Ref Code: CAT24

Category

Teaching - 2

Research - 4

Objective

To measure body weight and condition or liveweight gain of cattle.

Alternatives to animal use for teaching

Video, lecture presentations.

Details of procedure

1. Measurement of body weight. This is the simple measurement of the body weight of an animal.

2. Measurement of live weight gain. Measurement of live weight gain requires the fasting of animals to minimise the variation caused by ‘gut-fill’ from digesta.

Fasting off feed and water for four hours before weighing is sufficient to minimise variation if animals have been on low-roughage diets. Cattle which have been on low quality pastures may require fasting for up to 24 hours due to the much slower passage of feed particles from the rumen. Any cattle fasting for 12-24 hours must have water available, although they may not drink much when off feed.

Well-designed crush, race and weighing facilities must be used.

Drugs, chemicals, or biological agents

Nil

Impact of procedure on the wellbeing of animal(s)

Minimal if cattle are handled quietly.

Reuse and repeated use

Animals may be reused for teaching if quiet.

For research purposes, animals may be weighed twice daily, as long as they do not become distressed.

Cattle may be fasted again four days after a 12 hour fast and eight days after a 24 hour fast.

Care of animal(s) during/after procedure

Cattle should be handled quietly before, during and after the procedure.

Care must be taken if cattle from ‘bloaty’ pastures, or those prone to grass tetany, are fasted. These cattle should be fed with palatable hay before returning to their paddock.

Pain relief measures

Not required.

Qualifications, experience or training necessary to perform this procedure

Demonstrator: Experience in the procedure.

Students: Competence in cattle handling.