Abstract
Simple SummarySilvopastoral systems can modulate the thermoregulatory behavior of buffaloes decreasing the heat stress and improving the animal welfare in the tropics. The objective of this study was to compare the behavior of heifer buffaloes in a silvopastoral systems with Leucahena leucocephala trees and a conventional system without trees under two heat stress condition (intense heat stress and moderate heat stress) in Cuba. The results show that despite intense heat stress conditions, the animals spent more time feeding in the silvopastoral system than in the conventional system. Besides, the silvopastoral system reduced the use of water in the wallowing areas. We conclude that pastures with trees increase fodder offer while improve grazing behavior and animal welfare for buffalo farming in tropical conditions. In the wake of climate change and global warming, the production systems of water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are receiving increasing attention in the tropics, where the silvopastoral systems can improve animal welfare and production conditions. The objective of this study was to characterize the behavior of heifer buffaloes in a silvopastoral system (SPS) with Leucaena leucocephala (600 trees/ha) and in a conventional system (CVS), under intense heat stress and moderate heat stress in Cuba. We observed nine animals, with an average weight of 167.9 kg at the beginning of the study, during the daylight period, from 6:00 to 18:00 h, at 10 min intervals, for 12 days. Activities recorded were grazing, ingestion of tree leaves, rumination, water intake, walking, lying, standing, sheltering in the shade of trees, and wallowing. Sheltering in the shade of trees and wallowing were collectively considered as thermoregulatory behavior (TB). TB was different in both systems and conditions of heat stress (p < 0.05), with 4.06 in CVS and 3.81 h in SPS in the intense heat stress period, while it was 2.91 and 1.08 h for SPS and CVS, respectively, during the moderate heat stress period. The wallowing activity showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the intense heat stress season with 1.18 and 2.35 h for SPS and CVS, respectively. Time spent on feeding behavior was highest in the SPS system (p < 0.05). Longer times of thermoregulatory and feeding behavior indicate the importance of trees in animal welfare for this species in tropical conditions, thus supporting avoided deforestation and the replanting of trees in existing production systems and landscapes.
Highlights
The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a species that has been recently introduced inCuba [1,2,3] and other tropical countries in the Americas such as Brazil and Colombia [4], where they are managed in grazing systems with the provision of shade [4,5,6].With the increase in solar radiation, and the increase in temperature because of climate change [7], animals are forced to change their habits during the daylight period, when the stressors of climate have a higher influence on their behavior [8]
The feeding behavior of buffaloes is favored in silvopastoral systems, with a special influence on the ingestion of tree leaves
Silvopastoralism is an alternative that can improve the management of different heat stress conditions and welfare of buffaloes in the tropics and could reduce the use or need for wallowing areas
Summary
The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a species that has been recently introduced inCuba [1,2,3] and other tropical countries in the Americas such as Brazil and Colombia [4], where they are managed in grazing systems with the provision of shade [4,5,6].With the increase in solar radiation, and the increase in temperature because of climate change [7], animals are forced to change their habits during the daylight period, when the stressors of climate have a higher influence on their behavior [8]. Buffaloes housed with artificial shade and water sprinklers for cooling in a monocropping natural grass system are observed in the wallowing area to release excess heat [5,6]. In this regard, Simon and Galloso [6] found a better milk production per hectare and a better daily weight gain of buffalos reared in silvopastoral systems (SPSs) in comparison with conventional systems (CVSs). A higher daily weight gain was reported for buffalos compared to bovine males during the growing phase in a silvopastoral system [2]
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