1
|
Mota-Rojas D, Whittaker AL, Domínguez-Oliva A, Strappini AC, Álvarez-Macías A, Mora-Medina P, Ghezzi M, Lendez P, Lezama-García K, Grandin T. Tactile, Auditory, and Visual Stimulation as Sensory Enrichment for Dairy Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1265. [PMID: 38731269 PMCID: PMC11083412 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Several types of enrichment can be used to improve animal welfare. This review summarizes the literature on the use of mechanical brushes, tactile udder stimulation, music, and visual stimuli as enrichment methods for dairy cows. Mechanical brushes and tactile stimulation of the udder have been shown to have a positive effect on milk yield and overall behavioral repertoire, enhancing natural behavior. Classical music reduces stress levels and has similarly been associated with increased milk yield. A slow or moderate tempo (70 to 100 bpm) at frequencies below 70 dB is recommended to have this positive effect. Evidence on the impacts of other types of enrichment, such as visual stimulation through mirrors, pictures, and color lights, or the use of olfactory stimuli, is equivocal and requires further study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico (K.L.-G.)
| | - Alexandra L. Whittaker
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Adelaide, SA 5116, Australia
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico (K.L.-G.)
| | - Ana C. Strappini
- Animal Health and Welfare Department, Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Adolfo Álvarez-Macías
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico (K.L.-G.)
| | - Patricia Mora-Medina
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán 54714, Mexico
| | - Marcelo Ghezzi
- Anatomy Area, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil CIVETAN, UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
| | - Pamela Lendez
- Anatomy Area, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (FCV), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil CIVETAN, UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET (UNCPBA), University Campus, Tandil 7000, Argentina
| | - Karina Lezama-García
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico (K.L.-G.)
| | - Temple Grandin
- Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Titterington FM, Knox R, Buijs S, Lowe DE, Morrison SJ, Lively FO, Shirali M. Human–Animal Interactions with Bos taurus Cattle and Their Impacts on On-Farm Safety: A Systematic Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12060776. [PMID: 35327173 PMCID: PMC8944486 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cattle production necessitates potentially dangerous human–animal interactions. Cattle are physically strong, large animals that can inflict injuries on humans accidentally or through aggressive behaviour. This study provides a systematic review of literature relating to farm management practices (including humans involved, facilities, and the individual animal) associated with cattle temperament and human’s on-farm safety. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used to frame the review. Population, Exposure, and Outcomes (PEO) components of the research question are defined as “Bovine” (population), “Handling” (exposure), and outcomes of “Behaviour”, and “Safety”. The review included 17 papers and identified six main themes: actions of humans; human demographics, attitude, and experience; facilities and the environment; the animal involved; under-reporting and poor records; and mitigation of dangerous interactions. Cattle-related incidents were found to be underreported, with contradictory advice to prevent injury. The introduction of standardised reporting and recording of incidents to clearly identify the behaviours and facilities which increase injuries could inform policy to reduce injuries. Global differences in management systems and animal types mean that it would be impractical to impose global methods of best practice to reduce the chance of injury. Thus, any recommendations should be regionally specific, easily accessible, and practicable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frances Margaret Titterington
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough BT26 6DR, UK; (F.M.T.); (S.B.); (D.E.L.); (S.J.M.); (F.O.L.)
| | - Rachel Knox
- AgriSearch, Innovation Centre, Large Park, Hillsborough BT26 6DR, UK;
| | - Stephanie Buijs
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough BT26 6DR, UK; (F.M.T.); (S.B.); (D.E.L.); (S.J.M.); (F.O.L.)
| | - Denise Elizabeth Lowe
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough BT26 6DR, UK; (F.M.T.); (S.B.); (D.E.L.); (S.J.M.); (F.O.L.)
| | - Steven James Morrison
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough BT26 6DR, UK; (F.M.T.); (S.B.); (D.E.L.); (S.J.M.); (F.O.L.)
| | - Francis Owen Lively
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough BT26 6DR, UK; (F.M.T.); (S.B.); (D.E.L.); (S.J.M.); (F.O.L.)
| | - Masoud Shirali
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Large Park, Hillsborough BT26 6DR, UK; (F.M.T.); (S.B.); (D.E.L.); (S.J.M.); (F.O.L.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lange A, Waiblinger S, van Hasselt R, Mundry R, Futschik A, Lürzel S. Effects of restraint on heifers during gentle human-animal interactions. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|