Teresa Collins

Animal welfare monitoring protocols currently used by the export industry rely on input measures relating to environment and resources and animal morbidity and mortality. Behavioural outcomes are recognised as important indicators of welfare however, it is unknown how many animals should be sampled, and the sampling frequency required. This talk outlines a project employing a suite of measures that recorded welfare conditions of cattle and sheep in the Australian livestock export supply chain. Four cattle and three sheep consignments were assessed at different stages of the journey by a pen side observer. Data indicates assessments should be made from different lines of livestock and from various ship locations that differ in environmental conditions. Multiple daily sampling is required to show cattle activity and rest, and responses to conditions. Decisions about management and livestock suitability can be better informed by taking a whole of supply chain approach to reporting on animal-based outcomes for livestock exported from Australia.

Societal concerns about sustainability and animal welfare in commercial livestock production systems exist, with over one million cattle on-feed in Australia. Despite the welfare challenges, no recognised welfare assessment protocol for the industry exists. This paper describes an industry-driven welfare benchmarking framework for lot-fed cattle that was piloted in eight feedlots across three states. A pen-side monthly assessment strategy including forty-eight measures capturing the health, behaviour and demeanour of livestock was developed. Analysis compared the environmental and management measures on cattle behaviour within home pens. The timing of data collection (early morning and mid-afternoon) and sample size (2 pens and 3 replicate pens, per feed program and breed) were recommended with variability in some outcomes (e.g., cattle activity and rest) found between visits, feedlot, observation time, and feed program. Adoption of an evidence-based welfare benchmarking framework enables producers to track their performance over time, and the industry to further drive animal welfare improvement.

Finding practicable and cost-effective forms of enrichment for cattle in feedlot environments is challenging. Specifically, the enrichment must alleviate cattle from the boredom imposed by often barren and confined environments, while not negatively impact productivity. Providing enrichment could also assist in improving feedlot sustainability, addressing societal concern for cattle having a non-natural life. Exercising cattle within their home pens or in laneways, using low-stress stock handling, was tested for its effect on Bos taurus cattle behaviour, temperament and productivity. In late summer 2019, 287 mixed breed B. taurus cattle in a feedlot located approximately 250km north-east of Perth were split across three pens; two provided with different exercise treatments (pen 1 = exercised in-pen, 2 = exercised in the laneway) and a control pen. Cattle were exercised 2-3 times per week for approximately 20 minutes between days 40-80 of a 120-day feeding program. Individual body weights, crush temperament and crush exit speeds were collected on days 40 and 80, while behavioural testing (novel person test, ethograms prior to and post novel person test, and avoidance test) was conducted on days 41, 60 and 79 in home pens. While body weight was found to significantly increase for all pens combined over the study, weight gains did not significantly differ between pens (p < 0.05). Despite this, a smaller and higher range of weight gains were found for the exercised pens, while the control pen had two animals lose weight, with exact cause for weight loss (health or poor performance) unknown. This suggests that while enrichment did not negatively impact productivity, there is a possible positive influence, with more cattle having consistently higher weight gains; however, conducting study over an entire feeding program is needed. Behavioural testing found the cattle exercised in the laneway to be less responsive or recover quickly to human exposure, returning to lying posture and resting behaviour after the novel person test. Cattle exercised in-pen were found to be less reactive during avoidance tests and the novel person test, showing an improved human-animal relationship. Exercise was not found to influence temperament; however, all cattle studied had calm temperaments at the beginning of the study. This initial study shows that exercise impacted cattle behaviour and the human-animal relationship, which if implemented, could assist in feedlots becoming more socially sustainable.