Stocking density in intensive housing and the implications for beef cattle behavior, stress physiology, and liveweight.

Abstract

Stocking density can potentially impact cattle welfare during livestock export voyages. The aim of this study was to assess selected measures that reflect the welfare of cattle housed at 3 allometric stocking densities (k = 0.027, 0.030, 0.047). Bos indicus cross Bos taurus steers were housed in 12 pens, each with 5 steers, for 10 d. Scan sampling of standing and lying behaviors were conducted on days 2, 5, 7, and 9, at hourly intervals. Continuous observations were conducted on the same days between 1030 and 1130 h, to count aggressive interactions. Liveweights were recorded at the start of the study, and on days 6 and 10. For a subset of focal steers (3 per pen), white blood cell counts, and fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGCM) concentrations were assessed on days 0, 6, and 10. More pen space led to a small increase in the number of steers lying, as well as a small increase in lying synchronicity. Results also indicated that the number of cattle lying in isolation from conspecifics is higher when more space is available. More pen space also resulted in more steers lying with outstretched legs on days 2 and 5, but there was no evidence of this after day 5. Stocking density had no important effect on day 6 or 10 liveweights or FGCM concentrations. Only small decreases in total white blood cell and lymphocyte counts between days 6 and 10 were observed, as well as small increases in neutrophil counts and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, but all mean counts still fell within reference intervals for healthy cattle. The lack of important effects on stress physiology and liveweight suggests that the cost of attempting to adapt to pen space restriction was relatively low, leading to behavioral responses only. Results for lying behaviors also suggest that additional pen space may facilitate adaptation upon introduction to a new housing environment and is beneficial in facilitating the expression of some lying behaviors. While designed to emulate stocking densities applicable to Australian cattle export voyages, other environmental factors that may induce stress during these voyages were not present, and so the conclusions must be interpreted in the context of the controlled experimental conditions.