Aus dem Fachgebiet Nutztierethologie und Tierhaltung Fachbereich Ökologische Agrarwissenschaften Universität Kassel Horns in cattle – implications of keeping horned cattle or not Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines Doktors der Agrarwissenschaften (Dr. agr.) vorgelegt von: Nora Irrgang Witzenhausen, im Juli 2012 1. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ute Knierim 2. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Susanne Waiblinger Defence day: 28.09.2012 Parts of this dissertation were supported by DG SANCO via the tender project Alternatives to Castrations and Dehorning (ALCASDE, SANCO/2008/D5/018). ii Table of Contents List of figures………………………………………………………………………………......v List of tables…………………………………………………………………………………...vi Summary………………………………………………………………………………………ix Zusammenfassung…………………………………………………………………………….xi 1. General Introduction............................................................................................1 2. Literature review ..................................................................................................2 2.1. The horn - development and anatomy..................................................................... 2 2.2. Significance of horns for cattle ................................................................................ 3 2.2.1. Functions of horns..................................................................................................... 3 2.2.2. Relevance of horns for social behaviour within the herd..................................... 4 2.2.3. Potential physiological effects of horns or absence of horns .............................. 8 2.3. Requirements for the keeping of fully horned cattle............................................. 9 2.4. Discussion and conclusions.................................................................................... 16 2.5. Disbudding and dehorning...................................................................................... 16 2.5.1. Reasons for and against the dehorning of cattle.................................................. 17 2.5.1.1. Human safety and ease of management ............................................................... 17 2.5.1.2. Potential effects of dehorning on the human-animal relationship .................... 18 2.5.1.3. Animal social stress and injuries ........................................................................... 18 2.5.1.4. Economics ................................................................................................................ 19 2.5.1.5. Culture ...................................................................................................................... 19 2.5.1.6. Ethics......................................................................................................................... 19 2.5.2. Methods of disbudding ........................................................................................... 20 2.5.2.1. Disbudding with hot iron - cautery ....................................................................... 20 2.5.2.2. Disbudding with caustic paste ............................................................................... 21 2.5.2.3. Disbudding with scoop, tube or knife - surgical removal of the horn producing area ……………………………………………………………………………………….22 2.5.3. Dehorning................................................................................................................. 23 2.5.4. Pain and distress during disbudding and dehorning ........................................... 24 2.5.4.1. Hot iron disbudding ................................................................................................ 26 2.5.4.2. Caustic paste disbudding ........................................................................................ 27 2.5.4.3. Surgical disbudding or dehorning ......................................................................... 28 2.5.4.4. Comparison of methods and conclusions on pain caused by disbudding/dehorning........................................................................................................... 29 2.5.4.5. Distress of Handling................................................................................................ 32 2.5.5. Stress and pain alleviation during disbudding or dehorning ............................. 33 2.5.5.1. Sedation .................................................................................................................... 33 2.5.5.2. Local anaesthesia..................................................................................................... 33 2.5.5.3. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories.......................................................................... 35 2.6. Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 37 3. Quantitative survey ............................................................................................38 3.2. Materials and methods ............................................................................................ 38 3.3. Results ....................................................................................................................... 39 3.4. Discussion................................................................................................................. 49 3.5. Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 58 iii 4. Qualitative survey...............................................................................................58 4.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 58 4.2. Farmer groups, materials and methods ................................................................. 59 4.3. Results ....................................................................................................................... 61 4.3.1. Focus Group – “Allgäu”......................................................................................... 61 4.3.2. Focus Group “Saxony”........................................................................................... 66 4.3.3. Focus Group - North Rhine Westphalia (“NRW”) ............................................. 70 4.4. Discussion................................................................................................................. 75 4.5. Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 82 5. Influence of space allowance in the waiting area on agonistic interactions and the heart rate of high ranking and low ranking horned dairy cows..............83 5.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 83 5.2. Animals, Material and Methods............................................................................. 85 5.3. Results ....................................................................................................................... 88 5.4. Discussion .................................................................................................................. 91 5.5. Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 93 6. Can pasture access contribute to reduced agonistic interactions and relaxation in the loose housing barn in horned dairy cows?..................................94 6.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 94 6.2. Animals, materials and methods............................................................................ 95 6.3. Results ....................................................................................................................... 99 6.4. Discussion............................................................................................................... 100 6.5. Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 105 7. General discussion ............................................................................................105 8. References..........................................................................................................111 9. Acknowledgement.............................................................................................133 10. Annex .................................................................................................................134 iv List of figures 3. Quantitative survey Fig. 3.1: Proportion of tie stalls and loose housing as reported from the experts involved in the survey from their different home regions (one chart for every response, n = 36)………………………………………………39 Fig. 3.2: Housing systems according to the herd size (farmers‘ survey, n = number of answers = 225)……………………………………………41 Fig. 3.3: Herd size in relation to the production scheme (farmers‘ survey, n = number of answers = 224)……………………………………………41 v List of tables 2. Literature review Tab. 2.1: Factors influencing the quality and quantity of agonistic behaviour in dairy cows……………………………………………………………...5 Tab. 2.2: Overview over minimum standards or recommendations regarding crucial aspects for the keeping of (horned) dairy cattle…...…….……14 3. Quantitative survey Tab. 3.1: Home states of farmers involved in the survey (n = 226)……….……40 Tab. 3.2: Herd sizes