- 8. Animal Welfare
- Effect of level of shepherding on ewe and lamb death rate between scanning and weaning
- Dairy calf welfare and performance
- Neonatal mortality in Wiltshire, Dorper and Damara Sheep, and their crosses, with woolled breeds
- Effects of age on pain sensation following castration in lambs
- Welfare guidelines for low-chemical pastoral farming
- Develop criteria for assessing the welfare of animals and decision rules for ensuring high standards of care
- Evaluation of devices for monitoring stock truck microclimates
- Development of a stock truck microclimate monitoring system
8. Animal Welfare
Research proposals on animal welfare were assessed under two categories, indicated by their identifier letters. These have been separated out in this document for ease of access.
8.1 FMA 121
Programme Title: |
Effect of level of shepherding on ewe and lamb death rate between scanning and weaning |
Programme Leader: |
Greg Lambert |
Institution: |
AgResearch |
Programme Goal and Rationale: Determine the effect of frequency of shepherding of ewes in the scanning-weaning period on ewe and lamb mortality
New Zealand’s outdoor-grazing of livestock year-round, and relatively infrequent shepherding by international standards leaves us open to claims of inadequate animal welfare status and potential non-tariff trade barriers. Our development of so-called “easy-lambing” techniques has carried with it the perceived possibility of lambs and ewes being left to die out in the paddock, with no human intervention to lessen their suffering.
We need objective information on the level of shepherding currently occurring on a cross-section of New Zealand sheep farms and on the levels of ewe and lamb mortality occurring during the “harsh” winter period, during lambing, and up to weaning. We would look for possible correlations between level of shepherding and mortality. We suspect that level of shepherding might have a relatively minor direct effect on mortality, and that other factors e.g., level of nutrition, might be more important. Few scanned lambs die before lambing (unless there is an abortion storm). However we know from a range of surveys that 10-40% of scanned lambs die at or near lambing, and that a significant number of lambs also die between lambing and weaning.
The information gained would assist the sheep industry in protecting its public image, and identify if attention to animal welfare issues would be best focused on increasing frequency of shepherding, or on other management factors.
Objective Title: |
Survey of practice and mortality |
Research Leader: |
Dr Greg Lambert |
Description:
Determine whether level of shepherding has a significant effect on the level of ewe and lamb deaths occurring on New Zealand sheep farms.
8.2 FMA 122
Programme Title: |
Dairy calf welfare and performance |
Programme Leader: |
David Mellor |
Institution: |
Massey University |
Objective 1
Objective Title: |
Dairy calf welfare and performance |
Research Leader: |
Professor D J Mellor |
Description:
We have shown that from 4 days of age the welfare of Bobby calves remains acceptable provided that the Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare for Bobby Calves is followed (Todd et al., 2000a, b; Stafford et al., 2000, 2001). Moreover, we have validated criteria for assessing the status of calves upon arrival at a meatworks (Stafford et al 2001). These criteria can now be used to improve the detection of calves not treated according to the Code and can thereby facilitate the necessary remedial action.
There remains the question of the welfare status of dairy calves from birth to 4 days of age, and, for those calves retained for herd replacements or dairy beef, their welfare status between 4 days and weaning. Our current MAF-funded/LIC-funded work (D.J. Mellor, K.J. Stafford and T.J. Diesch, in progress) suggests that a very high proportion of dairy calves born at full-term have the functional capacity at birth to survive in the normal conditions encountered at calving in New Zealand. Mortality rates can be quite low (3%) on dairy farms, but they are often 10% or more, which suggests that disturbances imposed by separating cows and calves according to usual practice can be a significant contributor to mortality. Major factors are likely to be the quantity and supply pattern of colostrum/milk the calves receive. We have shown that about 40-50% of dairy calves receive very little colostrum before they are separated from their mothers (Vermunt et al., 1995; Wesselink et al., 2002). Moreover, they are usually placed in groups and fed colostrum/milk competitively using multiple teat units. The impact of such group feeding and of feeder design (e.g. low or high sucking resistance) on the colostrum/milk intakes (inadequate, adequate, excess) of calves of different vigour, size and age require investigation, as do the consequences of the usual delays in providing colostrum/milk after calves are grouped and different strategies for remedying this. There is also a need to survey dairy farmers to ascertain what rearing systems they use and the specific details of calf feeder design which may contribute to problems of under feeding, poor resistance to infection and poor growth/vigour which often precede death.
Question 1: What impact does colostrum/milk intake by natural sucking between birth and separation from the mother have on the subsequent vigour, competitiveness, growth rate and health of dairy calves grouped for hand rearing?
Question 2: What speed of colostrum/milk intake (ml/min) do bottle-fed calves exhibit during the morning feed between days 1 and 7 after birth, and how, if at all, is this related to their colostrum/milk intake and their clinical and physical state at day 1 of age?
Question 3: How good is the index of sucking vigour/appetite (i.e. speed of intake determined during week 1) as a predictor of the capacity of calves to acquire milk, their growth rates and their health/welfare when group-fed using 40-teat calfeterias during weeks 2-12?
Question 4: Are there identifiable competitive behaviours calves exhibit during group feeding at calfeterias that enable them to compete for milk and, conversely, are there behaviours that place other calves at a competitive disadvantage?
Question 5: Do differences in calfeteria type (gravity-feed; upward sucking tube-to-teat design) and/or teat sucking resistance of each teat affect calf behaviour, milk intake, growth and health?
Question 6: What are the features of the major dairy calf rearing systems used in New Zealand?
8.3 FMA 123
Programme Title: |
Behavioural and physiological requirements of sheep for shade |
Programme Leader: |
Jim Webster |
Institution: |
AgResearch |
Programme Goal: To define the behavioural and physiological needs of sheep for shade in hot, dry and hot, humid environments. This will be achieved by measuring the effects of shade availability on activities, respiration rate and body temperature.
Rationale: Causal observations indicate that in many regions of New Zealand sheep have high requirements for shade as they seek it readily on sunny days during much of the year. The requirements for shade is likely to be highest in hot, humid conditions where respiratory cooling is less effective, but they may also experience an excessive heat load in dry areas where levels of solar radiation are high. This project aims to define the needs of sheep for shade in these environments by assessing its effects on behaviour and physiological indicators of heat stress. The results will indicate the degree to which welfare is compromised in sheep by failure to provide shade on sunny days in these environments and will assist MAF Policy in preparing welfare guidelines for sheep husbandry.
Objective 1
Objective Title: |
Assessing shade requirements of sheep |
Research Leader: |
J. Webster, J. Pollard |
Description:
The aim of this objective is to assess the behavioural ad physiological requirements of sheep in hot, humid and hot, dry environments. The expected outcomes are to describe the effects of shade on activities of groups of sheep, the frequency of use of shade by individuals, and the effects of shade on individual body temperature an respiration rate at pasture and during handling. This information will be useful in determining the welfare costs of not providing shade in hot environments and in preparation of recommend codes of practice for sheep husbandry.
8.4 FMA 124
Programme Title: |
Neonatal mortality in Wiltshire, Dorper and Damara Sheep, and their crosses, with woolled breeds |
Programme Leader: |
David Scobie |
Institution: |
AgResearch |
Programme Goal and Rationale: As the numbers of wool-less sheep increase, public awareness and concern about welfare issues will also increase. Uncertainty surrounds the ability of wool-less lambs to withstand wet cold conditions following their birth. This proposal will gather data on neonatal mortality of Wiltshire, Dorper and Damara sheep and their crosses with woolled breeds relative to woolled breeds such as Romney, Coopworth and Texel, throughout various regions in New Zealand where wool-less breeds are farmed.
Objective 1
Objective Title: |
Neonatal survival |
Research Leader: |
David Scobie |
Description:
Determine relative neonatal mortality of Wiltshire, Dorper, Damara and crossbred wool-less lambs compared to Romney, Coopworth and Texel woolled breeds.
8.5 FMA 125
Programme Title: |
Effects of age on pain sensation following castration in lambs |
Programme Leader: |
Professor David J Mellor |
Institution: |
Massey University |
Programme Goal: Using physiological indices to compare the degree of pain caused by castration in lambs at 1 and 6 weeks of age
Objective 1
Objective Title: |
Effects of age on pain sensation following castration in lambs |
Research Leader: |
Professor D J Mellor |
Description:
It has been demonstrated that lambs castrated at 1 week of age show a greater pain and distress response than those castrated at 6 weeks of age (Thornton & Waterman 1998). It is not known if this is due to a difference in the cortical perception of pain in these two age groups or to alternations in the way in which such pain is expressed in the endocrine and pain related behaviour responses, i.e. whether cortical perception (of presumed noxiousness) is accurately reflected by endocrine and behavioural responses at these different ages.
We will analyse the EEG during castration in two groups of 30 anaesthetised lambs. Group 1 lambs will be 1 week of age and group 2 lambs will be 6 weeks of age. Heart rate will also be recorded and analysed as an indicator of the endocrine response to castration (Peers et al., 2002). Lambs will be anaesthetised using halothane which has been shown not to abolish EEG response to noxious stimuli both in horses (Murrell et al., 2002) and in a pilot study using of castration in lambs. Any differences in the EEG response to castration will be compared qualitatively and quantitatively in order to determine the degree of stimulation of the cerebral cortex.
These data will allow us to determine whether lambs castrated at 1 week of age feel more pain or if they show more pain-related behaviour because of immature behavioural inhibitory pathways. It is hoped that these data will provide an insight into the welfare implications of castrating lambs at different ages. Resolution of this important question would help NAWAC to frame advice on whether castration and/or tailing without pain relief should be restricted to particular ages after birth in lambs.
8.6 FMA 126
Programme Title: |
Welfare guidelines for low-chemical pastoral farming |
Programme Leader: |
Alec Mackay |
Institution: |
AgResearch |
Programme Goal: Develop animal welfare criteria for determining the welfare of young stock in low-chemical pastoral sheep and beef farming systems, document the current approach (i.e. Decision rules) used in low-chemical farming systems for identifying and treating at-risk animals and develop a set of decision rules for inclusion in the on-farm animal management plan, in low-chemical production specifications (e.g. NZ organic Standard). Decision rules will cover both the conversion period and following full certification, and be used in the relevant animal welfare codes.
Rationale: There is a common perception that low-chemical farming systems are less caring and less concerned about the welfare of livestock. Hard data to support this perception is scarce. This project will develop animal welfare criteria for determining the welfare of young stock in low-chemical pastoral sheep and beef farming systems and test the criteria on a series of case farms. The case study farms will cover a range of low-chemical production systems in contrasting environments. On each farm the welfare of young stock (<1 year old) will be assessed on two occasions. The current management practices used to identify and treat at-risk stock will also be documented.
The information collected from the case farms, along with the findings of recent studies (Mackay et al., 1999, Mackay et al., 2000) and unpublished data will be used to develop a set of decision rules for the identification and management of at-risk stock in low chemical systems. The decision rules could be used for inclusion in the on-farm animal management plan, in low-chemical production specifications (e.g. NZ Organic Standard) for the “conversion period”, the following “full certification” state, and for inclusion in the relevant animal welfare codes.
Developing a proactive approach for treating at-risk animals in low-chemical systems has been identified as a key component of the conversion plan for the ongoing management of the farm system. The triggers for invoking the decision rules must be set to preserve the production base, ensure acceptable levels of animal health and welfare are maintained, and to minimize risk to the business. The basis for setting each rule and the trigger for invoking the rule would depend in part on the individual producer’s aspirations, but in no instance must compromise the welfare of the animal.
Objective 1
Objective Title: |
Develop criteria for assessing the welfare of animals and decision rules for ensuring high standards of care |
Research Leader: |
Dr Alec MacKay |
Description:
The aims of the study are to:
- Develop animal welfare criteria for determining the welfare of young stock in low-chemical pastoral sheep and beef farming systems.
- Document the current approach (i.e. Decision rules) used in low-chemical farming systems for identifying and treating at-risk animals.
- Develop a set of decision rules for inclusion in the on-farm animal management plan, in low-chemical production specifications (e.g. NZ Organic Standard), for the “conversion period”, the following “full certification” state, and for inclusion in the relevant animal welfare codes.
8.7 FMA 127
Programme Title: |
Evaluation of devices for monitoring stock truck microclimates |
Programme Leader: |
Dr Clive Marsh |
Institution: |
WRONZ |
Programme Goal: To demonstrate a stock truck microclimate monitoring system, that can be cost-effectively retrofitted to stock trucks, with in-cab display and with warnings and alarms both in cab and transmitted to a remote operator/driver.
Rationale: Previous research has identified the animal welfare risks resulting from inappropriate microclimates occurring within stock trucks. This issue is drawing the attention of regulators in the EU and it is likely that stock truck microclimate monitoring will become mandatory in the EU in the foreseeable future. MAF is also taking this issue seriously and sees potential benefits in the use of such technology in New Zealand, MAF would like to demonstrate the technical feasibility of such stock truck microclimate monitoring systems and establish indicative compliance costs for the industry.
It is believed that systems need to measure temperature and relative humidity and have the ability to compute temperature humidity indices (THI) as recommended by previous research. The systems will need to be able to be easily and cost-effectively retrofitted to trucks and be flexible enough to permit any trailer unit to communicate to any tractor unit. An ergonomic Human Machine Interface (HMI) is required for the cab with display, warning and alarms. Furthermore, the unit should be capable of warning/alarming a remote driver/operator by suitable wireless communication to a cell phone/pager.
Objective 1
Objective Title: |
Development of a stock truck microclimate monitoring system |
Research Leader: |
Dr Clive Marsh |
Description:
The specification for the system is:
Functionality
The system should measure temperature and relative humidity in the truck environment to which the animals are exposed. Environment measurements should not be corrupted by conduction of body heat from stock in contact with the sensing unit:
- It should be able to compute any (programmable) THI. The THIs may be time-related.
- The prevailing value for the THI should be displayed on the interface in the cab.
- Sensing modules (placed in the trailer unit) should communicate with any HMI module (placed in the cab of the tractor unit).
- There should be pre-programmed thresholds for warning and alarming the driver/operator.
- The system should be capable of providing warnings and alarms to a remote operator/driver by cell phone/pager.
- The system should be able to operate when the sensing unit is attached to a trailer unit detached from the truck, this includes remote communication to the truck-based HMI and driver.
- The systems should store all relevant data in a permanent and tamper proof way.
Robustness
- The temperature and humidly sensor should be sufficiently robust to tolerate typical operating conditions (animal urine and faeces) and washing procedures of the truck.
- Any antenna used for wireless communication between the sensing module and the HMI or the HMI and cell phone/pager should not increase the size envelope of the truck, i.e. not hit low hanging trees etc.
Ease of installation and use
- Both the sensing and HMI modules should be easy to install to trailer and tractor units respectively.
- The system should be easy to use for the driver/operator and not distract from the task of driving.
A system which meets these functionality, robustness and ease of installation and use specifications will be designed and built and trialled in a laboratory.
Objective 2
Objective Title: |
Proving and demonstration of the stock truck microclimate monitoring system |
Research Leader: |
Dr Clive Marsh |
Description:
The system designed and tested in Objective 1 will be deployed on a stock truck for proving and demonstration trials. A suitable location in the trailer part of a truck-trailer unit will be determined, (note previous research in which THIs and limits have been developed has used sheep head height on the front wall of the lower deck). The functionality, robustness and ease of installation and use will be proven and demonstrated. This objective will be undertaken in collaboration with a partner transport company. Input on robustness and ease of installation and use will be sought from personnel ‘at the coal face’. Once the system is operating satisfactorily, a public demonstration will be given in collaboration with MAF and the transportation industry.
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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