Evaluation of behavioural need of tethered cattle from jumping and running behaviour when they were released to the paddock

Abstract

Tethering is expected to be stressful for restrained cattle because they are unable to express appropriate behaviour. This study was conducted to elucidate their motivation to move by observing the behavioural reactions of tethered cattle when released to a paddock. We examined 16 Japanese black cattle of four groups. Animals that had been tethered in a pen the first 10 days were released to an outdoor paddock every day: 9:30-14:30 (TR). Subsequently, by preventing their release for one day (PR1) or 6 days (PR6), we observed responses to being tethered for three durations. After each tethering period had finished, animals were released to the paddock for 5 h. Then their behaviours were filmed for 60 min immediately following their release. From the video, their frequencies of jumping and running were observed. Furthermore, to evaluate cattle behaviour restriction by tethering, we compared the individuals’ various behaviours when tethered to those when they were released. Jumping and running were observed more for PR6 than for TR (P < 0.05, Dunnett’s test). Jumping, running, and mock sexual behaviours were not observed when tethered. Results suggest that cattle tethered for 6 days became increasingly motivated to move during restriction by tethering.