Do Beef Cows Exist in the Wild
Wild Cattle - Is information technology in their eyes?
Temperamental cattle are both dangerous and frustrating to handle. Animals who constantly endeavour to leap over gates or accuse towards openings are a danger to themselves, other animals and to their handlers. Injuries caused by this blazon of beliefs impact the price of a carcass due to increased trimming of bruised areas. Temperamental cattle also have decreased gains in the feedlot as well every bit poorer meat quality. All of these factors contribute to lower profits for the producer.
Evaluating Docility
Accuracy of measurements is a key attribute for genetic progress. Currently, there are many temperament measurements and evaluations that tin be performed. These range from temperament scoring to flight speeds to physiologic responses. Each has its own pros and cons, including varying levels of accuracy.
Effigy 1: Bovine Showing a Big Amount of Center White
Temperament scoring can be completed while animals are restrained in a chute or during routine handling. A score betwixt one and v is assigned to each animate being, with 1 being calm or docile and 5 existence agitated or aggressive. This method is easy and cheap to do, just relies on the consistency of the observer. Strict definitions of each score should exist determined before evaluations occur and the same person should consummate all observations in order to maintain precision. If these conditions are met, temperament scoring tin can exist an constructive method of evaluation.
Figure 2: Bovine Showing a Small Corporeality of Eye White
Flying speeds can as well be calculated easily and may be a good predictor of temperament. The virtually common method is to record the time information technology takes an animal to exit a squeeze chute. This method tin piece of work well as long every bit there are not any changes in the surroundings, such as extra animals around the exit pen or sudden noises which may cause some animals to react uncharacteristically.
The third method, based on physiologic responses, oftentimes includes measuring changes in claret levels of cortisol, which is like to adrenaline. Resting animals with higher levels of blood cortisol often have prolonged stress responses and more anxiety. Notwithstanding, measurement of this hormone can result in highly inaccurate evaluations of temperament because it is difficult to collect blood samples without causing stress to the animal. Too, this process is expensive. Additionally, cortisol levels tin can be increased for many other reasons, such as digestive processes, heat cycles and circadian (daily) rhythms.
Current Selection Programs for Docility
Limousin breeders accept made the greatest strides in improving temperament within their breed. They were the first to develop a temperament scoring organization that could be used to rank animals with Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) for docility. When the value of an EPD is loftier, there is a greater take chances that the bull will laissez passer on its docile traits. In 2005 the average EPD for docility in Limousin bulls was +12. These EPD values have improved significantly in the last 20 years. In 1990 information technology was estimated that the average EPD for Limousin bulls was merely +ane!
Since heritability for this trait is relatively high, genetic progress has occurred rapidly due to a loftier level of pick pressure level. Through these intensive selection programs, it is estimated that Limousin breeders take increased the percent of docile animals by 16% in x years. These breeders accept shown that it is possible to improve temperament efficiently and that docility should become an manufacture breeding focus.
Table i. Relationship of Flight Speed With Center White %
Current Research on Evaluating Temperament
Recently, innovative research at the University of Guelph has shown that the percentage of revealed center white can be used every bit a predictor of temperament. Eye white evaluations were conducted at the Elora Beef Research Station on bulls, steers and heifers every bit a graduate research project. This method was promising every bit information technology is an piece of cake, cheap technique that can be consistently evaluated by a concrete measurement rather than behavioural scoring. A digital camera was gear up almost the squeeze chute so that it captured the animal's eye. Video recording then took place while the animals were run through the chute. Images were then stored and analyzed to assess the amount of heart white revealed by each animal.
Flight speed was measured and chute score evaluations were as well conducted. The results of these analyses showed that percentage of middle white had a significant positive correlation with both temperament scoring and flying speed. The correlations can exist observed in Tables 1 and 2 (0.iv and 0.78 respectively).
The difference in per cent eye white between docile and temperamental animals inside the study can be observed in images 1 and 2. This type of measure out tin exist repeated on the same beast with a precision of 80 per cent. An additional benefit of this method is that it provides digital image records that tin can be used or re-analyzed at a later date. Since this measurement is reliable and highly correlated with temperament, per centum eye white is a good tool for identifying animals that should exist implemented in intensive selection programs for temperament.
Tabular array two. Relationship of Temperament Score With Center White %
Implications
The study of temperament and its furnishings on productivity is a booming area of enquiry, but so far the results are not widely used in convenance and pick programs. With increasing consumer demands for higher quality products and ameliorate management of livestock, selection for docility in cattle and other behavioural traits volition play a key role in increasing profit margins throughout the beef industry. As technology improves, and amend methods of assessment are adult, temperament volition become an important part of futurity pick decisions.
Acknowledgements:
- Data drove Assistance provided by the staff at Elora Beefiness Research Station
- Funding provided past the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- Guidance Provided past Stephen Miller, Middle for Genetic Improvement of Livestock (CGIL)
- Equipment and counsel provided by Tina Widowski and Georgia Mason, Campbell Centre for the Report of Animal Welfare (CSAW).
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Source: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/beef/news/vbn0708a1.htm
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