Summary
This comparative study assessed welfare outcomes in beef cattle across two production systems from weaning to slaughter: continuous housing (HH) versus winter housing with summer grazing (HG). Whilst physical health indicators were largely similar between systems, summer grazing provision resulted in more positive behavioural assessments and lower nasal discharge prevalence, despite elevated hair cortisol concentrations in the grazed group, suggesting net welfare benefits from seasonal pasture access.
UK applicability
Findings are directly applicable to UK beef production policy and practice, where decisions about winter housing duration and summer grazing availability significantly influence farm management strategy. Results provide evidence supporting the inclusion of grazing periods within housed beef systems as a welfare enhancement measure.
Key measures
Body condition score, cleanliness, diarrhoea prevalence, hairlessness, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, hair cortisol, nasal mucus cortisol, serotonin levels, qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA) across two principal components (arousal and mood), performance metrics
Outcomes reported
The study compared beef cattle welfare across multiple indicators (body condition, health signs, behaviour, cortisol and serotonin levels, performance) between continuously housed herds and herds housed only during winter with summer grazing access. Results showed differences in nasal discharge prevalence, behavioural assessments, and hair cortisol concentrations between the two systems.
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