Session: Animal Behavior and Well-Being

8 - Effects of a Bovine Appeasing Substance Application at Weaning on Temperament and Growth of Bos Indicus Influenced Heifers

Friday, July 16, 2021

9:15 AM – 9:30 AM EST

Location: Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC), L007/008

Author(s)

DV

Douglas G. Viera, n/a

Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul
Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul

Presenting Author(s)

Juliana Ranches, PhD

Assistant Professor
Oregon State University
Burns, Oregon

PDF Slides and Audio

Author(s)

MV

Marcelo Vedovatto, n/a

Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul
Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul
GP

Giovana G. Pirota, n/a

Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul
BC

Bruno I. Cappellozza, n/a

R&D Manager
Nutricorp
Araras, Sao Paulo
NC

Nelson Canutoce, n/a

Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul
TP

Thais G. Pereira

Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul
LY

Luís Fernando Yshiayam

Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul
TH

Thomas Henrique

Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul
HF

Henrique J. Fernandes

Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a synthetic analogue of the bovine appeasing pheromone (i.e. bovine appeasing substance; BAS) on growth and temperament of heifers. At weaning (d 0), 30 heifers (Aberdeen Angus ´ Nelore; 8 ± 1 mo) were stratified by body weight (199.8 ± 16 kg) and randomly assigned to receive a single dose of BAS (n = 15; SecureCattle; Nutricorp, Araras, SP, Brazil) or saline (CON; n = 15; saline 0.9% NaCl). Treatments (5 ml) were topically applied to the nuchal skin area of each animal on d0. Body weight was collected on d 0, 6, 15, 45, and 150. Chute score (1 to 5; 1 = calm, no movement; 5 = violent and continuous struggling) and chute entrance and exit score (1 to 3; 1 = slow; 3 = fast) were collected on d 0, 2, 6, 15, 45 and 150. Scores were averaged across 4 trained technicians. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Heifers assigned to BAS had greater (P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG) than heifers assigned to CON treatment from d 6 to 15 (2.35 and 1.88 kg/d ± 0.16) and from d 15 to 45 (1.79 vs. 1.56 kg/d ± 0.08). Heifers assigned to BAS had lower (P < 0.01) chute entrance score on d 6, 15, and 45, and chute exit score on d 2 to 45 (P = 0.05) when compared to heifers assigned to CON. Additionally, heifers assigned to BAS tended (P = 0.08) to have lower chute score, from d 1 to 150 than heifers assigned to CON. The application of BAS at weaning improved heifers ADG, likely due to an improvement in temperament, suggesting that BAS application has calming effects in the beef cattle herd.