Search

Objetivo Caracterizar la composición florística de los pastizales, después de dos años y medio de aplicar diferentes dosis de fertilizantes calcáreo, fosfórico y potásico en el núcleo bovino en una finca de Florianópolis - SC, Brasil. Materiales y Métodos La investigación se realizó en el núcleo bovino perteneciente a la hacienda Ressacada, de la Universidad Federal de Santa Catarina. Los tratamientos fueron 12, en los que se emplearon diferentes dosis de fertilización calcárea, fósforo y potasio. Para ello, se utilizó el método del marco del metro cuadrado, que se replicó cuatro veces en cada tratamiento. Resultados Se identificó la presencia de 19 familias con una amplia diversidad y 64 especies, la mayoría herbáceas. De manera general, casi todas las familias estuvieron presentes en los cuartones. Las de mayor representatividad fueron Poaceae, Cyperaceae y Fabaceae. Esta última con un aumento significativo con respecto al inicio del estudio, aunque todavía por debajo de los valores óptimos para tener cierto impacto en el pastizal. Conclusiones Se produjo un incremento de las leguminosas, y se encontró amplia diversidad de especies de plantas que los animales utilizan para su alimentación, representadas fundamentalmente por las familias Poaceae y Fabaceae.

The behavior and performance of steers on pasture regarding water availability in troughs or in ponds were compared. Eight paddocks were randomly allocated to one treatment: POND (~30 m of diameter) or TROUGH (water trough, 120 cm diameter and 60 cm high and 500 L capacity). Eight groups of six beef steers were randomly assigned to one of the paddocks. The first 10 days were considered for animal habituation. Animals were individually weighed (days 0, 30, 60, and 90). Beginning in the day after each weighing on days 30 (Month 1), 60 (Month 2), and 90 (Month 3), behavior and animal distribution in the paddock were recorded by direct visual observation in three periods of 4 consecutive days. Water temperature and fecal and herbage DM were also recorded in these periods. Water intake was measured during 16 random days in the troughs. Data were analyzed using Generalized Linear Mixed Models, with treatment and period as fixed effects. TROUGH steers gained more weight (0.44 vs. 0.34 kg/day/animal; P ≤ 0.007) during the experiment and were heavier than the others at the end of the study (P ≤ 0.05). POND steers spent more time drinking water, but TROUGH steers increased the number of drinking events throughout the study (P ≤ 0.05), suggesting an adaptation for the new type of water source. Both treatments increased grazing time throughout the study, but not ruminating time (P ≤ 0.05). Walking time differed between treatments in all periods of behavior observation (P ≤ 0.05). Events of animal licking and ingesting salt of POND steers reduced throughout the study (P ≤ 0.05). The number of drinking events of TROUGH steers increased throughout the study, and drinking events were longer for POND steers than TROUGH steers (P ≤ 0.05). TROUGH steers spent more time on pasture on Month 2 (P ≤ 0.05). Period collection did not affect the water intake of TROUGH treatment (P > 0.05). This study demonstrates that water available in troughs rather than ponds for steers on pasture has positive effects on their weight gain and affects cattle behavior.

The natural behavior of animals can be disrupted by the techniques and materials of research methodologies. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the equipment used in the SF6 tracer technique to estimate enteric methane emissions on the behavior of lactating dairy cows. The cows (n = 24) were allocated to one of two diets: CONTROL and experimental diet (MIX). Behavior was assessed through video recordings between milking times during four phases: 3 days before fitting the cows with the SF6 equipment (PRE), first 2 days after the cows were fitted with the SF6 equipment (ADAP), 3 days during methane emission measurements (MEAS), and 2 days after the SF6 equipment removal (POST). The behaviors recorded included eating, ruminating or idling, resting, and others. Affiliative or agonistic and discomfort behaviors (scratching or pushing the equipment) were also recorded. Lying time was recorded over 14 days using dataloggers fitted to the cows' leg. Milk production and feed intake were recorded daily. MIX cows ruminated more than CONTROL cows (P = 0.05). The cows ruminated more at MEAS than in any other phase (P < 0.01). Time spent idling gradually decreased from PRE to MEAS for MIX cows (P < 0.01). The cows were lying down longer in MEAS than in ADAP and POST (P < 0.01). The time spent lying with the head down was shorter during PRE and ADAP than during POST (P < 0.05). No difference was observed in the occurrence of discomfort or agonistic behaviors (P > 0.05). Affiliative behaviors occurred more often in ADAP than in MEAS (P < 0.05). There was no difference between phases in daily lying time, number of lying bouts per day, or mean bout duration (P > 0.05). Milk production was not influenced by the SF6 equipment (P > 0.05). Dry matter intake was higher for CONTROL cows (P < 0.01), and it decreased from PRE to MEAS (P < 0.01). However, milk yield did not differ between cows wearing the SF6 equipment and those without it (P > 0.05). We conclude that the SF6 equipment had a minimal effect on dairy cow behavior.

The winter diet of dairy cows in Mediterranean climate regions is usually a total mixed ration with a base of conserved summer crops such as corn silage and alfalfa hay. However, there is increased labor and financial cost related to this kind of feeding, which could be reduced if fresh forages were used in place of some of the conserved forage in the cow diet. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of including fresh mixed annual ryegrass and berseem clover into the diet of dairy cows on milk, nitrogen utilization, and methane emission. Twenty-four lactating dairy cows were split into two groups and offered either a diet similar to that usually offered to the cows (CON) or one where a mixture of fresh annual ryegrass and berseem clover was used to partially substitute the corn silage and alfalfa hay in the diet (MIX). Milk yield was recorded automatically, and methane emissions were estimated using the SF6 tracer technique. The MIX diet had lower crude protein concentration (148 vs. 170 g/kg DM) but higher DM digestibility (81.6 vs. 78.6%) than the CON diet. Compared to the cows offered the CON diet, milk yield was reduced when cows were fed the MIX diet (36.4 vs. 31.9 kg/d), but methane emissions (381 vs. 332 g/d) and nitrogen excretion were also reduced (238 vs. 180 g/d). Nitrogen use efficiency was unaffected (30.8%). In addition, milk from cows fed the MIX diet had a fatty acid profile considered to be more beneficial to human health than that of the milk from cows fed the CON diet. Increasing the protein concentration in the MIX diet, either by direct supplementation or increasing the proportion of legume in the mixed herbage, could overcome the reduction on milk and positively affect methane emission and N use efficiency.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cultivating a combination of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) with black oats (Avena strigosa Schreb.) on the chemical composition of forage and the grazing behavior of heifers. To accomplish this, two paddocks 2500m2 each from a Voisin Rational Grazing management system were divided into three blocks each and then into thirds (278m²) characterizing a randomized block design. Three different forage compositions were distributed into these thirds: oats grown alone, vetch grown alone, and oats grown with vetch. Forage samples were collected after 65 days through the square method. Right after collection, three groups of four heifers each grazed the plots for two hours in a 3x3 double Latin Square design for behavioral observation, grazing simulation through the hand-plucking method, and biting rate determination. Forage samples collected either by hand-plucking or the square method, were analyzed for chemical composition and “in vitro” degradability. Statistical analyses were performed using the R package lme4. Data were evaluated with linear mixed-effects models. The inclusion of common vetch significantly increased forage production and oat protein content, but decreased the fiber content, which promoted better “in vitro” degradability. Grazing frequency was higher in pasture where oats were grown with vetch, but the biting rate was similar in all the three forage compositions evaluated. Forage collected by the square method did not differ from forage consumed by the heifers, probably meaning low herbage selectivity by heifers. Furthermore, no interaction of investigated variables occurred between forage compositions and the method of collection. The inclusion of common vetch with black oats increased forage chemical composition, “in vitro” degradability, and forage production, thus having positive effects on the time cows spent grazing.

Social hierarchy affects the access of animals to feed resources. On daily rotational pasture systems, supplementation time may influence feeding behavior. This trial was designed to test the effect of grain delivery time on the feeding behavior of heifers. Heifers divided into two groups according to breed (n = 15 Braford and n = 19 Jersey) were tested in a crossover design with two treatments: INITIAL—supplement at 8 am (entry time to a fresh paddock), and MIDDLE—supplement at 4 pm (middle time of paddock use). Animals entered a new paddock every morning, and grain supplement at 2 kg/animal/day was offered at the fence line (1 m/animal). Then, ingestive and other behaviors were registered by direct visual observation through scan sampling at 2-min intervals for 1 h after grain supply. Agonistic interactions were recorded continuously (instigator–victim) to build a social matrix whereby each heifer was defined as dominant, intermediate, or subordinate. Weekly pasture samples were collected according to the order that animals left the feeding area, using the hand-plucking technique, to determine crude protein and fiber content. Heifers spent more time grazing on the INITIAL treatment (p < 0.0001) but exhibited more behaviors on the MIDDLE treatment (p < 0.0001). Dominant heifers spent more time eating grain (p = 0.0008), whereas subordinate heifers spent more time grazing along the paddock (p = 0.0067), but not along the fence (p = 0.0008). The crude protein content of pasture samples was higher for the INITIAL treatment (p < 0.0001). Behavioral interaction occurred with respect to the order of leaving the feeding area, social rank, and crude protein consumed (p = 0.04). Subordinate heifers consistently grazed more and ate less grain supplement than dominant and intermediate heifers. However, when grain supplement was offered at the time animals entered the paddock, more grazing activity took place during supplement feeding, and subordinate heifers could select a high-protein diet. In the INITIAL treatment, this means that subordinate animals could benefit from the better pasture available, keeping a distance from dominant heifers, reducing agonistic interactions and likely improving their welfare.

Silage has been widely used in dairy production. However, little is known about its use at production level. The goal of this study was to characterize production and usage of silage for the dairy farming in Western Santa Catarina state. Thirty farms were selected randomly by their geographical location, in 11 municipalities of the West of Santa Catarina state, and they were invited to participate in the research. Out of these 30 farms, 6 did not have any dairy activity, and 2 preferred not to participate in the research, thus were not included. Semi-structured interviews and on-site visits were then performed. All data were analyzed with the software R version 3.2.2. 95% of the farmers produced and fed silage to animals. Out of the 22 farmers participating in the study, 82% provided silage for dairy cows during the whole year; in 86% of these farms, the silage was fed right after milking, in an average amount of 6.06 ± 0.63 kg DM (dry matter) AU-1 (animal unit, 500 kg) day-1. The average area used for maize production was 8.46 ha, representing 59% of the area destined to dairy farming. The average silage production was 8.8 and 7.6 t ha-1 year-1 in the season and off-season crop respectively, without significant differences. In most silage production areas, the no-tillage system is adopted, with the use of pesticides, chemical fertilization and transgenic seeds, without soil covering or crop rotation. Farms that fertilized maize based on soil analysis had the greatest silage yield, compared to the ones that fertilized without relying on soil analysis. The use of different types of pesticides and fertilizer quantities was not correlated to the silage production volume. Overall the production systems and the quantity of silage produced and fed to the cows do not follow technical criteria; thus silage yield and use could be improved if following strategies to better allocate crop inputs.

We used an operant conditioning paradigm to test the motivation of non-pregnant dairy heifers to access shade during the summer and autumn months (January to June) in southern Brazil. Dairy heifers (n = 18) were trained to push a weighted gate to access either an experimental area containing both a shaded (simple tree shade and shade cloth) and unshaded area (WITH SHADE) or an experimental area with no shade (BARREN). The latency to push the weighted gate, and the maximum weight pushed by each heifer, were recorded in both the summer and the autumn. Temperature and humidity were recorded continuously for the duration of the study and were used to calculate the heat index. The maximum weight pushed to enter the WITH SHADE area was greater in summer than in autumn, and was inversely related to the latency to push the weighted gate. Heifers refused to work for access to the BARREN environment. As expected, both the maximum ambient temperatures and heat index were higher in summer than in autumn, and also higher in the non-shaded areas than under the shade in both seasons. Heifers of higher social rank displaced other heifers more often, and spent more time in the shaded areas, particularly in the area with trees plus a shade cloth, than the intermediate and subordinate heifers. We conclude that shade is an important and valued resource for heifers reared on pasture-based systems in sub-tropical environments, particularly during the hot summer months.

Housing affects social behaviors, such as competition, but little work has addressed affiliative behaviors. This study compared social licking (SL) in pregnant heifers housed indoors (in a free-stall barn) versus outdoors (on pasture), and relationships with competition, feeding and physical proximity to others. Six heifer groups were observed during two six-hour-periods in both treatments. The total number of social events (SL and agonistic interactions) was four times higher when heifers were housed indoors compared to pasture (546 ± 43 vs. 128 ± 7 events/group; P < 0.05). SL as a ratio of the total number of social events was similar in the two treatments (12% vs . 8% of interactions, free-stall and pasture, respectively; P > 0.05). Housing did not affect how the SL bout was initiated and terminated, the duration, the body part licked and behavior preceding licking ( P > 0.05). Animals in close proximity showed higher rates of SL ( P < 0.0001) but not agonistic interactions ( P > 0.05). A previous agonistic event did not predict occurrence or the role of heifers in the following licking event. The higher stocking density indoors likely resulted in increased social interactions.

Pasture-based dairy production is used widely on family dairy farms in Southern Brazil. This study investigates conventional high input (C-HI), conventional low input (C-LI), and organic low input (O-LI) pasture-based systems and their effects on quantity and quality of the milk produced. We conducted technical site visits and interviews monthly over one year on 24 family farms (n = 8 per type). C-HI farms had the greatest total area (28.9 ha), greatest percentage of area with annual pasture (38.7%), largest number of lactating animals (26.2) and greatest milk yield per cow (22.8 kg·day−1). O-LI farms had the largest perennial pasture area (52.3%), with the greatest botanical richness during all seasons. Area of perennial pasture was positively correlated with number of species consumed by the animals (R2 = 0.74). Milk from O-LI farms had higher levels of fat and total solids only during the winter. Hygienic and microbiological quality of the milk was poor for all farms and need to be improved. C-HI farms had high milk yield related to high input, C-LI had intermediate characteristics and O-LI utilized a year round perennial pasture as a strategy to diminish the use of supplements in animal diets, which is an important aspect in ensuring production sustainability.

Pasture-based dairy production has been a major source of income for most family farms in the south of Brazil. Increasing milk prices have spurred an increase in grain supplementation, which has been poorly implemented, resulting in low levels of efficiency. To evaluate the consequences of supplementation on milk production and composition, grazing behavior and economic return, the widely used grain management system (CC-commercial concentrate, containing 21% CP, offered at 1 kg per 3.7 L of milk) was compared with an energy supplement (GC-ground corn, with 9.5% CP, offered at 0.4% of live weight). Ten Holstein cows were paired into two groups, and subjected to the two treatments in a crossover design. The cows remained in the same grazing group, and the grain supplement was offered individually at milking time and consumed completely. Each experimental period lasted 14 days, with 10 days for diet adaptation and four days for data collection; individual milk production and samples were collected to determine levels of fat, protein, lactose, carotenoids, vitamin A and N-urea. Grazing behavior was observed (scans every 5 min) in the first 4 h after the morning milking, and chemical composition of hand plucked samples of forage were measured. The cost of the supplement and profitability per treatment were calculated. Cows supplemented with GC consumed herbage with higher crude protein (CP: 16.23 vs. 14.62%; p < 0.05), had higher biting rate (44.21 vs. 39.54 bites/min; p < 0.03) and grazing time (22.20 vs. 20.55 scans; p < 0.05) than when receiving CC. There were no differences in milk composition between treatments (p > 0.05). However, higher concentrations of β-carotene and total carotenoids were detected in the milk of cows at 70–164 days of lactation, compared to

Mudanças na qualidade da relação entre os animais e as pessoas podem influenciar substancialmente na produtividade e no bem-estar dos animais e, potencialmente, dos humanos envolvidos na atividade leiteira. Importantes alterações no sentido da melhoria dessas relações podem ser obtidas através de programas de treinamento, ou outras formas de extensão. Para que isso tenha efetividade, é necessário conhecer como interagem os aspectos dessa relação, que incluem além dos animais e os homens, o ambiente em que eles se inserem. A maioria dos estudos publicados confirma o modelo de retroalimentação positiva de atitudes e comportamentos humanos e comportamento dos animais. Porém, esses estudos têm sido desenvolvidos em países da Europa ou na Austrália, na maioria das vezes, sob condições de criação intensiva confinada e, geralmente, com o intuito de indicar um perfil ideal de empregado para trabalhar com os animais. Nesta revisão, mostra-se que o sistema de criação pode exercer uma forte interferência nesse processo e conclui-se sugerindo o desenvolvimento de estudos voltados a compreender as relações entre humanos e animais em diferentes sistemas de criação, enfocando as diversas realidades do nosso país. Esses estudos devem procurar entender de que modo características como o manejo alimentar e sanitário empregado, a qualidade das instalações, a genética, o tamanho e a composição dos rebanhos, e as peculiaridades culturais regionais influenciam na qualidade dessas relações.Changes in the quality of interactions between animals and humans have a profound influence on the productivity and welfare of animals and, potentially, of humans involved in the dairy activity. Important alterations in these interactions can be obtained through training programs, or other forms of extension. To do so effectively, it is necessary to understand how interact the several aspects of this relationship, which includes besides the animals humans, and the environment where they are inserted. Most of published studies confirm the model of positive feedback human behavior and attitudes, and animal behavior. However, these studies have been carried out mostly in European countries or Australia, mostly under intensive, confined systems, and usually with the aiming of indicating an ideal worker profile. In this review we show that the rearing system may exert a strong influence in this process and conclude suggesting the development of studies with the objective of understanding the relationships between humans and animals in different farming systems, focusing on the diverse realities of Brazil. These studies should search understanding how characteristics such as feeding and health management, quality of facilities, genetics, size and composition of herds, and cultural regional peculiarities, influence the quality of these relationships.

In order to identify appropriate alternatives for the provision of water to dairy cattle, the preference of dairy cows among three types of water troughs used in pasturebased systems was evaluated. The fi rst water trough was round, had a diameter of 120cm, was 60cm high and held 500L (500C); the second was a round water trough, 60cm in diameter, 60cm high, and held 125L (125C); the last trough was rectangular, 30cm high and 100cm long, and held 100L (100R). Individual preference tests were carried out with 17 dairy cows. The cows preferred to drink 67% of the time from the 500C trough, 18% of the time from the 100R trough, and 15% of the time from the 125C trough (p

Em pequenas propriedades leiteiras, devido à falta de instalações adequadas para o manejo, as vacas podem ser contidas e submetidas à inspeção ou tratamento veterinário no seu ambiente de ordenha, o que, por sua vez, pode influenciar o comportamento dos animais, perturbando a rotina de manejo. Sete vacas leiteiras, mantidas em sistema intensivo de pastoreio rotativo e ordenhadas duas vezes por dia por dois manejadores, foram expostas a um minucioso exame clínico, durante três dias consecutivos. Dados comportamentais antes e depois do procedimento foram analisados através de uma análise de variância. O comportamento das vacas durante o procedimento indicou forte aversividade. O tratamento não influenciou a distância de fuga mantida em relação ao veterinário ou a uma pessoa desconhecida pelas vacas, avaliadas antes e após o procedimento veterinário (veterinário: antes = 1,2±0,1; após 0,8±0,2; desconhecido: 1,0±0,2 após 1,2±0,2; p=0,3), nem o número de interações agonísticas no grupo, observadas antes (7,1±2) e após (11,5±3) o procedimento (p=0,3), ou um escore de reatividade atribuído a cada animal (p=0,2). Estes resultados não permitem concluir que a aplicação repetida e inevitável de procedimentos veterinários no ambiente da ordenha influencia o comportamento das vacas durante a ordenha ou a sua reatividade ao homem.

O leite residual (LR) pós-ordenha é um importante fator predisponente de mastite. Neste estudo foi testada a hipótese de que a massagem do úbere ao final da ordenha pode reduzir o LR e a incidência de mastite. Para tanto foram realizados dois experimentos, o experimento 1 foi realizado numa fazenda experimental com 10 vacas (6.200kg/lactação) e o experimento 2 em fazenda comercial com 52 vacas (4.480kg/lactação). Em ambos os experimentos as vacas foram pareadas por número de partos, estágio de lactação e produtividade e aleatoriamente destinadas a um dos tratamentos: com massagem ou sem massagem do úbere, em duas etapas num desenho “cross-over”. A produção de leite individual de cada vaca foi medida. O leite residual foi coletado e medido 2min após aplicação de ocitocina intravenosa. Foi usado o Califórnia Mastite Teste (CMT) para detectar mastite subclínica. Em ambos os experimentos a massagem não teve efeito na produção de leite (experimento 1, p > 0,41, n = 10; e experimento 2, p > 0,46, n = 12), nem no LR (experimento 1, 1,78 ± 0,45kg, n = 10; experimento 2, 2,42 ± 0,32kg, n = 12), e nem na incidência de mastite (experimento 2, qui-quadrado, p > 0,68, n = 26). Concluiu-se que, nas condições do experimento, a massagem no úbere não teve efeito no LR e nem na incidência de mastite.

Com o intuito de avaliar três alternativas adequadas de oferta de água para vacas leiteiras, alimentadas a base de pasto, na região sul do Brasil, foram disponibilizados três tipos de bebedouros, sendo: (1) formato circular, com 60cm de altura x 120cm de diâmetro e capacidade para 500L (500C); (2) formato circular, com 60cm de altura x 60cm de diâmetro e capacidade para 125L (125C) e (3) formato retangular, com 30cm de altura x 100cm de comprimento x 30cm de largura e capacidade para 100L (100R). Os resultados obtidos através de testes individuais de preferência por parte das 17 vacas em lactação, mostraram 67% de acessos no bebedouro 500C, 18% no 100R e 15% no 125C (p

On small dairy farms that lack appropriate handling facilities, cows can be restrained and subjected to veterinary inspection or treatment in their milking environment, which in turn might influence the behaviour of the animals, disrupting routine management. A group of seven dairy cows kept on an intensive rotational pasture system and machine milked twice a day by two familiar handlers were exposed to a thorough clinical examination for three consecutive days. Behavioural data before and after the procedure were analyzed by ANOVA. The behaviour of all the cows during the procedure indicated strong aversiveness. Treatment did not influence the flight distance (metres) kept from the veterinarian or from a person unknown by the cows, assessed before and after the procedure (veterinarian: before = 1.2 ± 0.1; after 0.8 ± 0.2; unknown: 1.0 ± 0.2 after 1.2 ± 0.2; p=0.3), nor did it affect the number of agonistic interactions within the group observed before (7.1 ± 2) and after (11.5 ± 3) the procedure (p=0.3), or reactivity score (p=0.2). These results do not support the conclusion that the repeated application of unavoidable aversive veterinary procedures in the milking environment will influence the behaviour of cows during milking or their reactivity to humans.

Residual milk (RM) after milking is an important factor that can predispose cows to mastitis. In this study, the hypothesis that udder massage at the end of milking may reduce RM and the incidence of mastitis was tested in two experiments. Experiment 1 was conducted on an experimental farm with ten lactating cows (6,200kg/lactation) and experiment 2 was carried out on a commercial farm with 52 lactating cows (4,480kg/lactation). In both experiments the cows were paired by parity, stage of lactation and productivity, and they were randomly assigned to one of the treatments: massage or no massage of the udder at the end of milking, in two periods in a crossover design. The individual milk production of each cow was measured. Residual milk was collected and measured 2min after an oxitocin application. California Mastitis Test was used to detect the occurrence (experiment 1 p > 0.41, n = 10 and experiment 2 p > 0.46, n = 12), on RM (experiment 1, 1.78 ± 0.45kg, n = 10; experiment 2, 2.42 ± 0.32kg, n = 12), or on mastitis incidence (experiment 2, chi-square; DF = 1; p > 0.68, n = 26). We conclude that udder massage at the end of milking has no effect on RM and does not affect mastitis incidence, at least under the conditions used in these experiments.

This study was aimed at investigating whether after weaning, piglets recognize persons that have handled them aversively during the lactation period, and whether such treatment intensifies the stress of weaning. Before weaning, five litters received aversive handling treatment involving an aggressive and intimidating voice; six litters were treated conventionally. After weaning, the piglets’ behavior was compared in a series of tests. Compared to day 10 after weaning, in the first two days after weaning higher frequencies of escape attempts, vocalizations, and standing and sitting, accompanied by a lower frequency of feeding (p

The reproductive behaviour of five male and two female semi-captive Tapirus terrestris was investigated for two years without interruption. They were fenced in a 160 hectare area, in Santa Catarina State, South of Brazil. Data was collected whenever an animal exhibited reproductive behaviour. Seven behaviours, observed in eleven reproductive events, were divided into three categories: courtship, copulation and post-copulation. The tapirs displayed stereotypical patterns of sexual behaviour. No kind of audible vocalization was recorded during the reproductive period. All reproductive activity began in the second quarter of July and continued up to the first half of October, in both years of observation, pointing towards the existence of a reproductive season, corroborated by two births after expected gestation period from copula.

Santa Catarina is the only Brazilian state that does not immunize the bovine herd against foot and mouth disease. This article discusses the policy adopted for the foot and mouth disease in Santa Catarina, especially the non-vaccination, and relates this policy with ethical, human and animal welfare issues. Nine representatives of agricultural institutions in the state were interviewed, as well as, in a case study, seven families of farmers in Jóia - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where foot and mouth disease occurred in 2000, leading to the sacrifice of 11,067 animals, most of them dairy animals. The majority of the agricultural institutions in Santa Catarina are contrary to vaccination, in order to keep and extend pig and poultry export markets. Concerns on social repercussions tended to concentrate on the effects on the income of the affected families. The case study in Jóia demonstrated that the life styles of the affected farmers were deeply harmed due to effects on human mental health, loss of income and changes in the local economy. The study concludes that the experience of a foot and mouth disease outbreak results in traumatic and long term consequences and that there is a need for policies that include social, ethical and environmental provisions, once animal welfare aspects and impacts on other areas of the economy are not contemplated in the public policy of animal sanitary defense.

Avoiding grazing near feces is an efficient strategy to prevent parasitic infection and contamination; therefore, in the evolution of herbivorous species, this behavior may have developed as a mechanism to protect the host against infection by gastrointestinal nematodes. The aim of this study was to assess whether grazing distance from dung is related to the level of parasitic infection in cattle. Based on Fecal Egg Count (FEC) means, 18 castrated male steers, aged 18 months, were divided into three groups: High (FEC ≥ 315); Medium (FEC = 130-160); and Low (FEC = 40-70). To analyze the response to a new natural infection by gastrointestinal nematodes and to standardize infection levels, all animals received anthelmintic treatment at twenty days prior to field observation. Three observers simultaneously collected data on grazing behavior for 2.5 hours/week for 12 weeks. Observers recorded the distance when grazing occurred at less than one meter from dung. Every two weeks, fecal samples were collected for FEC, as well as serum samples to measure immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels against larvae and adult antigens of the parasitic species Haemonchus placei. All groups grazed farther from the dung on days of greater insolation (r = 0.62; P = 0.03). Animals with high levels of parasitism grazed farther from the dung (P < 0.05) but had lower levels (P < 0.0001) of IgG serum levels compared to those with medium and low levels of infection. FEC values varied over the experiment, remaining below 200 for the low and medium group and reaching 1000 (P < 0.01) for the animals with the highest rates of parasitism. Our results indicate that cattle showing high levels of parasitism are more likely to avoid contaminated areas than animals with lower infection levels, and the immune system seems to be involved in such behavior.

Neste estudo, foi testada a hipótese de que o medo de seres humanos é duradouro e pode prejudicar a produção leiteira de vacas da raça Holandesa. Um tratador aversivo realizou duas sessões diárias de um tratamento hostil (duas palmadas na região posterior e um grito forte), durante 21 dias, e um tratador neutro ordenhou as vacas, durante o mesmo período, não oferecendo nenhuma ameaça. A distância de fuga na presença do tratador aversivo e do neutro foi medida antes e 14 e 180 dias após o início do tratamento. As produções total e residual de leite (após aplicação i.v. de ocitocina na veia caudal) foram medidas a partir da ordenha realizada pelo tratador aversivo ou ou pelo neutro, entre os dias 14 e 24 do experimento. Todas as vacas (n=13) participaram dos dois tratamentos, constituindo um delineamento experimental do tipo "cross-over". Com exceção do período anterior ao experimento, as vacas mantiveram maior distância de fuga do tratador aversivo que do neutro, mesmo 180 dias após o último contato com os tratadores. Entretanto, não houve efeito do tratamento sobre a produção total ou residual de leite. Os resultados corroboram outros estudos que comprovaram que vacas discriminam tratadores aversivos de neutros. Entretanto, o tratamento aqui aplicado não afetou as produções total ou residual de leite.In the present study the hypothesis that fear of humans is long-lasting and may influence milk production in Holstein cows was tested. One person (the aversive handler) carried out two daily sessions of an aversive treatment during 21 days, where each cow received two slaps on the rump and a strong yell. The control handler walked around the cows not menacing the cows. Flight distance from both handlers was measured before the treatments were imposed and 14 and 180 days later. Total and residual milk (measured after an i.v. oxytocin injection in the caudal vein) were measured when either the aversive or the neutral handler carried out the milking, between days 14 and 24 of the experiment. All the cows were used in both treatments in a cross-over design. Except for the day before treatments started, the cows kept a larger distance from the aversive than from the neutral handler, even after 180 days without contact with these handlers. Nevertheless, there was no effect of treatment on total milk yield or residual milk. The results corroborate others that show that cows can discriminate between aversive and neutral individuals. Under the conditions of the present study, the fact that milking was done by the aversive individual did not influence total milk yield and residual milk.

This work compared the behaviour of pre-parturient sows housed in intensive confined and outdoor systems, during the morning and afternoon prior to delivery. Eight sows were kept individually in farrowing crates or in paddocks with access to fresh pasture from 8 to 10 days before expected parturition. All outdoor sows built a nest within 24 hours before farrowing. On the morning and afternoon before farrowing they spent 6.5% of the time collecting grass and 7.5% of the time organizing the nest. Outdoor sows were observed more often than confined sows rooting (4.60% vs. 0.25%), feeding (10.2% vs. 3.0%), standing (51% vs. 13%) and walking (8% vs. 0%). Indoor sows redirected the nesting behaviour to other behaviours like attempts to dig the ground, nosing, biting and rooting parts of the crate, feeder or drinker, during 4.7% of the time. They also spent more time than outdoor sows inactive (85% vs. 60%), lying (72% vs. 41%), drinking (2.1% vs. 0.5%) and vacuum chewing (3.7% vs. 0.1%). The pre-parturient behaviour of sows was considerably affected by the husbandry system. The outdoor system appears to be more appropriate for the sows' welfare than the conventional confinement.Neste trabalho foi comparado o comportamento de porcas pré-parturientes criadas no sistema confinado convencional ou no sistema intensivo ao ar livre. Oito porcas foram mantidas individualmente em baias de maternidade ou em potreiros com acesso a pasto fresco, de oito a dez dias antes da data prevista para o parto. As porcas ao ar livre construíram um ninho nas 24 horas antes do parto. Na manhã e tarde antes do parto, passaram aproximadamente 6,5% do tempo coletando pasto e 7,5% do tempo organizando um ninho. As porcas ao ar livre foram observadas mais freqüentemente do que as confinadas fuçando (4,60% vs. 0,25%), comendo (10,2% vs. 3,0%), em pé (51% vs. 13%) e caminhando (8% vs. 0%). As porcas confinadas redirecionaram o comportamento de ninho para comportamentos como tentativas de escavar no piso, morder e fuçar partes da baia, o comedouro e o bebedouro, durante 4,7% das observações. Também foram observadas mais freqüentemente do que as porcas ao ar livre inativas (85% vs. 60%), deitadas (72% vs. 41%), bebendo (2,1% vs. 0,5%) e mascando em falso (3,7% vs. 0,1%). O comportamento de porcas pré-parturientes foi consideravelmente influenciado pelo sistema de criação. O sistema intensivo ao ar livre parece ser mais apropriado para o bem-estar de porcas nesta fase do que o confinamento convencional.