Impact of Two-Stage Weaning and Bovine-Appeasing Substance on Growth, Temperament, Pasture Behavior, and Immune System of Nellore Calves

This experiment evaluated the effects of a nose flap (NF) device and bovine-appeasing substance (BAS) administration on the growth, temperament, immune response, and pasture behavior of calves during weaning. A total of 24 Nellore calves were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The factors were t...

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Main Authors: Mariana Santos, Dalton Mendes de Oliveira, Matheus Rodrigues de Souza, Gabrielly Benevides de Almeida, Aylpy Renan Dutra Santos, Juliano Cesar Castro Belmonte, Fabiana de Andrade Melo-Sterza, André Luiz Julien Ferraz, Marcelo Vedovatto
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1640
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author Mariana Santos
Dalton Mendes de Oliveira
Matheus Rodrigues de Souza
Gabrielly Benevides de Almeida
Aylpy Renan Dutra Santos
Juliano Cesar Castro Belmonte
Fabiana de Andrade Melo-Sterza
André Luiz Julien Ferraz
Marcelo Vedovatto
author_facet Mariana Santos
Dalton Mendes de Oliveira
Matheus Rodrigues de Souza
Gabrielly Benevides de Almeida
Aylpy Renan Dutra Santos
Juliano Cesar Castro Belmonte
Fabiana de Andrade Melo-Sterza
André Luiz Julien Ferraz
Marcelo Vedovatto
author_sort Mariana Santos
collection DOAJ
description This experiment evaluated the effects of a nose flap (NF) device and bovine-appeasing substance (BAS) administration on the growth, temperament, immune response, and pasture behavior of calves during weaning. A total of 24 Nellore calves were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The factors were the use of an NF or not (NoNF) for 14 d before weaning and the administration of BASs or not (NoBAS) at weaning (d 0). NF vs. NoNF reduced (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.01) the average daily gain (ADG; d −7 to 84; −0.289 vs. 0.378 ± 0.13 kg/d) and the time ruminating but increased (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) the exit score from the chute (d 14 and 28) and the time grazing. BAS vs. NoBAS administration increased (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.02) the ADG (d 14 to 84; 0.487 vs. −0.08 ± 0.10 kg/d) and the time grazing, reduced (<i>p</i> < 0.01) the time ruminating, and tended to decrease (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.10) the exit score (d 7, 14 and 28) and the time vocalizing. Treatments did not affect (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.35) serum rabies titer concentration. Thus, the use of NFs reduced growth and increased stress after weaning, while BAS administration increased growth and decreased stress after weaning, altering behavior but not the immune system. According to the results of this experiment, the use of BASs but not NFs is recommended to alleviate weaning stress in beef calves.
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spelling doaj-art-a9d7a2ca3b5b40a6811de8beac267afa2025-08-20T03:46:38ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011511164010.3390/ani15111640Impact of Two-Stage Weaning and Bovine-Appeasing Substance on Growth, Temperament, Pasture Behavior, and Immune System of Nellore CalvesMariana Santos0Dalton Mendes de Oliveira1Matheus Rodrigues de Souza2Gabrielly Benevides de Almeida3Aylpy Renan Dutra Santos4Juliano Cesar Castro Belmonte5Fabiana de Andrade Melo-Sterza6André Luiz Julien Ferraz7Marcelo Vedovatto8Campus de Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul State University, Aquidauana 79200-000, MS, BrazilCampus de Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul State University, Aquidauana 79200-000, MS, BrazilCampus de Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul State University, Aquidauana 79200-000, MS, BrazilCampus de Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul State University, Aquidauana 79200-000, MS, BrazilCampus de Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul State University, Aquidauana 79200-000, MS, BrazilCampus de Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul State University, Aquidauana 79200-000, MS, BrazilCampus de Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul State University, Aquidauana 79200-000, MS, BrazilCampus de Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul State University, Aquidauana 79200-000, MS, BrazilDean Lee Research and Extension Center, Louisiana State University, Alexandria, LA 71302, USAThis experiment evaluated the effects of a nose flap (NF) device and bovine-appeasing substance (BAS) administration on the growth, temperament, immune response, and pasture behavior of calves during weaning. A total of 24 Nellore calves were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The factors were the use of an NF or not (NoNF) for 14 d before weaning and the administration of BASs or not (NoBAS) at weaning (d 0). NF vs. NoNF reduced (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.01) the average daily gain (ADG; d −7 to 84; −0.289 vs. 0.378 ± 0.13 kg/d) and the time ruminating but increased (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) the exit score from the chute (d 14 and 28) and the time grazing. BAS vs. NoBAS administration increased (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.02) the ADG (d 14 to 84; 0.487 vs. −0.08 ± 0.10 kg/d) and the time grazing, reduced (<i>p</i> < 0.01) the time ruminating, and tended to decrease (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.10) the exit score (d 7, 14 and 28) and the time vocalizing. Treatments did not affect (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.35) serum rabies titer concentration. Thus, the use of NFs reduced growth and increased stress after weaning, while BAS administration increased growth and decreased stress after weaning, altering behavior but not the immune system. According to the results of this experiment, the use of BASs but not NFs is recommended to alleviate weaning stress in beef calves.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1640cattlegrazingnose flappheromonesecure cattle
spellingShingle Mariana Santos
Dalton Mendes de Oliveira
Matheus Rodrigues de Souza
Gabrielly Benevides de Almeida
Aylpy Renan Dutra Santos
Juliano Cesar Castro Belmonte
Fabiana de Andrade Melo-Sterza
André Luiz Julien Ferraz
Marcelo Vedovatto
Impact of Two-Stage Weaning and Bovine-Appeasing Substance on Growth, Temperament, Pasture Behavior, and Immune System of Nellore Calves
Animals
cattle
grazing
nose flap
pheromone
secure cattle
title Impact of Two-Stage Weaning and Bovine-Appeasing Substance on Growth, Temperament, Pasture Behavior, and Immune System of Nellore Calves
title_full Impact of Two-Stage Weaning and Bovine-Appeasing Substance on Growth, Temperament, Pasture Behavior, and Immune System of Nellore Calves
title_fullStr Impact of Two-Stage Weaning and Bovine-Appeasing Substance on Growth, Temperament, Pasture Behavior, and Immune System of Nellore Calves
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Two-Stage Weaning and Bovine-Appeasing Substance on Growth, Temperament, Pasture Behavior, and Immune System of Nellore Calves
title_short Impact of Two-Stage Weaning and Bovine-Appeasing Substance on Growth, Temperament, Pasture Behavior, and Immune System of Nellore Calves
title_sort impact of two stage weaning and bovine appeasing substance on growth temperament pasture behavior and immune system of nellore calves
topic cattle
grazing
nose flap
pheromone
secure cattle
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1640
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