Measuring rate of acclimation to handling in calves (AEC16/09)

Acclimation protocols for cattle are expected to have benefits for animal handling and production, but the rate at which cattle acclimate has not yet been studied. A standardised measure of acclimation rate in cattle would allow further research to be undertaken to identify management practices and selection tools which enhance the capacity of cattle to acclimate to new environments. \n\nThis study developed a novel method for assessing the acclimation rate of cattle at a group level during yard weaning. We recorded the time and order in which 50 Bos taurus heifers moved through a novel funnel structure into a feeding yard daily. We hypothesised that addition of an obstacle at the entrance would increase the time it took heifers to move through the funnel, but that they would acclimate to the obstacle over a three-day period. The change in latency to move through could then be used as a measure of acclimation rate. Flight times were also assessed to determine whether individuals that acclimated to obstacles at a faster rate might display favourable temperament. \nLineage: Detailed methods for the production of this dataset are given in the associated publication at https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8040051