Determining the Effect of Familiarity Amongst Pen Mates on Flight Behaviors in Feedlot Beef Cattle Pre and Post Castration
Date
2024-08
Authors
Musco, Rance
Major Professor
Millman, Suzanne
Advisor
Committee Member
Johnson, Anna
Dewell, Grant
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Abstract
Previous studies have examined stressors calves experience in the feedlot setting, including handling experiences, commingling, and castration. The freeze and flight responses broadly encompass these behavioral responses toward stressors. However, there is little research on anxious behavioral responses in relation to familiar relationships among pen-mates. The objectives of this study were to identify influences of castration and familiarity on feedlot calf behavior when exiting a hydraulic chute following processing events. Calves were randomly allocated to one of two established treatment groups, Unfamiliar (U; n=39) and Familiar (F; n=41). Familiar calves were defined as calves who shared a source farm with two other calves in the pen, and Unfamiliar calves were defined as calves who did not share a source with any other pen-mates. Seventeen home pens consisted of six calves, such that each pen comprised three matched pairs of F and U calves. Chute exiting behavior was video recorded, and data was collected one week prior (D7) and one week after (D21) castration using an ethogram of predefined behaviors. Data was analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure, with treatment-by-day interactions included as fixed effects and calf as the subject. There were significant differences in exiting behavior, such that F calves took longer to begin exiting the chute on D21 (post-castration) relative to D7 (P=0.010). All calves took longer to exit the chute on D21 relative to D7, although F calves took less time to exit than U calves on D21. No significant differences in backwards behavior were noted, but there was a statistical trend suggesting that a higher proportion of F calves performed trot/run on D21 relative to U calves on D21. This study indicates effects of familiarity and castration on exiting chute behaviors by feedlot calves.
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creative component
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2024