Effects of fattening bulls regrouping on their maintenance and abnormal behaviour

Authors

  • A. STRMEŇOVÁ
  • P. JUHÁS
  • J. BROUČEK

Keywords:

bull, sire, maintenance behaviour, abnormal behaviour

Abstract

The aim was to test the hypotheses that the behaviour of bulls after regrouping is influenced by the day of observation and sire. From 32 Holstein bulls kept in the loose-housing 5 were selected, originating from 3 fathers, having shown the fight, mounting, licking genitals, and pawing. These bulls were subject to another ethological observation in a different pen during three consecutive days. We tested if their behaviour varies depending on the day of the observation and sire lineage. Following treatments were evaluated: the new group formatting on the 1st day, coping on the conditions created during the previous day on the 2nd day, and re-littering the pen on the 3rd day. No significant differences between bulls were found in observed maintenance behaviours except of the time of feeding only (P<0.01). Between observed days, statistically significant differences were noted in frequencies of aggressiveness and playing behaviour (P<0.05; P<0.001). Effect of sire was manifested in the frequency of licking (P<0.05), aggressiveness (P<0.01), and playing (P<0.05).

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Published

2013-06-30

Issue

Vol. 46 No. 2 (2013)

Section

Articles