BILL E. KUNKLE INTERDISCIPLINARY BEEF SYMPOSIUM: Animal welfare concerns for cattle exposed to adverse environmental conditions
BILL E. KUNKLE INTERDISCIPLINARY BEEF SYMPOSIUM: Animal welfare concerns for cattle exposed to adverse environmental conditions
复制标题
DOI：
10.2527/jas.2014-7950
复制
发表时间：
2014-12-01
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Mader, T. L.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Mader, T. L.
提高对动物福利的认识已成为涉及动物的食品生产系统的优先事项。在正常的工作环境下，生产实践不断进行评估，以保持最佳水平的动物福利。然而，在恶劣天气期间，动物舒适的最佳条件以及动物性能往往受到损害。在中西部和大平原州，1995年、1999年、2006年、2009年、2010年和2013年的热浪对圈养的动物特别不利，每年有记录的牛损失接近5,000头。此外，在2011年夏天，由于热应激，5个州的近15，000头牛死亡。在长时间的热应激期间，在牲畜中观察到较低的受孕率。此外，由于通风系统的限制，在封闭建筑物中饲养的动物往往受到影响。在相反的环境谱下，1992年至1993年、1996年至1997年、1997年至1998年、2006年至2007年和2008年至2009年的冬季给畜牧业生产者造成了困难，特别是那些在户外环境中饲养动物的人。在1996年至1997年和2008年至2009年的冬季，许多地区损失了50%的新生小牛，北方平原各州损失了75，000多头牛。1992年、1997年、2006年和2013年的晚秋和初冬暴风雪导致美国大平原地区每年损失超过25，000头牛。牛在经历严重的环境压力后性能下降造成的经济损失可能超过牲畜死亡造成的损失5至10倍。对于受到不利环境条件挑战的牲畜，可能需要考虑使用替代补充方案。需要考虑使用额外的水用于消费和冷却，遮荫和/或替代管理策略，以帮助牲畜科普热应激。对于冬季在户外饲养的动物，需要采用增加动物空间和环境缓冲的策略，以尽量减少泥浆，潮湿条件和风寒的影响。上述天气事件显示，畜牧业生产者有足够的机会提高动物福利，并尽量减少环境压力的影响。饲养员需要更好地了解动物对天气挑战的反应，以帮助动物科普不利的气候条件。
Increasing awareness of animal welfare has become a priority in food production systems involving animals. Under normal working environments, production practices are constantly evaluated to maintain optimum levels of animal well-being. However, during periods of adverse weather, optimum conditions for animal comfort, as well as animal performance, are often compromised. In the Midwest and Great Plains states, the heat waves of 1995, 1999, 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2013 were particularly difficult on animals reared in confinement, with documented cattle losses approaching 5,000 head each year. Additionally, during the summer of 2011, nearly 15,000 head of cattle across 5 states were lost as a result of heat stress. During prolonged periods of heat stress, lower conceptions rates are observed in livestock. In addition, animals reared in confinement buildings are often compromised because of limitations in ventilation systems. Under the opposite environmental spectrum, the winters of 1992 to 1993, 1996 to 1997, 1997 to 1998, 2006 to 2007, and 2008 to 2009 caused hardship for livestock producers, particularly for those rearing animals in an outdoor environment. During the winters of 1996 to 1997 and 2008 to 2009 up to 50% of the newborn calves were lost in many areas, with over 75,000 head of cattle lost in the northern plains states. Late fall and early winter snowstorms in 1992, 1997, 2006, and 2013 resulted in the loss of over 25,000 head of cattle each year in the Great Plains region of the United States. Economic losses from reduced performance of cattle experiencing severe environmental stress likely exceed losses associated with livestock death by 5- to 10-fold. Use of alternative supplementation programs may need to be considered for livestock challenged by adverse environmental conditions. Use of additional water for consumption and cooling, shade, and/or alternative management strategies need to be considered to help livestock cope with heat stress. For animals reared outside during the winter, strategies that increase animal space and environmental buffers need to be employed to minimize effects of mud, wet conditions, and wind chill. The above-mentioned weather events suggest that there are ample opportunities for livestock producers to enhance animal welfare and minimize impact of environmental stress. Caretakers need a greater understanding of animal responses to weather challenges to help animals cope with adverse climatic conditions.