Welfare and behavioral activities of buffaloes raised under different management systems

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Animal Production

2 Prof. of Animal Husbandry, Fac. of Agric., Menoufia Univ.

3 Teacher of Animal Husbandry, Fac. of Agric., Menoufia Univ.

Abstract

The present study was carried out at the research unit for animal behavior, belonging to the Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Shebin El-kom, Egypt. This study included two experiments; the first one was conducted to monitor Egyptian buffaloes’ performance and activities with and without tethering. Eight Egyptian buffalo heifers randomly chosen for this study. Heifers were kept in closed housing system in tie-stall barn for four weeks then released from restraints for another four weeks then tied them for another four weeks again until the end of experiment. The experiment lasted for three months.  During this period studied animals  were  video recorded for 72 h/month for each animal under different housing systems, with a total observation time of 216 hours for each animal through the experimental period using complete digital behavioral observation  unit  to monitor animal behaviors (daily activities and stress behavior and ear postures). Avoidance (AV) test was conducted  individually for the two  housing systems (tied and free) for all experimental animals three times a day (10 h., 12 h. and 14 h.). Manure evaluation for each animal was evaluated individually over 24 hours’ period for three consecutive days for each housing systems. At the end of each treatment, blood samples were collected to hematological examination. Experimental data were subjected to one-way ANOVA using IBM SPSS statistics 22 statistical package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, US) as a completely randomized design

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