A study on the seasonal changes of behavioural characteristics of holstein-friesian, brown swiss and simmental fattening bulls reared in the conditions of Aydin province

In this study, the behaviors of fattened Holstein-Friesian (HF), Brown Swiss (BS) and Simmental (SIM) bulls the most preferred by Turkish beef producers were determined. Animal material of the study were obtained on a private feedlot located in Aydın Province, in the first group with 148 days 10 HF and 8 BS, (I. Group) and in the second group with 177 days 7 HF and 10 SIM, (II. Group) fattening period were used. The fattening period was started on 22 February, 2014 and I. Group on 9 July, 2014 and II. Group on 7 August 2014 were slaughtered. In the study, the behaviors of the fattening bulls were determined from 22 February to 2 August for one day in a week at 6:00, 9:00, 12:00, 14:00, 17:00, 20:00 and 23:00 for one hour at 10 min periods with scanning sampling technique. Prior to statistical analysis of the data, the total percentile values were transformed. During the day, rumination, standing, lying, walking, feeding, drinking, mounting, agonistic, defecating and urinating behaviors of animals were recorded. Ruminating, drinking, defecation and urinating behaviors between HF and BS and ruminating, standing, lying, walking mounting and agonistic behaviors between HF and SIM were found to be different (P<0.05). In addition, for almost all of the behaviors, the observation time and month effects were also found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, it was determined that the main daily behavioral activities (06:00-23:00) of HF, BS and SIM bulls consisted of lying, standing, ruminating and feeding, accounting for 80%, however, locomotor activities (walking, mounting and agonistic behaviors), drinking, defecation and urination behaviors constituted the rest (20%) of the activities. It was also determined that high temperature and relative humidity seen in the region caused significant differences in the behaviors of fattening bulls.