• Basic Information
• Additional Info

Basic Information

• Project No. and Title: W2173 : Impacts of Stress Factors on Performance, Health, and Well-Being of Farm Animals (from W1173)
• Period Covered: 10/01/2013 to 09/01/2013
• Date of Report: 09/23/2014
• Annual Meeting Dates: 07/25/2014 to 07/26/2014

Participants

Yoshiyuke Abe, Visiting Scientist USMARC/ISU Jennifer Chen, UC-Davis Bob Collier, University of Arizona Andrew Curtis, University of Missouri/Animal Sciences Lawrence Curtis, Oregon State Peggy Ann Eichen, University of Missouri/Animal Sciences Susan Eicher, USDA-ARS Roger Eigenberg, USDA-ARS John Gaughan, University of Queensland Kifle Gebremedhin, Cornell University Robert Godfrey, University of the Virgin Islands Lindsey Hulbert, Kansas State University Hank Kattesh, University of Tennessee/Animal Science Yuzhi Li, University of Minnesota Sierra Lockwood, University of Tennessee Terry Mader, Private Consultant/UNL Spencer Maynes, UNL/Statistics Luis Mendonca, Kansas State University Ignacy Misztal, University of Georgia Anne Parkhurst, UNL/Statistics Kristen Perano, Cornell University Avi Sapkota, Purdue/USDA-LBRU Brad Scharf, University of Missouri/Animal Sciences

Accomplishments

Impacts

1. Variation among animals is an important consideration when fitting statistical models to assess effects of heat stress. When the assumption of normality is unrealistic, a Bayesian approach, which relaxes the normality assumption by letting both between-animals and within-animals have a multivariate skew-normal distribution that may reveal important features of the data.
2. Asymmetric loops and ellipses now available in the R ?hysteresis? software package extends the model to allow for estimation of additional characteristics heat stress
3. Two stages of feeding behavior in grow-out periods of segregated gilts and barrows were identified by Functional Data Analysis (FDA). Knowledge of when pigs stop increasing time spent at feeder and begin to plateau may be useful in evaluating management strategies.
4. These results suggest that body weight and pen score are better predictor?s of bull behavior than overall temperament rating
5. Based on the findings of this study, gravel, sand or rubber mat bedding material may be used without compromising the physiological well-being of preweaned Jersey calves.
6. Reduction in the hair coat of cattle may produce a slight reduction in heat stress during summer months. However, additional studies are needed to verify this. In addition, there is some indication of a reduction in feed efficiency as a result of this procedure.
7. Results suggest that young and lightweight sows will become low ranking sows in a group. Low ranking sows can suffer social stress, as indicated by their fear responses. To improve well-being of low ranking sows, producers may consider sorting sows by age or weight in group housing systems.
8. The reduction in feed intake and milk production of dairy cows during long-term heat stress is accompanied by increased sensitivities of core body temperature and respiration rate to a change in the thermal environment.
9. These results suggest that slow growing pigs can be identified by lightweight at birth and slow feed consumption rate during the nursery period. Providing more feeder space will improve well-being and the growth performance of slow growing pigs.
10. It was concluded that thermal images could be successfully used to evaluate the thermal needs of pigs, and that further experiments need be conducted to validate thresholds as determined by thermal images.
11. These data provide more information on the heat tolerance traits of hair sheep breeds and can be used when selecting animals for crossbreeding in areas of high heat and humidity. The results show that pregnant ewes may be moderating their internal body temperature as a method of protecting the developing fetus.
12. From these results, researchers should consider including CCRL1 and HSP90AA1 in future stress-related studies.
13. Same sets of genes may be responsible for increased milk and mortality. The genetic decomposition for mortality is region specific.
14. These data show a small benefit with the cooled perches, but testing is needed during greater heat stress conditions.
15. This project determined advantages for rubber flooring for dairies including improved salient production variables and lower indicators of inflammation in peripheral blood leukocytes; greater ME fat and ME protein and protein percentages for cows housed on rubber, lower white blood cell and lymphocyte counts and lower inflammatory cytokine (Il-1) and greater expression of its antagonist (IL-1Ra). This research supports the use of rubber flooring for dairy cattle housed in free stalls
16. Data suggest that waiting until 14 day to group young calves that are fed by individual bottles is best for production.
17. Data indicate that under the conditions of this experiment, supplemental Zn, Cu, and Mn concentration and source had no impact on performance and carcass characteristics in feedlot steers.
18. It appears that basal dietary concentrations of trace mineral were adequate for growth and performance of finishing yearling feedlot steers.
19. New technologies are useful in teaching high school students about environmental stress and developing their interest in this important topic
20. Economic impact of heat stress on dairy production is much greater than the effect on beef production. Ten states in the US account for 85 and 68% of the total losses to beef and dairy industries, respectively.
21. This initial manuscript demonstrates the potential of utilizing feeding behavior or time spent eating as a method of managing animals
22. These results suggest that low ranking sows had poor welfare than high ranking sows in pens with the floor feeding system, as indicated by reduced weight gain and increased skin lesions. Segregating low ranking sows from high ranking sows and housing them in small pens may improve well-being of low ranking sows in group-housing systems
23. While, the cost of the shade can be high, it appears by the results of this study, that not all cattle need to have access to the shade. It was determined that shade benefits dark cattle more than light cattle
24. Updated heat and moisture production values are essential in designing new and managing current swine facilities.
25. A new shade structure may help shade be more utilized across the industry.
26. Reflective hutch covers appears to be a useful method of reducing heat and cold stress in calves housed in hutches.
27. Sprinklers provide cooling benefits when cattle are required to stand under the spray, but in loose-housed production settings, animals can avoid using this resource if they choose. Consequently, behavior is an important variable that moderates the cooling effectiveness of sprinklers. We found that dry lot dairies varied widely in the cooling resources they provide, cattle usage of these resources, and performance on indicators of heat load. On some dairies, physiological signs of heat stress were better than on others, suggesting opportunities for improving heat abatement. We also found experimentally that in a freestall dairy, lower flow rate sprinklers were used willingly by cows, and were equally as effective as higher flow rate sprinklers for cooling cows while using much less potable water.
28. The results suggest that conductive cooling is an effective heat stress mitigating mechanism for high-producing dairy cows. The system provides some comfort to the cows as demonstrated by increased milk production and decreased internal body temperature and respiration rate. The US dairy industry, which is a $40 billion per year industry (2013), loses up to $1.5 billion in a typical year to the effects of heat stress on lactating dairy cattle. Therefore, a small improvement in alleviation of heat stress on dairy cows would have a substantial benefit (impact) for the dairy industry. The system is also expected to produce significant savings in water use and energy use compared to the current practice of using water sprinkler or fogging systems
29. It would appear that TRUM may be a useful measure for identifying heat tolerant cattle both within and between breeds; however more work is required to fully establish the relationship. Further to this there is also a need to establish potential performance trade-offs between heat tolerant and non-tolerant animals within a breed. Mean rumen temperature at hourly intervals (Time of Day) for unshaded Angus, Brahman and Charolais steers over 130 days (Australian summer).

Publications