Benefits of tactile stimulation and environmental enrichment for the welfare of crossbred dairy calves
The aim of this study was to evaluate behavioural and physiological variables of 18 Gir x Holstein calves housed in groups submitted to two treatments: presence (EE) or absence (NE) of environmental enrichment. Behavioural variables (walking, feeding, leisure and play behaviour) were analyzed contin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Applied Animal Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09712119.2022.2162531 |
| _version_ | 1827230219760566272 |
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| author | Catiucia Oliveira Miranda Maria Lúcia Pereira Lima Aníbal Eugênio Vercesi Filho Marcia Saladini Vieira Salles Flávia Fernanda Simili João Alberto Negrão Enilson Geraldo Ribeiro Lenira El Faro |
| author_facet | Catiucia Oliveira Miranda Maria Lúcia Pereira Lima Aníbal Eugênio Vercesi Filho Marcia Saladini Vieira Salles Flávia Fernanda Simili João Alberto Negrão Enilson Geraldo Ribeiro Lenira El Faro |
| author_sort | Catiucia Oliveira Miranda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to evaluate behavioural and physiological variables of 18 Gir x Holstein calves housed in groups submitted to two treatments: presence (EE) or absence (NE) of environmental enrichment. Behavioural variables (walking, feeding, leisure and play behaviour) were analyzed continuously in the first and second hours after brushing using generalized mixed models. Physiological parameters (cortisol, lactate and oxytocin) measured before and after brushing were analyzed using linear models with repeated measures over time. Models included treatment and day fixed effects and treatment x day interaction. The brushing duration was shorter (P = 0.01) for the EE treatment (1.93 ± 0.08 min) compared to the NE treatment (2.47 ± 0.08 min). The animals in the NE treatment allowed longer tactile stimulation time than the EE animals throughout the management days. There was no treatment effect on serum lactate levels before toothbrushing (P > 0.05). After brushing, lactate concentration was lower for the EE treatment (P < 0.01). There was no treatment effect on cortisol before or after brushing. Mean oxytocin levels were higher for EE treatment before and after toothbrushing (P < 0.01). Brushing positively influences the well-being of group-housed calves raised in an enriched environment. Environmental enrichment is a low-cost tool with important positive effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:08:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05077edf54a042fcb372785751830076 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0971-2119 0974-1844 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-21T18:42:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Applied Animal Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-05077edf54a042fcb3727857518300762024-06-06T22:28:21ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Applied Animal Research0971-21190974-18442023-12-0151113013610.1080/09712119.2022.2162531Benefits of tactile stimulation and environmental enrichment for the welfare of crossbred dairy calvesCatiucia Oliveira Miranda0Maria Lúcia Pereira Lima1Aníbal Eugênio Vercesi Filho2Marcia Saladini Vieira Salles3Flávia Fernanda Simili4João Alberto Negrão5Enilson Geraldo Ribeiro6Lenira El Faro7Institute of Animal Science, Advanced Beef Cattle Research Center, Sertãozinho, BrazilInstitute of Animal Science, Advanced Beef Cattle Research Center, Sertãozinho, BrazilInstitute of Animal Science, Advanced Beef Cattle Research Center, Sertãozinho, BrazilInstitute of Animal Science, Advanced Beef Cattle Research Center, Sertãozinho, BrazilInstitute of Animal Science, Advanced Beef Cattle Research Center, Sertãozinho, BrazilDepartment of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga, BrazilInstitute of Animal Science, Advanced Beef Cattle Research Center, Sertãozinho, BrazilInstitute of Animal Science, Advanced Beef Cattle Research Center, Sertãozinho, BrazilThe aim of this study was to evaluate behavioural and physiological variables of 18 Gir x Holstein calves housed in groups submitted to two treatments: presence (EE) or absence (NE) of environmental enrichment. Behavioural variables (walking, feeding, leisure and play behaviour) were analyzed continuously in the first and second hours after brushing using generalized mixed models. Physiological parameters (cortisol, lactate and oxytocin) measured before and after brushing were analyzed using linear models with repeated measures over time. Models included treatment and day fixed effects and treatment x day interaction. The brushing duration was shorter (P = 0.01) for the EE treatment (1.93 ± 0.08 min) compared to the NE treatment (2.47 ± 0.08 min). The animals in the NE treatment allowed longer tactile stimulation time than the EE animals throughout the management days. There was no treatment effect on serum lactate levels before toothbrushing (P > 0.05). After brushing, lactate concentration was lower for the EE treatment (P < 0.01). There was no treatment effect on cortisol before or after brushing. Mean oxytocin levels were higher for EE treatment before and after toothbrushing (P < 0.01). Brushing positively influences the well-being of group-housed calves raised in an enriched environment. Environmental enrichment is a low-cost tool with important positive effects.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09712119.2022.2162531Behaviourcortisoldairy cattleGirolandooxytocin |
| spellingShingle | Catiucia Oliveira Miranda Maria Lúcia Pereira Lima Aníbal Eugênio Vercesi Filho Marcia Saladini Vieira Salles Flávia Fernanda Simili João Alberto Negrão Enilson Geraldo Ribeiro Lenira El Faro Benefits of tactile stimulation and environmental enrichment for the welfare of crossbred dairy calves Journal of Applied Animal Research Behaviour cortisol dairy cattle Girolando oxytocin |
| title | Benefits of tactile stimulation and environmental enrichment for the welfare of crossbred dairy calves |
| title_full | Benefits of tactile stimulation and environmental enrichment for the welfare of crossbred dairy calves |
| title_fullStr | Benefits of tactile stimulation and environmental enrichment for the welfare of crossbred dairy calves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Benefits of tactile stimulation and environmental enrichment for the welfare of crossbred dairy calves |
| title_short | Benefits of tactile stimulation and environmental enrichment for the welfare of crossbred dairy calves |
| title_sort | benefits of tactile stimulation and environmental enrichment for the welfare of crossbred dairy calves |
| topic | Behaviour cortisol dairy cattle Girolando oxytocin |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09712119.2022.2162531 |
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