Environmental enrichment in the form of a synthetic analogue of the bovine appeasing pheromone to increase the overall welfare of female dairy calves from birth through to weaning

Garcia-Alvarez, J. (2025) Environmental enrichment in the form of a synthetic analogue of the bovine appeasing pheromone to increase the overall welfare of female dairy calves from birth through to weaning. Doctoral thesis, Harper Adams University.

Text Juliana Garcia Alvaraz Thesis.pdf Download (8MB)

Abstract

This thesis investigated the effects of a synthetic analogue of the bovine appeasing pheromone (BAP) on the welfare of female dairy calves, assessing its impact on growth performance, physiological stress, and behaviour from birth through weaning, during disease episodes, disbudding procedures, and cognitive testing. Key findings indicated that BAP treatment contributed to improved growth rates and better stress coping mechanisms during weaning, as evidenced by enhanced average daily gain (ADG) and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. BAP-treated calves demonstrated reduced salivary cortisol levels and more consistent resting patterns, suggesting diminished stress levels compared to the placebo group. While the overall disease incidence did not differ significantly between groups, BAP-treated calves displayed better autonomic nervous system regulation during and after disease episodes, contributing to faster post-illness recovery and resilience. During disbudding, despite sedation and analgesia being administered to all calves, BAP-treated calves exhibited HRV parameters indicative of better autonomic balance and lower stress indices, suggesting potentially superior pain management and quicker recovery. Behavioural metrics showed reduced restlessness and more balanced activity levels post-procedure in BAP-treated calves. The study also explored cognitive performance and emotional states through cognitive bias tests. While no significant improvements in learning rate were observed, calves receiving BAP displayed more nuanced physiological responses and a potential increase in emotional resilience, reflected in altered latency responses to ambiguous cues. These results support BAP's role in enhancing calf welfare by modulating stress responses during critical management procedures and environmental challenges. Future research should focus on larger, diverse samples, include male calves, and investigate long-term effects to validate findings and explore BAP’s cost-effectiveness in commercial dairy operations.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Divisions:	Animal Health, Behaviour and Welfare (from 1.09.21)
Depositing User:	Miss Anna Cope
Date Deposited:	03 Apr 2025 10:08
Last Modified:	03 Apr 2025 10:08
URI:	https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18210

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