Brush Use in Lot-Fed Cattle Shows Continued Use and Positive Behaviour
Feedlot cattle were assessed for the consistency of enrichment brush use, higher incidence of natural behaviour, and less agonistic or abnormal behaviour compared to cattle without the brush. Cattle were assigned to one of two treatment pens, (1) access to a vertical grooming brush (EB; <i>n&l...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| author | Emma J. Dunston-Clarke Catherine Stockman Josie Sinclair Teresa Collins |
| author_facet | Emma J. Dunston-Clarke Catherine Stockman Josie Sinclair Teresa Collins |
| author_sort | Emma J. Dunston-Clarke |
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| description | Feedlot cattle were assessed for the consistency of enrichment brush use, higher incidence of natural behaviour, and less agonistic or abnormal behaviour compared to cattle without the brush. Cattle were assigned to one of two treatment pens, (1) access to a vertical grooming brush (EB; <i>n</i> = 89) or (2) no access control (CON; <i>n</i> = 80), for a period of 107 days. A Principal Component (PC) analysis was used on pen-side demeanour scores. Statistical analysis on pen-side behaviour and demeanour PCs tested for impact of treatment, day, and time. Frequency of brush use and the duration of each cow–brush interaction did not decrease over the assessment period. Self-grooming and allogrooming did not differ between treatments and were similar in frequency to brush grooming, resulting in total grooming being higher in the EB treatment group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Cattle in the EB pen were scored as more content (PC 2; <i>p</i> < 0.05) and sociable (PC 3; <i>p</i> < 0.01), while CON cattle were scored as more anxious (PC 3; <i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall, this study suggests that the provision of a brush for enrichment enhanced lot-fed cattle wellbeing and permitted prolonged engagement, making it an effective enrichment device. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2546f94987fb4b9d85d14daddca49ec0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-2546f94987fb4b9d85d14daddca49ec02025-01-10T13:13:53ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-12-011514410.3390/ani15010044Brush Use in Lot-Fed Cattle Shows Continued Use and Positive BehaviourEmma J. Dunston-Clarke0Catherine Stockman1Josie Sinclair2Teresa Collins3Food Futures Institute, School of Agricultural Sciences, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, AustraliaFood Futures Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, AustraliaFood Futures Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, AustraliaFood Futures Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, AustraliaFeedlot cattle were assessed for the consistency of enrichment brush use, higher incidence of natural behaviour, and less agonistic or abnormal behaviour compared to cattle without the brush. Cattle were assigned to one of two treatment pens, (1) access to a vertical grooming brush (EB; <i>n</i> = 89) or (2) no access control (CON; <i>n</i> = 80), for a period of 107 days. A Principal Component (PC) analysis was used on pen-side demeanour scores. Statistical analysis on pen-side behaviour and demeanour PCs tested for impact of treatment, day, and time. Frequency of brush use and the duration of each cow–brush interaction did not decrease over the assessment period. Self-grooming and allogrooming did not differ between treatments and were similar in frequency to brush grooming, resulting in total grooming being higher in the EB treatment group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Cattle in the EB pen were scored as more content (PC 2; <i>p</i> < 0.05) and sociable (PC 3; <i>p</i> < 0.01), while CON cattle were scored as more anxious (PC 3; <i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall, this study suggests that the provision of a brush for enrichment enhanced lot-fed cattle wellbeing and permitted prolonged engagement, making it an effective enrichment device.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/44environmental enrichmentcattle brushfeedlotethogramaffective statetemperament |
| spellingShingle | Emma J. Dunston-Clarke Catherine Stockman Josie Sinclair Teresa Collins Brush Use in Lot-Fed Cattle Shows Continued Use and Positive Behaviour Animals environmental enrichment cattle brush feedlot ethogram affective state temperament |
| title | Brush Use in Lot-Fed Cattle Shows Continued Use and Positive Behaviour |
| title_full | Brush Use in Lot-Fed Cattle Shows Continued Use and Positive Behaviour |
| title_fullStr | Brush Use in Lot-Fed Cattle Shows Continued Use and Positive Behaviour |
| title_full_unstemmed | Brush Use in Lot-Fed Cattle Shows Continued Use and Positive Behaviour |
| title_short | Brush Use in Lot-Fed Cattle Shows Continued Use and Positive Behaviour |
| title_sort | brush use in lot fed cattle shows continued use and positive behaviour |
| topic | environmental enrichment cattle brush feedlot ethogram affective state temperament |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/44 |
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