Summary
This comparative study evaluated beef cattle welfare across two systems: continuous housing (HH) versus seasonal grazing with winter housing (HG), using integrated health, behavioural, and hormonal measures. Summer grazing cattle demonstrated more positive behavioural indicators and lower nasal discharge, although hair cortisol concentrations were unexpectedly higher in the grazed group. The findings suggest that access to summer pasture provides welfare benefits despite elevated hair cortisol, indicating that single biomarkers may not fully capture welfare outcomes in heterogeneous systems.
UK applicability
These findings are directly applicable to UK beef production, where seasonal grazing systems are prevalent and regulations increasingly emphasise animal welfare. The results support management policies promoting summer grazing access whilst identifying the need for further investigation into the cortisol elevation paradox to inform evidence-based welfare guidance.
Key measures
Body condition, cleanliness, diarrhoea, hairlessness, nasal discharge, ocular discharge; hair and nasal mucus cortisol and serotonin; qualitative behaviour assessments (QBA) on principal components (PC1: arousal, PC2: mood); performance metrics
Outcomes reported
The study compared beef cattle welfare across two rearing systems (continuously housed versus housed only in winter) using physical health assessments, hormonal biomarkers, behavioural observations, and performance metrics from weaning to slaughter. Key findings included differences in nasal discharge prevalence, behavioural assessments (particularly in summer), and hair cortisol concentrations between the two systems.
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