Frequency of masturbation and time budgets of dairy bulls used for semen production

Rearing characteristics of fattening Hanwoo steers managed in different stocking densities

Objective

This study was conducted to analyze the effects of stocking density on growth and carcass quality, and behavior of Hanwoo cattle to conform with global trends, targeting animal welfare production through the practice of environmentally friendly condition.

Methods

Thirty six steers were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (C: 5 heads, T1: 4 heads, T2: 3 heads) and reared in separate pens with a constant stocking density of 50 m² (C: 10 m²/head, T1: 12.5 m²/head, T2: 16.67 m²/head) per group from 12 to 30 month of age. Growth performance, behavior and carcass quality traits of each steer were recorded and compared between the treatment groups.

Results

In general, the average daily gain during the fattening period was lower in group T2 than in T1 and the control groups. However, carcass weight and dressing percentage was lower in the control group than in T1 or T2 groups (p<0.05). Also, marbling score at 30 months of age was the lowest in the control group (p<0.05), while the three heads group (T2) had the greatest longissimus muscle area and marbling score (p<0.05). The behavior of walking time was the greatest in T2 group, while self-grooming and fighting occurred with the most frequency in the control group (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Our results show that the steers in more spacious stocking density had better carcass quality and wellbeing related behaviors, indicating that a lower density has a positive effect on raising management and carcass quality. Thus it is a need to install appropriate pens fitted to welfare-oriented management practices from growing to fattening period in Hanwoo cattle.

The flehmen response of bulls and cows

The response of dairy bulls to the urine of cows in various stages of the reproductive cycle was quantified by presenting 200 ml of urine in a stainless steel bowl to the stanchioned bulls for 10 min. Estrous mucus was also presented in the same manner. Sniffs, nose licks and flehmen responses were recorded. Of 15 bulls tested only 7, or 47%, met the criteria of two flehmens in response to estrous urine. Among these bulls, the rate of flehmen was higher to estrous urine 6.1 +/- 1 flehmen/10 min) than to nonestrous urine (3.5 +/- 0.6 flehmen/10 in, paired t = 3.1, P < 0.03). Flehmen duration was also longer in response to estrous urine (6.4 +/- 0.4 sec) than to nonestrous urine (5.7 +/- 0.4 sec, t = 2.65, P < 0.03). There were no significant differences between the sniff frequencies and durations or in the number of licks to estrous and diestrous urine. There were significantly more flehmen responses to estrous urine (7 +/- 1.4 10 min ) than to mucus (2.25 +/- 0.9 10 min , t = 4.75, P < 0.01). The response to water (0.6 +/- 0.3 10 min ) was not different from that to mucus (t = 2.37, P < 0.10). The spontaneous flehmen rate of dairy bulls in their home stalls was 3.2 +/- 0.7 24 h . Although estrous cows did not exhibit flehmen frequently, they did sniff bull urine more frequently (3.6 +/- 0.6 10 min ) than nonestrous cows (1.8 +/- 0.3 10 min , t = 2.4, P < 0.03).