted with nose flaps and remained with the dams (nose flap period, NF); 14 days later all calves were separated from the dams (permanent separation period, PS). Behaviour was observed from 186 to 193 days of age (NF) and from 200 to 209 days of age (PS). Behaviour data for the NF and PS periods were analysed with mixed models for repeated measures. Before weaning, TW calves had greater proportion of observations suckling and grazing, lower proportion of playing, and remained closer to the dam compared to C calves. During the NF period, C calves had lower frequencies of observations standing, grazing, and drinking water, indicating that calves that had nose flaps during their dams' breeding period adapted faster to the anti-suckling device and the cessation of suckling. During the PS period, C calves had a lower frequency of observations grazing and a greater rate of vocalisations, and TW calves displayed an overall earlier, but shorter behaviour response than C calves. We conclude that the benefits of two-step weaning with nose flaps are greater for calves that have worn nose flaps for temporary weaning during the breeding of their dams.