Effects of handling acclimation procedures prior to breeding on reproductive performance, handling reactivity and stress in beef heifers

该项目的目标是比较在繁殖季节开始之前接受处理驯化程序的小母牛的繁殖性能、处理时的反应性和压力的生理指标，并与没有接触这些程序的对照组进行比较。据推测，暴露在这种程序中的小母牛将显示出更高的怀孕率，反应性和生理反应作为压力的一个指标。如果项目成功，牛肉生产商合作伙伴将在向客户提供养殖服务期间采用这些程序作为标准协议的一部分，从而利用结果。这些程序的采用预计将对奶牛-牛犊作业的整体效率和盈利能力产生积极影响，这将使合作伙伴和加拿大牛肉行业受益。

The goal of this Engage project is to compare the reproductive performance, reactivity at handling, and physiological indicators of stress from heifers subjected to handling acclimation procedures prior to the commencement of the breeding season, against a control group not exposed to the procedures. It is hypothesized that heifers exposed to the procedures will show greater pregnancy rates, with reduced reactivity and physiological response as an indicator of stress. If the project is successful, the beef producer partner will exploit the results by adopting the procedures as part of a standard protocol during the breeding services offered to his customers. The adoption of these procedures are anticipated to have a positive impact on the overall efficiency and profitability of cow-calf operations, which would benefit the partner and the Canadian beef industry.