El destete racional como estrategia para promover el bienestar animal y las ganancias de peso vivo, minimizando pérdidas en condición corporal en raza Braford

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two weaning methods, traditional (TW) and rational (RW), on the behaviour, body condition (BC), live weight (LW), and metabolism of multiparous Braford cows. The study was conducted at a cattle farm in Artigas, Uruguay, from late March to May 2024, under uniform conditions for all animals.

A total of 109 cows, pregnant in the first third of gestation, were randomly assigned to two groups: 54 to RW and 55 to TW. In TW, cows and their calves were moved to pens where they were separated, after which the cows returned to their paddock. In RW, the separation occurred within the paddock using a corner enclosure.

Behaviour (walking, standing, and feeding) was recorded for 7 days post-weaning. LW, BC, and levels of glucose and total protein were measured before and after weaning using blood samples collected by coccygeal venepuncture.

The results showed that RW cows spent more time feeding, walked less, and spent less time standing compared to TW cows (P < 0.0001). Although there were no significant differences in metabolic responses between methods, a significant variation was observed in sampling dates within each group. RW positively influenced cow behaviour and was associated with a significant increase in glucose levels over time, suggesting a lower stress response and better adaptation to the process compared to TW. These results were reflected in the BC, which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the RW cows, with a 5.5% increase compared to those in the TW group. Regarding live weight, no significant differences were detected between treatments, although the RW cows were, on average, 2% heavier than those in the TW group.