Welfare of buffalo heifers in relation to feeding and space allowance

Abstract

Forty buffalo heifers of approximately 19 months of age were used. Subjects, with a mean live weight of 390 kg, were randomly and equally allocated for 12 weeks to 4 groups. Thus, the experimental design was a 2 x 2 factorial with two space allowances (2.3 indoor slatted floor and 2.3 indoor slatted floor + 15 outdoor yard m2/head) and two dietary protein levels (8.9% and 13.4% of DM). All animals were weighed at group constitution and then at monthly intervals. Behaviour. Three sessions of behavioural observations were made every 10 minutes over a 6 hour period (10.00 to 16.00 h), recording posture (standing or, when lying, number of outstretched legs) and activity such as feeding, ruminating, drinking, locomotion, idling. Rapid behaviours such as agonistic and non agonistic interactions were recorded continuously........

Keywords

• buffalo heifers, space allowance, protein level, welfare