Cows that are less active in the chute have more optimal grazing distribution
Abstract Individual grazing patterns among cattle can contribute to sustainability of land use, however, little is known about the consistency of these grazing patterns. To address this knowledge gap, fifty Angus x Hereford cows were observed in repeated assays: A management assay (handling procedur...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84090-z |
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| author | Maggie Creamer Kristina Horback |
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| description | Abstract Individual grazing patterns among cattle can contribute to sustainability of land use, however, little is known about the consistency of these grazing patterns. To address this knowledge gap, fifty Angus x Hereford cows were observed in repeated assays: A management assay (handling procedure, narrow chute, hydraulic squeeze), a social-feed trade-off assay (SFTA; choice between social mates and feed item), and novel approach assay (choice between social mates and feed item with novel pattern). The same cattle were tracked with GPS collars over two grazing seasons (June-August 2021 and 2022) and average grazing-related metrics (e.g., elevation used, distance traveled) were calculated within each season. Cows with a more passive response in the chute were found at higher elevation (p = 0.017), further from water (p = 0.043), and closer to supplement sites (p = 0.029). Cows that had higher latency to supplement in the SFTA traveled shorter distances on rangeland (p = 0.035). Thus, there was some evidence that cows with a more passive response to isolation and management had more optimal grazing patterns (grazed underutilized areas of the range at higher elevations and further from water sources). Selecting cattle with more optimal foraging patterns based on observable behaviors during handling and isolation could improve the sustainability of rangeland grazing. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a58afd7dd74b477793563a22816e8d872025-01-05T12:14:39ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111410.1038/s41598-024-84090-zCows that are less active in the chute have more optimal grazing distributionMaggie Creamer0Kristina Horback1Department of Animal Science, University of California, DavisDepartment of Animal Science, University of California, DavisAbstract Individual grazing patterns among cattle can contribute to sustainability of land use, however, little is known about the consistency of these grazing patterns. To address this knowledge gap, fifty Angus x Hereford cows were observed in repeated assays: A management assay (handling procedure, narrow chute, hydraulic squeeze), a social-feed trade-off assay (SFTA; choice between social mates and feed item), and novel approach assay (choice between social mates and feed item with novel pattern). The same cattle were tracked with GPS collars over two grazing seasons (June-August 2021 and 2022) and average grazing-related metrics (e.g., elevation used, distance traveled) were calculated within each season. Cows with a more passive response in the chute were found at higher elevation (p = 0.017), further from water (p = 0.043), and closer to supplement sites (p = 0.029). Cows that had higher latency to supplement in the SFTA traveled shorter distances on rangeland (p = 0.035). Thus, there was some evidence that cows with a more passive response to isolation and management had more optimal grazing patterns (grazed underutilized areas of the range at higher elevations and further from water sources). Selecting cattle with more optimal foraging patterns based on observable behaviors during handling and isolation could improve the sustainability of rangeland grazing.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84090-zCattleBehaviorGPS-tracking collarsRangelandSustainabilityConsistent individual differences |
| spellingShingle | Maggie Creamer Kristina Horback Cows that are less active in the chute have more optimal grazing distribution Scientific Reports Cattle Behavior GPS-tracking collars Rangeland Sustainability Consistent individual differences |
| title | Cows that are less active in the chute have more optimal grazing distribution |
| title_full | Cows that are less active in the chute have more optimal grazing distribution |
| title_fullStr | Cows that are less active in the chute have more optimal grazing distribution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cows that are less active in the chute have more optimal grazing distribution |
| title_short | Cows that are less active in the chute have more optimal grazing distribution |
| title_sort | cows that are less active in the chute have more optimal grazing distribution |
| topic | Cattle Behavior GPS-tracking collars Rangeland Sustainability Consistent individual differences |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84090-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maggiecreamer cowsthatarelessactiveinthechutehavemoreoptimalgrazingdistribution AT kristinahorback cowsthatarelessactiveinthechutehavemoreoptimalgrazingdistribution |