Consider the Source: The Impact of Social Mixing on Drylot Housed Steer Behavior and Productivity
Cattle are a social species in which social mixing can induce physical and psychosocial stress; however, the impact of social mixing on cattle welfare is unknown. Two different sources of genetically similar Angus crossbred steers were transported to the same feedlot and assigned to a pen where they...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/18/2981 |
| _version_ | 1827727513943539712 |
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| author | Courtney L. Daigle Jason E. Sawyer Reinaldo F. Cooke Jenny S. Jennings |
| author_facet | Courtney L. Daigle Jason E. Sawyer Reinaldo F. Cooke Jenny S. Jennings |
| author_sort | Courtney L. Daigle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cattle are a social species in which social mixing can induce physical and psychosocial stress; however, the impact of social mixing on cattle welfare is unknown. Two different sources of genetically similar Angus crossbred steers were transported to the same feedlot and assigned to a pen where they were either socially mixed or housed with individuals from their source herds. Social mixing did not impact average daily gains in pens, feed intake, or feed efficiency; pens of socially mixed steers were more active. Sources differed in their responses to social mixing. One source was unaffected, whereas social mixing negatively impacted productivity for the other source. Irrespective of social mixing, the sources differed in the amount of time per day they spent ruminating and drinking. Group analyses indicated that socially mixing two sources of feedlot steers did not negatively impact group productivity, yet the impacts that were observed at the individual level suggest that prior experiences may influence their ability to cope with social stress, emphasizing the importance of early-life experiences to long-term welfare and productivity. Social mixing was not universally detrimental to cattle welfare, and the source of cattle may have the greatest affect on their performance regardless of whether a social mixing event has occurred. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:06:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75a030f448cd46d8b81bb6d7cd7a9384 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:06:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-75a030f448cd46d8b81bb6d7cd7a93842023-11-19T09:16:18ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-09-011318298110.3390/ani13182981Consider the Source: The Impact of Social Mixing on Drylot Housed Steer Behavior and ProductivityCourtney L. Daigle0Jason E. Sawyer1Reinaldo F. Cooke2Jenny S. Jennings3Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USAKing Ranch<sup>®</sup> Institute for Ranch Management, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USADepartment of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USATexas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, Bushland, TX 79012, USACattle are a social species in which social mixing can induce physical and psychosocial stress; however, the impact of social mixing on cattle welfare is unknown. Two different sources of genetically similar Angus crossbred steers were transported to the same feedlot and assigned to a pen where they were either socially mixed or housed with individuals from their source herds. Social mixing did not impact average daily gains in pens, feed intake, or feed efficiency; pens of socially mixed steers were more active. Sources differed in their responses to social mixing. One source was unaffected, whereas social mixing negatively impacted productivity for the other source. Irrespective of social mixing, the sources differed in the amount of time per day they spent ruminating and drinking. Group analyses indicated that socially mixing two sources of feedlot steers did not negatively impact group productivity, yet the impacts that were observed at the individual level suggest that prior experiences may influence their ability to cope with social stress, emphasizing the importance of early-life experiences to long-term welfare and productivity. Social mixing was not universally detrimental to cattle welfare, and the source of cattle may have the greatest affect on their performance regardless of whether a social mixing event has occurred.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/18/2981social mixingfeedlotsteercattlecominglingwelfare |
| spellingShingle | Courtney L. Daigle Jason E. Sawyer Reinaldo F. Cooke Jenny S. Jennings Consider the Source: The Impact of Social Mixing on Drylot Housed Steer Behavior and Productivity Animals social mixing feedlot steer cattle comingling welfare |
| title | Consider the Source: The Impact of Social Mixing on Drylot Housed Steer Behavior and Productivity |
| title_full | Consider the Source: The Impact of Social Mixing on Drylot Housed Steer Behavior and Productivity |
| title_fullStr | Consider the Source: The Impact of Social Mixing on Drylot Housed Steer Behavior and Productivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Consider the Source: The Impact of Social Mixing on Drylot Housed Steer Behavior and Productivity |
| title_short | Consider the Source: The Impact of Social Mixing on Drylot Housed Steer Behavior and Productivity |
| title_sort | consider the source the impact of social mixing on drylot housed steer behavior and productivity |
| topic | social mixing feedlot steer cattle comingling welfare |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/18/2981 |
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