Pasture access and social housing influence the behaviour of dairy calves.

This Research Communication set out to (1) evaluate the behaviour and performance of dairy calves raised on pasture individually or in groups, and (2) evaluate the influence of physical enrichment on the behaviour and performance of dairy calves raised in groups on pasture. Although there was no difference in grazing behaviour when housed in groups, calves spent longer eating concentrate, ruminating and drinking water. Additionaly, calves housed individually spend part of their time trying to get close to a neighbouring calf.

A meta-analysis approach to evaluate the effects of early group housing on calf performance, health, and behavior during the preweaning period.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of early group housing on the performance, health, and behavior of dairy calves during the preweaning period using systematic and meta-analysis approaches. Peer-reviewed articles written in English that compared dairy calves individually and group-housed with performance, health, or behavior outcomes were collected from Web of Science, PubMed, and CABDirect databases. The resulting articles (n = 850) underwent a 4-step appraisal process following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses protocols, resulting in a final sample of 51 articles containing 85 studies.

Poultry Preslaughter Operations in Hot Environments: The Present Knowledge and the Next Steps Forward.

Poultry production faces significant challenges, including high feed prices, diseases, and thermal stress, which impact broiler welfare and productivity. Despite advances in cooling technologies and ventilation, preslaughter operations still lead to considerable losses. This review highlights the need for the improved management of thermal environments and animal logistics.

Decision support system to classify the vulnerability of broiler production system to heat stress based on fuzzy logic.

In this study, we develop an artificial intelligence model to predict the vulnerability of broiler production systems (broilers and facilities) to heat conditions using a fuzzy model approach. The model was designed with a multiple-input and a single-output (MISO) approach (input: physical environment and broilers age; output: degree of vulnerability of broilers system). For the validation of the fuzzy model, two approaches were used: (1) records from the scientific literature and (2) meteorological forecasts.

A systematic review of the effects of silvopastoral system on thermal environment and dairy cows' behavioral and physiological responses.

Does the silvopastoral system (SPS) promote a satisfactory thermal environment for dairy cows to perform their natural behaviors and perform a suitable thermoregulatory function? To answer this, peer-reviewed articles, written in English and evaluating the effects of silvopastoral systems on thermal environment, dairy cows' behavior, and physiology were used in this systematic review; additionally, a bibliometric approach was performed. Web of Science and Google Scholar were used to compile the literature. The resulting articles (1448) underwent a 4-step appraisal process and resulted in 19 articles that fitted our inclusion criteria.

socialh: An R package for determining the social hierarchy of animals using data from individual electronic bins.

Cattle have a complex social organization, with negative (agonistic) and positive (affiliative) interactions that affect access to environmental resources. Thus, the social behaviour has a major impact on animal production, and it is an important factor to improve the farm animal welfare. The use of data from electronic bins to determine social competition has already been validated; however, the studies used non-free software or did not make the code available.

Predation of the fungus on infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes from heifers in a silvopastoral system under shaded and sunny conditions.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the predatory activity of the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans on infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes from dairy heifers in different conditions (shaded and sunny) of a silvopastoral system (SPS) on an agroecological farm. Ten Jersey heifers were divided into two groups: treated (received pellets containing fungus); and control (received pellets without fungus). Twelve hours after fungus administration, faeces samples were collected for in vitro efficacy tests.

Classification of environmental factors potentially motivating for dairy cows to access shade.

The aim of this Research Communication was to apply the data mining technique to classify which environmental factors have the potential to motivate dairy cows to access natural shade. We defined two different areas at the silvopastoral system: shaded and sunny. Environmental factors and the frequency that dairy cows used each area were measured during four days, for 8 h each day.

Predatory activity of nematophagus fungus in infective larvae after gastrointestinal transit: biological control in pasture areas and .

Biological control is a strategy to decrease parasitic populations, and the action takes place through natural antagonists in the environment. We studied the predatory activity of the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans in infective larvae (L3) of gastrointestinal nematodes after gastrointestinal transit. Ten heifers were divided into two groups: treated (animals received pellets containing fungus) and control (animals received pellets without fungus).

Influence of microclimate on dairy cows' behavior in three pasture systems during the winter in south Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of microclimate on thermal comfort and dairy cows' behavior in different pasture systems during the winter of a subtropical climate. The experiment was carried out in June and August 2020, covering the winter season in the southern hemisphere. Local microclimatic variables and cows' behaviors were compared in two conditions (shaded and sunny), in three pasture systems: silvopastoral system with disperse trees (SPSdisp), silvopastoral system with trees along the border fences (SPSfen), and treeless pasture (TLP).

Developing of a model to predict lying behavior of dairy cows on silvopastoral system during the winter season.

Lying behavior is an important indicator of the cows' welfare and health. In this study, we evaluate the effect of the physical environment on dairy cows' behaviors raised on a silvopastoral system through a predictive model. There was a difference (p<0.

Time of Grain Supplementation and Social Dominance Modify Feeding Behavior of Heifers in Rotational Grazing Systems.

Social hierarchy affects the access of animals to feed resources. On daily rotational pasture systems, supplementation time may influence feeding behavior. This trial was designed to test the effect of grain delivery time on the feeding behavior of heifers.