Efecto del sexo y variación individual sobre respuestas de comportamiento y desempeño de bovinos Simbrah

• Autores: Grajales-Cedeño, Joseph, Vargas, Reynaldo, Ríos-Moreno, Alex, Androli, Mayara, Cedeño, Héctor, Saavedra, Roberto, Grajales-Cedeño, Joseph Kaled
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2024
• Institución: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
• Repositorio: Revistas - Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
• Lenguaje: español
• OAI Identifier: oai:revistasinvestigacion.unmsm.edu.pe:article/26632
• Enlace del recurso: https://revistasinvestigacion.unmsm.edu.pe/index.php/veterinaria/article/view/26632
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: animal welfare; beef cattle; habituation; human-animal interaction; temperament; bienestar animal; bovinos de carne; habituación; interacción humano-animal; temperamento

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sex and individual variation on the behavioural responses and performance of Simbrah bovines subjected to a habituation process to human interaction and exposure training. Nineteen animals were used (8 females and 11 males). Reactivity was assessed through points in the restraint cage (1-5), a score for cage exit speed (1-2), and body weight in five assessments over 86 days. Linear mixed models and the effect of individual variations were adopted through a linear regression for each animal, using the b coefficients to classify the animals as habituated, neutral and sensitized. The sex of the animal did not affect the reactivity in the restraint cage, or the cage exit speed (p>0.05); however, reactivity decreased from day 16 (p<0.05) in relation to day 0 in both reactivity scores. There were individual differences in reactivity in the restraint cage and in body weight. On this, 74% of the animals became accustomed to the handling procedure, 21% showed neutral responses in the restraint challenge and 5% were sensitized. In turn, all animals gained weight at different levels, with positive, significant b coefficients (p<0.05) and R2 >0.70. In conclusion, the process of habituation to human interaction and exposure training consistently reduced the reactivity of the animals, without altering their productive performance; however, individual differences must be considered during handling procedures.