Graduation Term

Fall 2025

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Department of Agriculture

Committee Chair

Drew Lugar

Committee Member

Maria Boerngen

Committee Member

Justin Rickard

Abstract

Animal welfare in commercial livestock operations has been an increasing topic of concern. It is well known that stress can have significant behavioral and physiological repercussions. It is especially important in commercial operations to reduce stress, as animal efficiency is the leading priority. In an effort to reduce stress on animals and improve welfare in livestock operations, several studies have evaluated common husbandry practices. One of the most widely studied practices is weaning, which encapsulates the process of removing the young from the dam. Several studies have evaluated the effects of weaning on beef cattle through a variety of behavioral and physiological parameters. The majority of these studies have looked at the behavioral effects of these methods and some studies have evaluated the physiological effects. Some of the studies evaluating physiological stress have utilized invasive methods, that could further contribute to animal stress. Heart rate variability is an increasingly popular measure of stress, that provides insight on the balance of the autonomic nervous system. It is a non-invasive method that has been utilized to assess stress in many livestock species, including cattle.In an effort to reduce weaning stress, several studies have evaluated the utilization of alternative weaning methods in comparison to traditional weaning. Common alternatives include the nose-flap method, multi-step weaning, and fence-line weaning. Several studies have looked at both the short-term and long-term effects of these weaning methods.The aim of this study was to further evaluate how alternative weaning methods impact physiological stress on beef calves, by specifically utilizing heart rate variability as a non-invasive measure of stress. Additionally, calf efficiency over time was evaluated to determine if weaning method had lasting effects.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

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