Abstract
This study investigated the effects of restricted suckling (RS) on some physiological and behavioural stress parameters compared to temporal weaning (TW). Twenty Brahman (Bos indicus) cow-calf pairs were assigned to one of two groups: Calves in the RS group were limited to suckle their dams once daily for 30 min during days 30 to 33, while calves in the TW group were removed from their dams during days 59 to 62 postpartum. Heart and respiratory rates, serum cortisol concentration and body temperature were registered in cows and calves. In addition, the number of steps was also registered in calves. All parameters were recorded 24, 48 and 72 h after the beginning of the two treatments, respectively. In TW calves, higher (p<0.05) cortisol concentration and number of steps were recorded in the 1 st samples and 1 st and 2 nd observations, respectively. No difference was found in body temperature between treatments. However, respiration and heart rates differed in the 1 st and 2 nd observations, respectively. In general, a significant decrease (p<0.05) in these three parameters was observed over time. In cows, no differences were found in cortisol concentration or body temperature between treatments or with time. Heart and respiratory rates were lower (p<0.05) in the TW treatment only 24 h after beginning of treatment. It was concluded that (a) RS resulted in less behavioural and physiological indices of distress compared to TW in calves, although in general, differences were found only in some variables, mainly during the 1 st day following start of the treatment, and there in a chance of age effects. (b) Cows were less affected than their young, regardless of the treatment applied. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2005. Vol 18, No. 8 : 1176-1181)
Highlights
It is well known that the suckling stimulus and the presence of the calf in beef cattle are two of the most important factors affecting the duration of the post-partum anoestrus (Ahort et al, 1990; Williams, 1990).The most common practices to reduce the calving interval and induce the resumption of ovarian activity in zebu cattle are: restricted suckling once or twice a day and temporal weaning for 48 to 72 h (Basurto et al, 1999)
Treatments Cow-calf pairs were assigned to one of two treatments: RS and TW, Number of steps stethoscope, while body temperature was measured with a rectal thermometer
The highest (p
Summary
It is well known that the suckling stimulus and the presence of the calf in beef cattle are two of the most important factors affecting the duration of the post-partum anoestrus (Ahort et al, 1990; Williams, 1990).The most common practices to reduce the calving interval and induce the resumption of ovarian activity in zebu cattle are: restricted suckling once or twice a day and temporal weaning for 48 to 72 h (Basurto et al, 1999). Physical separation of mother and young, interruption of milk feeding, and a change in living environment are known to result in both behavioural and physiological stress in relation to the weaning of beef calves (Lefcourt and Elsasser, 1995 and Stookey et al, 1997; Lay et al, 1998). This is in accord with Moberg (2000) who considered stress as the biological response elicited when an. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which restricting suckling and/or temporal separation affect behavioural and physiological indices of stress in Brahman cows and calves
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