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

该Engage项目的目的是比较繁殖季节开始前接受处理驯化程序的小母牛与未暴露于该程序的对照组的生殖性能、处理时的反应性和应激生理指标。据推测，小母牛暴露于程序将显示更大的怀孕率，减少反应和生理反应作为压力的指标。如果项目成功，牛肉生产商合作伙伴将在为客户提供育种服务期间，通过采用标准协议的一部分程序来利用结果。预计采用这些程序将对母牛-小牛业务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.