AUTHOR(S) / АУТОР(И): Ljiljana Samolovac, Slavča Hristov, Marina Lazarević, Nenad Mićić, Dragan Nikšić, Dušica Ostojić-Andrić, Tamara Stamenić
E-MAIL:
DOI: 10.46793/SBT29.27LS
ABSTRACT / САЖЕТАК:
The behaviour of calves is a response to stimuli from the environment causing movement, actions and changes in body position, affecting the health and welfare of the animals. We distinguish four categories of physiological behaviour:
– Behaviour related to basic needs such as movement, nutrition, rest and sleep.
– Exploratory behaviour that enables getting to know the living environment.
– Territorial behaviour and protection of safety and social order.
– Sexual and parental behaviour for the protection of the genome and the extension of the species.
The positive emotional state of animals is manifested through the freedom to express these forms of behaviour and social contact with other individuals, which reduces stress and fear. The goal of the care for animal welfare is to minimize exposure to negative emotions by optimizing these factors. The present study, carried out on two farms with an intensive system of housing and rearing calves up to 30 days of age, showed significant weaknesses and deficiencies in the way calves are kept immediately after birth, up to 7 days of age. Namely, of 9 forms of physiological behaviour, 5 rated 1 or 2. The situation was somewhat better in the age category of calves between 8 and 30 days, where only one form, reproductive behaviour, was absolutely impossible. In order to improve the quality of calf welfare, it is necessary to provide better rearing conditions that would enable the manifestation of basic physiological forms of behaviour.
KEYWORDS / КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ:
calves, welfare, physiological forms of behaviour
REFERENCES / ЛИТЕРАТУРА:
- Budzynska, M., Weary, D.M. (2008): Weaning distress in dairy calves: Effects of alternative weaning procedures. Animal Behaviour Science 112, 33–39.
- Færevik, G., Tjentland, K., Løvik, S., Andersen, I.L., Bøe, K.E. (2008): Resting pattern and social behaviour of dairy calves housed in pens with different sized lying areas. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 114, 54–64.
- Fröberg, S., Lidfors, L. (2009): Behaviour of dairy calves suckling the dam in a barn with automatic milking or being fed milk substitute from an automatic feeder in a group pen. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 117, 150-158.
- Johnsen, J.F., Ellingsen, K., Grøndahl, A.M., Bøe, K.E., Lidfors, L., Mejdell, C.M. (2015): The effect of physical contact between dairy cows and calvesduring separation on their post-separation behavioural response. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 166 , 11-19.
- Marchant, J., Marchant-Forde, R., Weary, D. (2002): Responses of dairy cows and calves to each other’s vocalisations after early separation. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 78, 19-28.
- Samolovac, LJ. (2016): Uticaj uslova gajenja i sezone rođenja na dobrobit teladi u prvom mesecu života. Doktorska disertacija. Poljoprivredni fakultet, Beograd-Zemun.
- Stěhulova, I., Lidfors, L., Špinka, M. (2008): Response of dairy cows and calves to early separation: Effect of calf age and visual and auditory contact after separation. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 110, 144–165.
- Veissier, I., Caré, S., Pomiès, D. (2013): Suckling, weaning, and the development of oral behaviours in dairy calves. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 147, 11-18.
- Vučinić, M. (2006): Ponašanje, doborbit i zaštita životinja. Fakultet veterinarske medicine, Beograd.