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A note on relationships between components of weather and the location of defaecation in out-wintered cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

T. L. Powell
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture (Animal Husbandry), University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
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Extract

A Number of controlled environment studies (reviewed by Blaxter, 1962 and 1964) have emphasised the necessity of providing shelter for out-wintered ruminants. The nature of suitable shelter requires definition and this may be sought by observing the use animals make of different forms of shelter. Direct observation of livestock may, however, sometimes be an inappropriate investigational method. In the work reported here, shelter usage by cattle was assessed from the occurrence of defaecations in various regions of a pasture. Evidence of increased sheltering activity under weather conditions encouraging greater body heat loss would suggest that this method of recording behaviour may be recommended for application in relevant situations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1967

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References

REFERENCES

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