animal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(2), P. 101416 - 101416

Published: Dec. 28, 2024

Animal welfare is integral to sustainable livestock production, and pasture access for cattle known enhance welfare. Despite positive impacts, high labour requirements hinder the adoption of grazing practices such as rotational stocking management. Virtual fencing (VF) an innovative technology simplified, less laborious management remote animal monitoring, potentially facilitating expansion production. VF uses Global Navigation Satellite System technology, wireless communication, stimuli (auditory electrical) manage movements contain animals without physical barriers. Training associate auditory cue with subsequent aversive stimulus enables effective containment While previous studies have largely dispelled concerns about adverse effects on behaviour associated use collars, there limited knowledge regarding impacts physiology, particularly in systems. Addressing this gap, study investigated differences diet digestibility, performance, stress response beef heifers pastures using a compared electric fence. The was conducted over 8 weeks, subdivided into two cycles, 32 four groups. Each experimental paddocks. monitored interaction by analysing temporal development ratio electrical cues (success confidence ratio) emitted collars. Additionally, grassland herbage quality, BW gain, concentrations faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) were assessed, well time required cross new paddock. success ratios increased second cycle, reflecting enhanced adaptation time. Similarly, reduction taken paddocks groups indicated that learned interact rely directing movements. absence significant effect system FCMs suggested unrelated technology. Further, performance not affected similar gains under both This also attempts establish benchmark threshold successful responses cues, allowing comparative evaluation Overall, grazing, did adversely impact or fencing, opening avenues further exploration diverse conditions.

Language: Английский