Technological solutions that minimize stress responses in cattle in feedlot

Abstract

The production of beef cattle in the Mediterranean climate can run into problems related to heat stress, since very hot days are common in summers, with temperatures above 35°C. Also, when rearing intensively, the maintenance of male cattle in environments with restricted space lead to fights and decrease in performance and wellfare. The search for technological solutions is the way to improve well-being in addition to economic return. The objective of the present study will be to develop and implement technological solutions that, in a complementary way, will provide the reduction of the physical and psychological stress of the animals. Will be used 20 uncastrated male Mertolenga cattle kept in paddocks and in the area opposite the feeding corridor, a set of shading structures with a dimension of 8 m² per animal and 4 meters high. The monitoring of the thermal balance in the animals will be carried out using telemetric sensors (Star-Oddi), allowing the monitoring of the internal temperature with short intervals of time, every 10 minutes. A protocol for environmental enrichment in the paddocks will also be proposed, which enhances cognitive stimulation and exploration and which can thus reduce the frequency of agonistic behaviors with the use of chambers arranged at different points of the paddocks of the animals. Visible and subclinical trauma will be evaluated by thermographic camera. It is expected to find relevance in the use of solar panels as shading and reduction of psychological stress with the use of environmental enrichment. (AU)