Handling, reactivity and price of beef cattle

Given the importance of cattle breeding for the Brazilian economy, as well as the growing concern with animal welfare, studies that clearly and objectively approach the way cattle are handled during auctions become necessary. This study aims, hence, at assessing the influence of cattle handling on the reactivity of animals at the time of arrival at the exhibition park. We also aimed to evaluate the impact of reactivity and visual aspects on the price for animals atauctions in the northern region of the state of Minas Gerais. We observed 241 lots of commercial and 43 lots of pedigree cattle in loco, assessing the type of handling and the cattle's behavior when arriving at the exhibition park, accommodation in the corral and loading to the destination. Upon arrival, commercial animals were more reactive than pedigree cattle due to the change of environment exhibition park as opposed to their original habitat, and also to the number of visitors who induce stress and cause the animals to retreat. Commercial and pedigree females were more reactive than males upon arrival and loading, particularly when close to their offspring. Commercial animals that scored high in aggressiveness had smaller flight zones, for they run toward fences when threatened. Young commercial animals entered the auction ring with no external help due to anxiety and restlessness. The visual aspect influences the price in virtual markets.(AU)

Handling, reactivity and price of beef cattle

Given the importance of cattle breeding for the Brazilian economy, as well as the growing concern with animal welfare, studies that clearly and objectively approach the way cattle are handled during auctions become necessary. This study aims, hence, at assessing the influence of cattle handling on the reactivity of animals at the time of arrival at the exhibition park. We also aimed to evaluate the impact of reactivity and visual aspects on the price for animals atauctions in the northern region of the state of Minas Gerais. We observed 241 lots of commercial and 43 lots of pedigree cattle in loco, assessing the type of handling and the cattle's behavior when arriving at the exhibition park, accommodation in the corral and loading to the destination. Upon arrival, commercial animals were more reactive than pedigree cattle due to the change of environment – exhibition park as opposed to their original habitat, and also to the number of visitors who induce stress and cause the animals to retreat. Commercial and pedigree females were more reactive than males upon arrival and loading, particularly when close to their offspring. Commercial animals that scored high in aggressiveness had smaller flight zones, for they run toward fences when threatened. Young commercial animals entered the auction ring with no external help due to anxiety and restlessness. The visual aspect influences the price in virtual markets.

Influência do escore de comportamento na taxa de prenhez de vacas Nelores submetidas à IATF / Influence of behavior score on pregnancy rate of Nelore cows submitted to IATF

O temperamento é uma característica individual que os animais têm em relação a determinado estímulo e estão condicionados ao medo. Acredita- se que possui grande importância na eficiência produtiva, e, portanto, vem sendo visto com atenção na produção animal. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do temperamento no momento da inseminação artificial em tempo fixo na taxa de prenhez de animais da raça Nelore. Foi avaliado do temperamento de vacas Nelore (n = 168) por meio do escores de tronco e velocidade de saída do tronco, no momento da IATF. O escore de tronco foi avaliado com notas de 1 a 5, e o teste de velocidade de saída aferiu o tempo em que cada animal gastou para percorrer 2 metros de distância. As vacas foram submetidas a IATF e o diagnóstico de gestação foi realizado 30 dias após a IATF. Para as análises o escore de tronco foi categorizado em 1,2 e ≥3; a velocidades de saída de tronco em ≤0,67, 0,68 a 0,99 e 1,00 a 2,00 m/s. Não foi detectado efeito do temperamento na taxa de prenhez (p>0,05), porem foi detectado efeito do escore de tronco na velocidade de saída (p<0,05). As vacas com menor escore de tronco saíram em menor velocidade do tronco. Concluiu-se que a taxa de prenhez não é afetada pelo escore de tronco e nem pela velocidade de saída em animais condicionados ao manejo de tronco.(AU)

Temperament is an individual characteristic that animals have in relation to a given stimulus and is conditioned on fear. It is believed to have great importance in productive efficiency, and therefore has been seen with attention in animal production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of temperament at time of artificial insemination on the pregnancy rate of Nelore animals. Nellore cow temperament (n = 168) was evaluated by trunk scores and trunk exit velocity at the time of TAI. The trunk score was evaluated with grades from 1 to 5, and the exit speed test measured the time each animal spent to travel 2 meters away. The cows underwent TAI and the pregnancy diagnosis was made 30 days after TAI. For the analyzes, the trunk score was categorized as 1.2 and ≥3; at trunk exit speeds of ≤0.67, 0.68 to 0.99 and 1.00 to 2.00 m/s. No effect of temperament on pregnancy rate (p>0.05) was detected, but the effect of trunk score on exit velocity (p<0.05) was detected. Cows with lower trunk scores came out at lower trunk speeds. It was concluded that trunk score or exit speed in animals conditioned to trunk management does not affect the pregnancy rate.(AU)

Influência do escore de comportamento na taxa de prenhez de vacas Nelores submetidas à IATF / Influence of behavior score on pregnancy rate of Nelore cows submitted to IATF

O temperamento é uma característica individual que os animais têm em relação a determinado estímulo e estão condicionados ao medo. Acredita- se que possui grande importância na eficiência produtiva, e, portanto, vem sendo visto com atenção na produção animal. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do temperamento no momento da inseminação artificial em tempo fixo na taxa de prenhez de animais da raça Nelore. Foi avaliado do temperamento de vacas Nelore (n = 168) por meio do escores de tronco e velocidade de saída do tronco, no momento da IATF. O escore de tronco foi avaliado com notas de 1 a 5, e o teste de velocidade de saída aferiu o tempo em que cada animal gastou para percorrer 2 metros de distância. As vacas foram submetidas a IATF e o diagnóstico de gestação foi realizado 30 dias após a IATF. Para as análises o escore de tronco foi categorizado em 1,2 e ≥3; a velocidades de saída de tronco em ≤0,67, 0,68 a 0,99 e 1,00 a 2,00 m/s. Não foi detectado efeito do temperamento na taxa de prenhez (p>0,05), porem foi detectado efeito do escore de tronco na velocidade de saída (p<0,05). As vacas com menor escore de tronco saíram em menor velocidade do tronco. Concluiu-se que a taxa de prenhez não é afetada pelo escore de tronco e nem pela velocidade de saída em animais condicionados ao manejo de tronco.

Temperament is an individual characteristic that animals have in relation to a given stimulus and is conditioned on fear. It is believed to have great importance in productive efficiency, and therefore has been seen with attention in animal production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of temperament at time of artificial insemination on the pregnancy rate of Nelore animals. Nellore cow temperament (n = 168) was evaluated by trunk scores and trunk exit velocity at the time of TAI. The trunk score was evaluated with grades from 1 to 5, and the exit speed test measured the time each animal spent to travel 2 meters away. The cows underwent TAI and the pregnancy diagnosis was made 30 days after TAI. For the analyzes, the trunk score was categorized as 1.2 and ≥3; at trunk exit speeds of ≤0.67, 0.68 to 0.99 and 1.00 to 2.00 m/s. No effect of temperament on pregnancy rate (p>0.05) was detected, but the effect of trunk score on exit velocity (p<0.05) was detected. Cows with lower trunk scores came out at lower trunk speeds. It was concluded that trunk score or exit speed in animals conditioned to trunk management does not affect the pregnancy rate.