Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T13:19:37.107Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Influence of Dry Feed Supplements on Different Parameters of Welfare in Veal Calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

J P Morisse ,
J P Cotte ,
D Huonnic  and
A Martrenchar
J P Morisse*
Affiliation:
Centre National d'Etudes Vétérinaires et Alimentaires, BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France
J P Cotte
Affiliation:
Centre National d'Etudes Vétérinaires et Alimentaires, BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France
D Huonnic
Affiliation:
Centre National d'Etudes Vétérinaires et Alimentaires, BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France
A Martrenchar
Affiliation:
Centre National d'Etudes Vétérinaires et Alimentaires, BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France
*
† Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The aim of the study was to compare different behavioural, physiological and performance traits in three groups of veal calves fed either a routine all-liquid diet with milk replacer (GO) or the same diet supplemented with a total of 10kg (G10) or 25kg (G25) of pelleted straw and cereals. Each of the three feeding programmes involved 21 male Friesian calves kept in individual crates for 20 weeks (from 1 to 21 weeks of age). Oral activities, haematological variables, ruminai characteristics, health and performance were all investigated. In calves supplied with dry feed, there was no evidence of ruminating behaviour; and chewing, regarded as a non-nutritive oral activity, was clearly reduced. The incidence of tongue playing and manipulating objects was not influenced by additional pellets.

Haemoglobin concentrations were higher in G25 than in other groups as a result of the extra iron supplied in the pellets. Other blood variables were unchanged. In G10 and G25 changes in rumen characteristics were clearly demonstrated by the following observations: i) the weight of reticulo-rumens increased by 11 and 35 per cent, respectively; ii) small papillae (virtually non-existent in calves fed an all-liquid diet) were present, and there was a darkening of the mucosa; and iii) there was a marked reduction in the number of hairballs, resulting from a continuous elimination of ingested hair by ruminai motility. In G25, carcase weight was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 6.5 per cent compared with controls and no detrimental effects such as bloating or abomasal ulceration were observed when dry feed was added. Supplying calves with straw-cereal pellets was considered positive for the physiological aspects of welfare in veal calves. However, other diet compositions capable of inducing rumination behaviour should also be investigated.

Keywords

animal welfaresolid feedveal calves
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , February 1999 , pp. 43 - 52
Copyright
© 1999 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Becherel, F 1992 Qualité de la viande de veau. Viandes et Produits Carnés 2: 59–64Google Scholar
Broom, D M 1991 Needs and welfare of housed calves. In: Metz J H M and Groenestein C M (eds) New Trends in Veal Calf Production (European Association for Animal Production Publication No 52) pp 23-31. Pudoc: Wageningen, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Council Directive 97/2/CE 1997 Council Directive 97/2/CE modifying 91/629/CEE Directive laying down minimum standards for protection of calves. Official Journal of the European Communities L 25: 24–25Google Scholar
de Wilt, J G 1985 Behaviour and Welfare of Veal Calves in Relation to Husbandry Systems. PhD thesis, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wageningen, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Jarrige, R 1988 Alimentation des Bovins, Ovins et Caprins pp 29–47. Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA): Paris, FranceGoogle Scholar
Kooijman, J, Wierenga, H K and Wiepkema, PR 1991 Development of abnormal oral behaviour in group-housed veal calves: effect of a roughage supply. In: Metz J H M and Groenestein C M (eds) New Trends in Veal Calf Production (European Association for Animal Production Publication No 52) pp 54-58. Pudoc: Wageningen, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Martin, P and Bateson, P 1986 Measuring Behaviour pp 53–63. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UKGoogle Scholar
Morisse, J P, Cotte, J P and Huonnic, D 1992 Alteration de la muqueuse du rumen chez les taurillons en élevage intensif. Recueil de Médecine Vétérinaire 168: 17–24Google Scholar
Morisse, J P, Cotte, J P and Huonnic, D 1996 Anaemia in veal calves, husbandry technique under control or pathology? In: Proceedings of the International Symposium: Veal Perspectives to the Year 2000 pp 113-124. Federation de la Vitellerie:Le Mans, FranceGoogle Scholar
Quilichini, Y 1987 Le Reflectomètre Retrolux II pour apprécier la couleur de la carcasse des veaux. Viandes et Produits Carnés 1: 3–9Google Scholar
Report on the Welfare of Calves 1995 Animal Welfare Section of the Scientific Veterinary Committee. Directorate General of Agriculture VI/BII/2: Brussels, BelgiumGoogle Scholar
Sambraus, H B 1985 Mouth-based anomalous syndromes. In: Fraser, A F (ed) Ethology of Farm Animals pp 391–422. Elsevier: Amsterdam, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Toullec, R 1991 Le rôle du reticulo-rumen chez le veau de boucherie. In: Cycle Elevage et Alimentation pp 1–18. Association Française des Techniciens de l'Alimentation Animale (AAFTA): Paris, FranceGoogle Scholar
van de Braak, A E and Mol, J 1991 Dry feed supplement for fattening white veal calves. In: Metz J H M and Groenestein C M (eds) New Trends in Veal Calf Production (European Association for Animal Production Publication No 52) pp 285-288. Pudoc: Wageningen, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
van Putten, G 1982 Welfare in veal calves units. The Veterinary Record 111: 437–440Google ScholarPubMed
van Weeren-Keverling Buisman, A, Wensing, Th, Breukink, H T and Mouwen, J M 1991 Ruminal drinking in veal calves. In: Metz J H M and Groenestein C M (eds) New Trends in Veal Calf Production (European Association for Animal Production Publication No 52) ppl 13-117. Pudoc: Wageningen, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar
Veissier, I 1996 Intérêts de l'analyse comportementale dans les études du bien-être: le cas du veau de boucherie. Productions Animales 2: 103–111CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Welchman D de, B and Baust, G N 1987 A survey of abomasal ulceration in veal calves. The Veterinary Record 121: 586–590Google Scholar
Wiepkema, P R 1987 Behavioural aspects of stress. In: Wiepkema, P R and Van Adrichem, P W M (eds) Biology of Stress in Farm Animals: an Integrative Approach pp 113–133. Martinus Nijhoff: Dordrecht, The NetherlandsGoogle Scholar