Effects of the Application on Neonatal Beef Calves of Tactile Stimulation and Umbilical Antiseptic on their Pre-Weaned Welfare

Bezerra, Victor Henrique Esterlino Ferreira Brusin

Effects of the Application on Neonatal Beef Calves of Tactile Stimulation and Umbilical Antiseptic on their Pre-Weaned Welfare

dc.contributor.advisor	Ceballos Betancourt, Maria Camila
dc.contributor.author	Bezerra, Victor Henrique Esterlino Ferreira Brusin
dc.contributor.committeemember	Windeyer, Claire
dc.contributor.committeemember	Pearson, Jenifer
dc.contributor.committeemember	Pajor, Ed
dc.date	2024-05
dc.date.accessioned	2024-01-29T19:31:26Z
dc.date.available	2024-01-29T19:31:26Z
dc.date.issued	2024-01-29
dc.description.abstract	In the western Canadian beef cow-calf production systems, beef calves are generally kept with their dams in extensive outdoor grazing systems. Due to this, the contact between stockpeople and calves is infrequent. Often, when it does happen, the calf is subjected to potentially aversive experiences associate with capture and restraint, as well as painful procedures such as injections, castration, and branding. Young calves are also at risk of getting various diseases, including neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD), bovine respiratory disease (BRD), and umbilical infections, with negative consequent effects on their welfare. Practices like tactile stimulation and the application of umbilical antiseptic have the potential to improve human-animal relationship, calf health, and productivity, and these practices remains understudied in the context of beef calf processing in western Canada. This thesis aims to evaluate the effects of the application of tactile stimulation and umbilical antiseptic on neonatal beef calves on their welfare level at the pre-weaned stage, using three different welfare indicators: behaviour, health, and productivity. Four experimental groups (TSUA, calves with tactile stimulation and application of umbilical antiseptic; TS, calves with tactile stimulation but no application of umbilical antiseptic; UA, calves without tactile stimulation but with application of umbilical antiseptic; and C, control calves without tactile stimulation or application of umbilical antiseptic) were evaluated to assess the association of these interventions with reactivity when interacting with humans in handling facilities, risk of disease treatment, mortality, and average daily gain. Of all the animal welfare indicators evaluated, only one behavioural indicator differed among treatments; flight speed was significantly lower for calves from TS group, indicating less reactivity, compared with other experimental groups. Other indicators were not significantly different among treatments. Overall, this study demonstrated limited evidence that tactile stimulation and umbilical disinfection, as applied in this study, impacted the welfare of pre-weaned Angus beef calves.
dc.identifier.citation	Bezerra, V. H. E. F. B. (2024). Effects of the application on neonatal beef calves of tactile stimulation and umbilical antiseptic on their pre-weaned welfare (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/1880/118130
dc.identifier.uri	https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/42974
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher.faculty	Graduate Studies
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject	bovine
dc.subject	animal welfare
dc.subject	behaviour
dc.subject	health
dc.subject	performance
dc.subject	human-animal relationship
dc.subject.classification	Veterinary Science
dc.title	Effects of the Application on Neonatal Beef Calves of Tactile Stimulation and Umbilical Antiseptic on their Pre-Weaned Welfare
dc.type	master thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Veterinary Medical Sciences
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent	I do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.