P.PSH.1291 - Summary - Managing Welfare and Production at Weaning (WA component)

Summary

This project is connected to B.PRS.2001 - Final Report - Managing Welfare and Production at Weaning, which was an integrated R&D demonstration site project, delivered on commercial and research properties in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. This trial demonstrated best practice animal husbandry and investigated the welfare and production benefits of providing pain relief at the time of castration and dehorning.

Objectives

The following were the objectives for the Kimberley and Pilbara (Western Australia) component of this project:
1. Engage three commercial beef properties to demonstrate the use and practical application of pain relief during castration and dehorning using best practice technique.
2. Use accelerometers to capture data on animal movement as an indicator of behavioural changes associated with administering pain relief during castration and dehorning.
3. Demonstrate animal welfare and production benefits from provision of pain relief during surgical procedures by:
a. Using accelerometers to capture data on weaner cattle returning to baseline movement behaviours faster post-procedure.
b. Weighing animals to capture data on whether weaner cattle return to gaining weight faster post-procedure.
c. Using herd counts to identify mortality rates pre and post procedure.
4. Adoption of best practice training for dehorning and castration by 40 pastoralists (station hands to owners/managers).
5. Conduct one field day annually at each site to disseminate results and encourage adoption of best-practice animal welfare techniques.
6. Achieve increased knowledge and ongoing adoption of best-practice animal husbandry techniques during routine weaner management procedures in northern Western Australia (WA).

Key findings

This study demonstrated the production impacts of husbandry procedures in cattle herds. In 8 of the 16 study herds, a decrease (on average) in liveweight following the procedures was observed. Poll heifers were present in 8 of the 16 study herds and had significantly greater liveweight gains than animals that had undergone castration and/or dehorning in five of these herds.
However, the study found no consistent significant difference in liveweight change between animals that did or did not receive pain relief. There was no consistent significant difference in behaviour in the hours following husbandry procedures, GPS and accelerometer data, or wound healing.
Liveweight was found to be negatively impacted by the occurrence of an infection in either the castration or dehorning wound sites, demonstrating the importance of minimising the occurrence of infection by using best practice procedures. Infection of the dehorning site was observed to be influenced by the occurrence of an open sinus, with open sinus wounds averaging an infection rate of 21% vs 4% for non-open sinus wounds.
The results of this trial have been presented at field days across northern Australia, and an updated ‘best management for husbandry procedures’ brochure has been developed.

Benefits to industry

As a result of this project
• cattle producers across northern Australia were able to use and see the use of pain relief products firsthand.
• epidemiological data on the impact of castration and dehorning in northern Australia was collected.
• an updated ‘best practices for husbandry procedures’ flier was developed, providing clear guidance for beef producers to support animal wellbeing outcomes.

MLA action

MLA and industry partners are undertaking research to reduce the need for invasive husbandry procedures, such as polled genetics or non-invasive chemical castration.

In the meantime, MLA continues to provide extension support and resources to producers for widespread adoption of best practice animal husbandry.

Future research

The findings of this study would suggest that further research is needed to find a longer lasting, effective pain relief product and/or a product that overcomes the practical administrative challenges (e.g. storage, dosage, administration) of the extensive pastoral environment in northern Australia.

It also demonstrates the merit of investing in R&D to reduce the need for these procedures altogether, such as polled genetics or non-invasive chemical castration.