How to keep livestock calm and stress-free

Over and above their physical needs, animals have emotional needs, and these are often overlooked. Stress in livestock should be avoided at all costs, Leon Kruger, a lecturer at the University of the Free State's Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, told Annelie Coleman.

Animal welfare concerns the physical as well as psychological state of an animal. The way animals are raised and treated affects their welfare on many levels and also has an impact on sustainability, food security, and the economics of farming.

Stress is a major cause of disease in cattle and other livestock species, according to Leon Kruger, a lecturer at the University of the Free State’s Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences. Consequently, lessening stressors plays a cardinal role in the overall welfare of livestock.

It is imprudent, he stresses, for livestock producers to rely solely on vaccinations and veterinary medicines to prevent disease outbreaks in their herds and flocks. Infections like Pasteurellosis and coccidiosis are examples of stress-related diseases. These two diseases pose serious problems, especially in feedlots. In addition to the clinical symptoms of disease, stressed animals’ growth rates tend to be poor, while production is also compromised, says Kruger.

According to the so-called Five Freedoms, an internationally accepted standard of care that affirms every living being’s right to humane treatment, animal welfare must ensure that the mental needs of livestock are met by providing conditions and treatment that don’t cause mental suffering.

THE FIVE FREEDOMS

In 1965, Irish zoologist Francis Brambell’s research led him to recommend a basic set of standards for all animals under human control, regardless of species. Farm animals are included in the Five Freedoms, which are endorsed by the World Organisation for Animal Health. This includes freedom from hunger and thirst by having ready access to fresh water and feed to maintain health and vigour.