Browsing by Author "Blanco-Penedo, Isabel"
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- Contribution of non-genetic factors to the reproductive performance of mirandesa cowsPublication . Sousa, Fernando Ruivo de; Blanco-Penedo, Isabel; Cantalapiedra, Jesús J.; Sanchez, L.; Iglesias, Antonio; Colaço, A.J.; Payan-Carreira, R.Characterization of reproductive traits in Mirandesa beef cattle is important for breed improvement and conservation, mainly due to its little genetic diversity. Reduced individual and maternal performance is often associated with inbreeding depression, which could be further aggravate the environmental effects. In this study, 7386 herd records for Mirandesa were used to characterize the main reproductive traits, like age at first calving (AFC), pregnancy length (PL), calving interval (CI), yearly calving distribution (CD) and productive lifespan (PLf). The non-genetic effects were tested using non-parametric methods, as the target variables were not normally distributed. The median for AFC in Mirandesa was close to 32 months; AFC was affected by the production system, farm and by the year and season of birth. The mean for PL was 287±8.9 days, being affected by parity and calf gender. The median CI, of 378 days, was only affected by the breeding program, parity, season and year. Calving season was unevenly distributed over the year, showing different patterns after the production system. The mean productive lifespan of Mirandesa was 6.45 years, though 20% of the cows presented a PLf longer than ten years. The main non-genetic effects suggested that farmer´s decision and nutrition may constrain the expression of the reproductive traits in Mirandesa breed. This aspect needs to be addressed when designing any breeding programs which should prioritise for the increase in the number of calves per year along with a careful selection of reproducers to decrease reported inbreeding.
- Estudio de las caracteristicas de los equipamientos con influencia en el bienestar animal en granjas de vacas lecherasPublication . Cerqueira, Joaquim; Paço, S.M.; Blanco-Penedo, Isabel; Cantalapiedra, Jesús J.; Cadavez, VascoSegún Fraser y Broom (1998) un número insuficiente de cubículos, al no permitir que todas las vacas se acuesten al mismo tiempo, conduce a interacciones sociales agresivas, y lleva consigo que a veces se acuesten en los pasillos, donde la suciedad y el riesgo de lesiones es mayor. El diseño incorrecto y unas dimensiones no apropiadas de los cubículos pueden conducir a la no utilización de los mismos. Las dimensiones elegidas para los cubículos representan un compromiso entre la comodidad de la vaca y de su limpieza. Los cubículos deberían permitir a las vacas acostarse y levantarse de forma natural y cómoda. Según McFarland (2003) las vacas deben tener espacio adecuado, una superficie lisa, no porosa y fácil de limpiar para su alimentación. Estos, deberían permitir a las vacas la ingestión de alimento con la cabeza en posición de pastoreo natural. El suministro de agua limpia y fresca es esencial para asegurar la producción de leche, el control de la temperatura corporal, así como el mantenimiento de las funciones vitales de las vacas lecheras. Alrededor de los bebederos debe haber espacio suficiente para permitir que las vacas se muevan sin problemas.
- Relationship between stepping and kicking behavior and milking management in dairy cattle herdsPublication . Cerqueira, Joaquim; Araújo, José Pedro; Blanco-Penedo, Isabel; Cantalapiedra, Jesús J.; Sørensen, Jan Tid; Niza-Ribeiro, João José RatoWe studied the relationship between behavior during milking with milking parlor management, measuring the occurrence of steps and kicks, and cow-related factors. We also investigated the link between stepping and kicking during milking and udder health. A total of 2,903 direct observations of milking behavior were collected in 44 dairy herds in the north of Portugal. The results showed great variability in the occurrence of stepping and kicking among herds during milking. Mixed linear and logistic regression models for factors associated with stepping and kicking were developed. Cows in tandem milking parlors took fewer steps (P < 0.003) than in herringbone ones, although in the tandem milking system, more kicking occurred than in parallel and herringbone systems. Milking room temperatures of more than 27°C led to a higher frequency of kicks among cows (P < 0.010). The practice of overmilking also produced a significantly greater frequency of cow stepping (P < 0.001). Primiparous cows stepped a third less frequently than did greater parity cows but showed a greater tendency to kick compared with the multiparous ones. Cows with somatic cell counts for more than 200,000 cells/mL at the time of the visit also showed a trend toward higher kicking frequency. The results suggest that animal welfare measures, like kicking and stepping, are suitable for epidemiologic studies. Significant interactions were observed when animals were affected by challenging health and welfare situations.