Comportamento como indicador de bem-estar de bezerros leiteiros mantidos em sistema tropical de criação

Abstract

The breeding system exerts a great influence on the milk activity. It is important to characterize behavioral and feeding patterns of calves, which are related to health and well-being. The objective was to evaluate the behavior as an indicator of the well-being of dairy calves kept in a tropical breeding system. The study was carried out in the Milk Cattle Sector of the Center of Agrarian Sciences of the Federal University of Paraíba-AreiaPB. Six Girolando calves with an average age of three months were used. All animals were observed directly (focal animal) in the same period of time for five days and their respective behaviors recorded in etogram. The animals were arranged in Argentine-type heifers with availability of individual shelter. The liquid diet was offered twice a day. Mineral salt, water and ad libitum concentrate and pasture available. Observations were made in the periods: morning, afternoon and night, totaling 12 hours of observations per day. Behavior states, quantified in minutes: concentrate intake, forage, ruminate, leisure, shade, sun, play 1, play 2, walk and stereotypies. Frequency quantified: water intake and vocalization. The behavioral data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared by the Tukey test at 5% of probability. According to the data there was difference (P <0.05), the calves spent more time in the activities of concentrate ingestion and foraging, in the morning and afternoon. Already, the rumination activity the animals performed for longer at night. The water intake and leisure activities did not differ (P> 0.05) between the evaluated periods. The behavior of thermoregulation, search for the shadow and the sun and the way of lying of the animals in Desternal or Dlateral did not differ (P> 0.05) between the shifts. However, the animals spent more standing time (P <0.05) in the afternoon. There was difference (P <0.05) the animals spent more time walking in the morning. The interactions between play 1 and play 2 differed (P <0.05) as a function of the shifts. The calves performed these activities longer, in the afternoon and evening shifts. There was no difference (P> 0.05) for the stereotypy variables, vocalization between the evaluation periods. Considering the above, behavioral states were indicators of a good degree of well-being for calves kept in a tropical breeding system.