Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8kt4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-26T20:31:49.678Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Efficiency to reach age of puberty and behaviour of buffalo heifers (Bubalus bubalis) kept on pasture or in confinement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2014

E. Sabia ,
F. Napolitano ,
G. De Rosa ,
G. M. Terzano ,
V. L. Barile ,
A. Braghieri  and
C. Pacelli
E. Sabia
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Unità di Ricerca per Zootecnia Estensiva (CRA-ZOE), Via Appia Bella Scalo, 85054 Muro Lucano, PZ, Italy
F. Napolitano*
Affiliation:
Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
G. De Rosa
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Università 133, 80055 Portici, NA, Italy
G. M. Terzano
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Centro di Ricerca per la Produzione delle Carni e il Miglioramento Genetico (CRA-PCM), Via Salaria 31, 00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Italy
V. L. Barile
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Centro di Ricerca per la Produzione delle Carni e il Miglioramento Genetico (CRA-PCM), Via Salaria 31, 00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Italy
A. Braghieri
Affiliation:
Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
C. Pacelli
Affiliation:
Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
*
†E-mail: fabio.napolitano@unibas.it
Get access

Abstract

In order to evaluate the influence of rearing system (free-ranging (FR) v. confinement (C)) on buffalo heifer efficiency to reach age of puberty and on behavioural and immune functions, two experiments were conducted from September 2010 to October 2011. In Experiment I, 32 subjects aged 8 to 9 months at the start of experiment were used. A total of 16 animals (group C) were group housed in an indoor slatted floor pen (4 m2/animal) with an outdoor paddock (4 m2/animal); 16 others grazed on a Mediterranean natural pasture of 40 ha (group FR). Behavioural data were collected and organic matter digestibility, blood metabolites and progesterone were determined. At the end of the experiment, a novel object test and a skin test were conducted, and the avoidance distance (AD) at the manger was measured. Free-ranging animals were able to express natural behaviours such as wallowing and grazing. C animals devoted more time to the novel object than FR animals, whereas AD at manger was lower in group FR than in group C (P<0.01). Cellular immune response was higher in FR heifers than in C animals (P<0.01). FR animals also showed a higher digestibility of organic matter (P<0.01). Heifers from group FR had higher plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (P<0.001) and lower concentrations of glucose than heifers from group C (P<0.001). C animals showed higher daily weight gains (P<0.01) and weight at the puberty (P<0.05), but there were no differences in terms of age of puberty between the two groups. The intakes of dry matter (DM), CP and energy to reach the age of puberty were similar in both groups. In order to verify whether the results obtained in Experiment I could be replicated in different rearing conditions (reduced pasture availability, different location and altitude), a second experiment was conducted on 26 animals, where only onset of age of puberty and metabolic profile were monitored. In Experiment II, 13 heifers grazed on a natural pasture of 5 ha, other 13 received the same space as indicated for Experiment I. Results from Experiment II generally confirmed those of Experiment I. Only the intakes of DM and energy to reach the age of puberty were higher in group C than in FR (P<0.001). A lower competition with human nutrition, reproductive performances similar to those shown by confined animals and the indications given by immune and behavioural variables, suggest that a free-range-based system may be conveniently used for buffalo heifer farming purposes.

Keywords

Mediterranean buffaloanimal welfarepuberty agebehavioursustainability
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 8 , Issue 11 , November 2014 , pp. 1907 - 1916
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anand, LN and Prakash, BS 2008. Comparative profiles of different lipoprotein cholesterol parameters and growth hormone during hot humid and winter season in Murrah buffaloes. Livestock Science 115, 294–300.Google Scholar
Andrieu, J and Weiss, P 1981. Prévision de la digestibilité et de la valuer énergétique des fourrages verts et des légumineuses (Prediction of the digestibility energy value of green forages and legumes). INRA Publications, Paris, France. pp. 61–79.Google Scholar
Arnold, GW 1985. Ingestive behaviour. In Ethology of farm animals (ed. AF Fraser), pp. 183–200. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Bartocci, S and Terramoccia, S 2006. Effect of NDF/undegradable crude protein ratio on in vivo digestibility, particle passage rate in riverine buffaloes compared with sheep. Livestock Science 104, 38–45.Google Scholar
Borghese, A, Terzano, GM, Mazzi, M, Razzano, M, Sabia, E and Pacelli, C 2010. Fattening of buffalo young bulls with different diets. Revista Veterinaria 21, 511–516.Google Scholar
Borghese, A, Terzano, GM, Barile, VL, Annicchiarico, G, Allegrini, S, Zicarelli, L, Montemurro, N, Pacelli, C, Campanile, G, Esposito, L, Di Palo, R, Boni, R, Seren, E and Parmeggiani, A 1994. Pubertà e mantenimento dell’attività ciclica ovarica nella bufala. Agricoltura e Ricerca 16, 5–16.Google Scholar
Braghieri, A, Pacelli, C, De Rosa, G, Girolami, A, De Palo, P and Napolitano, F 2011. Podolian beef production on pasture and in confinement. Animal 5, 927–937.Google Scholar
Campanile, G, Di Palo, R and d’Angelo, A 1997. Hematological profile in buffalo. Bubalus bubalis 2, 236–249.Google Scholar
Campanile, G, De Filippo, C, Di Palo, R, Taccone, W and Zicarelli, L 1998. Influence of dietary protein on urea levels in blood and milk of buffalo cows. Livestock Production Science 55, 135–143.Google Scholar
Campanile, G, Baruselli, PS, Vecchio, D, Prandi, A, Neglia, G, Carvalho, NAT, Sales, JNS, Gasparrini, B and D’Occhio, MJ 2010. Growth, metabolic status and ovarian function in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) heifers fed a low energy or high energy diet. Animal Reproduction Science 122, 74–81.Google Scholar
Celaya, R, Oliván, M, Ferreira, LMM, Martínez, A, García, U and Osoro, K 2007. Comparison of grazing behaviour, dietary overlap and performance in non-lactating domestic ruminants grazing on marginal heathland areas. Livestock Science 106, 271–281.Google Scholar
Clauss, M, Hume, ID and Hummel, J 2010. Evolutionary adaptations of ruminants and their potential relevance for modern production systems. Animal 4, 979–992.Google Scholar
Das, GK and Khan, FA 2010. Summer anoestrus in buffalo – a review. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 45, e483–e494.Google Scholar
Forkman, B, Boissy, A, Meunier-Salaün, M-C, Canali, E and Jones, RB 2007. A critical review of fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry and horses. Physiology & Behaviour 91, 531–565.Google Scholar
Francis, G, Kerem, Z, Makkar, HPS and Becker, K 2002. The biological action of saponins in animal systems. A review. British Journal of Nutrition 88, 587–605.Google Scholar
Funston, RN, Kress, DD, Havstad, KM and Doombos, DE 1991. Grazing behaviour of rangeland beef cattle differing in biological type. Journal of Animal Science 69, 1435–1442.Google Scholar
Granum, G, Wanapat, M, Pakdee, P, Wachirapakorn, C and Toburan, W 2007. A comparative study on the effect of cassava hay supplementation in Swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle (Bos indicus). Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 9, 1389–1396.Google Scholar
Grasso, F, Napolitano, F, De Rosa, G, Quarantelli, T, Serpe, L and Bordi, A 1999. Effect of pen size on behavioral, endocrine, and immune responses of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves. Journal of Animal Science 77, 2039–2046.Google Scholar
Haldar, A and Prakash, BS 2007. Effect of exogenous growth-hormone-releasing factor on blood metabolites and minerals in late maturing buffalo heifers (Bubalus bubalis). Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 91, 326–332.Google Scholar
Jensen, MB and Kyhn, R 2000. Play behaviour in group-housed dairy calves, the effect of space allowance. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 67, 35–46.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jetana, T, Tasripoo, K, Vongpipatana, C, Kitsamraj, S and Sophon, S 2009. The comparative study digestion and metabolism of nitrogen and purine derivatives in male, Thai, Swamp buffalo and Thai, Brahman cattle. Animal Science Journal 80, 130–139.Google Scholar
Lapitan, RM, Del Barrio, AN, Katsube, O, Tokuda, T, Orden, EA, Robles, AY, Fujihara, T, Cruz, LC and Kanai, Y 2004. Comparison of feed intake, digestibility and fattening performance of Brahman grade cattle (Bos indicus) and crossbred water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Animal Science Journal 75, 549–555.Google Scholar
Loberg, J, Telezhenko, E, Bergsten, C and Lidfors, L 2004. Behaviour and claw health in tied dairy cows with varying access to exercise in an outdoor paddock. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 89, 1–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, P and Bateson, P 2007. Measuring behaviour, 3rd edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martiniello, P and Berardo, N 2006. Residual fertilizer effects on dry-matter yield and nutritive value of Mediterranean pastures. Grass Forage Science 62, 87–99.Google Scholar
Macdonald, KA, Penno, JW, Bryant, AM and Roche, JR 2005. Effect of feeding level pre- and post-puberty and body weight at first calving on growth, milk production, and fertility in grazing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 3363–3375.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martiniello, P, Annicchiarico, G, Caternolo, G, Bruno, A and Sabia, E 2011. Buffalo’s grazing of native and improved sward pasturelands in protected environments of Mediterranean European Union. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology A1, 1057–1068.Google Scholar
Napolitano, F, De Rosa, G, Grasso, F and Bordi, A 2004. Influence of space allowance on the welfare of weaned buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves. Livestock Production Science 86, 117–124.Google Scholar
Napolitano, F, Pacelli, C, Grasso, F, Braghieri, A and De Rosa, G 2013. The behaviour and welfare of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in modern dairy enterprises. Animal 7, 1704–1713.Google Scholar
National Research Council 2001. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. National Academic Press, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Penati, C, Berentsen, PBM, Tamburini, A, Sandrucci, A and de Boer, IJM 2011. Effect of abandoning highland grazing on nutrient balances and economic performance of Italian Alpine dairy farms. Livestock Science 139, 142–149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Potter, SM, Jimenez-Flores, R, Pollack, J, Lone, TA and Berber-Jimenez, MD 1993. Protein saponin interaction and its influence on blood lipids. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 41, 1287–1291.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SAS 1990. SAS/STAT user’s guide (version 6), 4th edition. Statistical Analysis Systems Institute, Cary, NC, USA.Google Scholar
Schlecht, E, Hiernaux, P, Kadaouré, I, Hülsebusch, C and Mahler, F 2006. A spatio-temporal analysis of forage availability and grazing and excretion behaviour of herded and free grazing cattle, sheep and goats in Western Niger. Agriculture, Ecosystem and Environment 113, 226–242.Google Scholar
Schulze Westerath, H, Laister, S, Winckler, C and Knierim, U 2009. Exploration as an indicator of good welfare in beef bulls: an attempt to develop a test for on-farm assessment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 116, 126–133.Google Scholar
Singh, SP, Mehla, RK and Singh, M 2012. Plasma hormones, metabolites, milk production, and cholesterol levels in Murrah buffaloes fed with Asparagus racemosus in transition and postpartum period. Tropical Animal Health and Production 44, 1827–1832.Google Scholar
Tallet, C, Veissier, I and Boiven, X 2008. Temporal association between food distribution and human caregiver presence and the development of affinity to humans in lambs. Developmental Psychobiology 50, 147–159.Google Scholar
Terzano, GM, Barile, VL, Francia, U, Malfatti, A, Todini, L and Borghese, A 1996. Onset of puberty in buffalo heifer bred on pasture or in intensive feeding systems. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science 2, 89–92.Google Scholar
Terzano, GM, Neglia, G, Maschio, M, Barile, VL, Razzano, M, Martiniello, P, Cannone, I and Borghese, A 2007. Effect of intensive or extensive systems on buffalo heifers performances: onset of puberty and ovarian size. Italian Journal of Animal Science 6 (suppl. 2), 1273–1276.Google Scholar
Van Keulen, J and Young, BA 1977. Evaluation of acid-insoluble ash as a natural marker in ruminant digestibility studies. Journal of Animal Science 44, 282–287.Google Scholar
Waiblinger, S, Boivin, X, Pedersen, V, Tosi, MV, Janczak, AM, Visser, EK and Jones, RB 2006. Assessing the human–animal relationship in farmed species: a critical review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 101, 185–242.Google Scholar
Zicarelli, L 1994. Management under different environmental conditions. Buffalo Journal Supplement 2, 17–38.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: Image

Sabia Supplementary Material

Figure S1

Download Sabia Supplementary Material(Image)
Image 69.5 KB
Supplementary material: File

Sabia Supplementary Material

Table S1

Download Sabia Supplementary Material(File)
File 45.6 KB