- Objective Title:Survey of prevalence and practice of mulesing
- Objective Title:Controlling inflammatory pain felt by calves after dehorning
- Objective Title:Reducing ring castration distress in lambs with a castrating clamp
- Objective Title:Lambing management systems
- Objective Title:Strategy to meet welfare needs in relation to shade and shelter on sheep farms
- Objective Title:Dissemination of shade/shelter information pertaining to sheep farming
- Objective Title:Aetiology and prevention strategies for nutritional diarrhoea in sheep and cattle
- Objective Title:Review of international research on Alternative Egg Production Systems
- Objective Title:Long Haul Animal Transport
6 ANIMAL WELFARE
MAF has the responsibility of ensuring that the Minister of Agriculture and Government are provided with sound policy advice on animal welfare matters affecting the agriculture sector. Such issues could have market implications for New Zealand both internationally and domestically. To provide information onwhich to base this advice research into animal welfare issues is commissioned.
Dr David Bayvel, National Manager Animal Welfare with MAF, is the chief adviser to the Minister and, in consultation with the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC), sets the research priorities.
6.1
| Objective Title:Survey of prevalence and practice of mulesing Research Leader:Mr C Taylor Institution:MAF Quality Management |
Researchers will conduct an interview survey on South Island high country sheep farms which:
- data on whether mulesing is practised or not, prevalence and type of fly-strike and sequelae; and
- the detail of the technique and links this to any variation in effectiveness and clearly apparent animal welfare impacts.
Statistical analysis will then be conducted to determine the impact of the practice on the incidence and outcome of fly-strike. If clear conclusions emerge which would result in efficacy or animal welfare improvements, these will be incorporated into a Code of Practice for mulesing.
6.2
| Objective Title:Controlling inflammatory pain felt by calves after dehorning Research Leader:Professors D Mellor and N Gregory Institution:Massey University |
Researchers have shown that after amputation dehorning substantial inflammatory pain (as opposed to the pain of the amputation itself) outlasts the usual duration of action of local anaesthetic (LA), that long-acting LA delays resolution of this inflammatory pain, and that the anti-inflammatory analgesic ketofen can abolish this pain for at least the first 9 h. The delayed resolution of this inflammatory pain with long-acting LA use may be due to the absence of theusual marked cortisol response to dehorning alone, as cortisol has potent anti-inflammatory actions on injured tissues. The proposed experiments (to be conducted over 24 h, not 9 h as before) are designed to assess the importance of the anti-inflammatory actions of cortisol in resolving this post-dehorning inflammatory pain, the possible benefits of using aspirin (a low cost analgesic) instead of the more costly ketofen, and the implications of these observations for pain control on farms and in veterinary clinics.
6.3
| Objective Title:Reducing ring castration distress in lambs with a castrating clamp Research Leader:Professors D Mellor and N Gregory Institution:Massey University |
Researchers have shown that the conventional separate application of a castrating clamp to each spermatic cord before ring application had no effect on the distress caused by ring castration plus tailing (group nos. = 8-10). This promising work needs to be checked on larger numbers of animals (n = 25 per group of ring only and ring + clamp treated lambs) and the incidences of long-term harmful effects such as gangrene, septicaemia and tetanus caused by the ring only and the Scottish ring + clamp methods need to be compares on larger numbers of lambs (n about 100 per group).
6.4
| Objective Title:Lambing management systems Research Leader:Dr M Fisher Institution:AgResearch |
An objective evaluation of the affects of "Easy Care" sheep production systemscomprises part of the programme evaluating the welfare implications of pastoral farming. The researchers approach will be to identify the factors which affect the well-being of the ewes and lamb; how these factors and animal welfare vary with the different production systems, and alternative lambing systems. Since any "use" of animals potentially comprises their well-being, they have to be judged within a community context. The researchers intend investigating the balance between giving animals freedom to express a normal behaviour (isolation and freedom from disturbance) with freedom from pain, injury or disease and framing this within society’s expectations of humane animal use.
6.5
| Objective Title:Strategy to meet welfare needs in relation to shade and shelter on sheep farms Programme Leader:Dr J Pollard Institution:AgResearch |
The welfare advantage of providing shelter from climatic extremes varies with locality, species, and appropriateness of shelter design. Where shelter is needed, its use is related to climatic conditions and often improves productivity. [ Gregory, N.G., 1995. The role of shelterbelts in protecting livestock: a review. New Zealand Journal of Agriculture Research 38:423-450.] A research model will be set up to target specific shade/shelter welfare issues. Observations of behaviour and weather will determine the extent and means of shade/shelter use, while productivity measures will identify any direct economic advantages. Initially, shelter for lamb rearing in Southland will be targeted. On 10 farms with minimal shelter, half of the lambing/rearing paddocks will be modified using strips of windbreak between and within paddocks. Climatic conditions and distribution of sheep (3 x daily), lamb mortality and weaning weights will be compared between sheltered and non-sheltered environments.
6.6
| Objective Title:Dissemination of shade/shelter information pertaining to sheep farming Research Leader:Dr J Pollard Institution:AgResearch |
Research findings from each specific, regional topic in Objective 1 will be presented with a review of related research on the same species, including utilisation of shade/shelter, appropriate design and placement, and effects on productivity. For dissemination to farmers in the targeted region, this information will be summarised and presented with facts to facilitate provision of shade/shelter, such as local shelter tree types and availability, and shelter belt design. Thus the initial research into shelter for lamb rearing in Southland will provide a scientific review with localised information, plus a summary of relevant information on the topic for local farmers.
6.7
| Objective Title:Aetiology and prevention strategies for nutritional diarrhoea in sheep and cattle Programme Leader:Professor N Gregory Institution:Massey University |
The objective is to plan and design a wide range of experiments which would meet the long-term goal of identifying the causes of nutritional diarrhoea. When the causes and complexities of nutritional diarrhoea are better understood, it will then be possible to decide whether any manipulations could be introduced which would control or alleviate the problems that it creates.
6.8
| Objective Title:Review of international research on Alternative Egg Production Systems Programme Leader:Professor N Gregory Institution:Massey University |
Caged layer egg producers are under considerable pressure to improve the welfare standards for their birds. However, they are aware from reports overseas and from recent experience in New Zealand that some of the alternative systems introduce husbandry problems, and, that there is limited experience with modified cages on which to base a judgement. The objective of this programme is to:
- a review of the experience gained by overseas egg producers and research workers who have been keeping layer hens in alternative systems and modified cages; and
- a set of recommendations which could be adopted by those New Zealand egg producers who are considering changing from battery egg production to an alternative system or modified cages.
The review will be compiled from published material, limited-access literature and from accounts received through correspondence.
6.9
| Objective Title:Long Haul Animal Transport Programme Leader:Ms T Pearce Institution:MAF Quality Management |
To qualify the effect of different preconditioning treatments within specific long distance consignments of either dairy cows or cattle by:
- treatments including yarding off grass for 4 or 8 hours prior to shipment, with orwithout hay or hay and causmag supplementation for 7 days to shipment; and
- bodyweight, rubbing (in cattle), locomotory soundness, pH at slaughter, bruising at slaughter;
Prepare a report on the effect of these treatments, and if appropriate incorporate directly into a Code of Practice for long distance stock transport.
Contact for Enquiries
Farm Monitoring Programme Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0623
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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