title: The effects of different milk allowances on the behaviour and liveweights of Holstein-Friesian bull calves

authors: McDonald, Ashton

subjects: Positive and negative welfare indicators, behaviour, milk allowance, calves, weight gain, pasture and weaning

abstract: Despite the importance of milk for young calves, it is often still provided in restricted amounts on farms. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of high and low milk allowance on the behaviour and liveweights of calves from approximately one week of age until one year old. I predicted that calves offered a lower milk allowance would show signs of negative affective state and therefore demonstrate behaviours associated with negative welfare, as well as have lower liveweights, compared to calves offered a greater milk allowance who would sustain a more positive affective state, subsequently expressing behaviours associated with positive welfare and have larger liveweights. Twenty-two Holstein-Friesian bull calves were offered 5 L or 10 L of milk replacer/calf/day from approximately one week of age. Calves were weighed weekly until weaned off milk which then became monthly until one year of age. At three time periods throughout the trial (at four weeks of age, the first time out on pasture, weaning period) the behaviours of the calves were recorded using validated accelerometers and either live observations or video analysis.
From one to five weeks of age, calves offered 5 L of milk/day were observed visiting the meal feeder, milk feeder and hay feeder more often (P<0.001, P<0.001 and P=0.028, respectively), were less involved in self and allo-grooming (P=0.011 and P=0.012) and spent less time lying (P=0.024) compared to calves on the 10 L milk allowance. Furthermore, calves offered the higher milk allowance, were 5.7 kg heavier (P<0.001), at five weeks of age compared to the calves offered the lower milk allowance. During the initial period on pasture, the calves offered 5 L of milk/day were observed conducting less ruminating and sternal lying and during the pre-weaning period were observed grazing and standing more often, compared to calves offered 10 L of milk/day who were observed resting and grooming other calves more often. The liveweight differences from five to eleven and a half weeks of age were significantly different, however over the weaning period from twelve to thirteen weeks of age this liveweight difference began to shrink and by fourteen weeks of age, the difference was 5.55 kg. There was no weight difference at one year of age.
The milk allowance significantly affected the behaviours and liveweights demonstrated by the calves. This study confirmed this study’s hypothesis that prior to weaning, calves offered more milk demonstrate behaviours associated with positive welfare indicating satiety, comfort and grooming in comparison to calves offered less milk who demonstrate behaviours associated with negative welfare such as hunger and restlessness (higher activity). Creating change in the dairy industry enhancing positive animal welfare gives calves the best opportunity to have a good life.

text: The effects of different milk allowances on the behaviour and liveweights of Holstein-Friesian bull calves Despite the importance of milk for young calves, it is often still provided in restricted amounts on farms. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of high and low milk allowance on the behaviour and liveweights of calves from approximately one week of age until one year old. I predicted that calves offered a lower milk allowance would show signs of negative affective state and therefore demonstrate behaviours associated with negative welfare, as well as have lower liveweights, compared to calves offered a greater milk allowance who would sustain a more positive affective state, subsequently expressing behaviours associated with positive welfare and have larger liveweights. Twenty-two Holstein-Friesian bull calves were offered 5 L or 10 L of milk replacer/calf/day from approximately one week of age. Calves were weighed weekly until weaned off milk which then became monthly until one year of age. At three time periods throughout the trial (at four weeks of age, the first time out on pasture, weaning period) the behaviours of the calves were recorded using validated accelerometers and either live observations or video analysis.
From one to five weeks of age, calves offered 5 L of milk/day were observed visiting the meal feeder, milk feeder and hay feeder more often (P<0.001, P<0.001 and P=0.028, respectively), were less involved in self and allo-grooming (P=0.011 and P=0.012) and spent less time lying (P=0.024) compared to calves on the 10 L milk allowance. Furthermore, calves offered the higher milk allowance, were 5.7 kg heavier (P<0.001), at five weeks of age compared to the calves offered the lower milk allowance. During the initial period on pasture, the calves offered 5 L of milk/day were observed conducting less ruminating and sternal lying and during the pre-weaning period were observed grazing and standing more often, compared to calves offered 10 L of milk/day who were observed resting and grooming other calves more often. The liveweight differences from five to eleven and a half weeks of age were significantly different, however over the weaning period from twelve to thirteen weeks of age this liveweight difference began to shrink and by fourteen weeks of age, the difference was 5.55 kg. There was no weight difference at one year of age.
The milk allowance significantly affected the behaviours and liveweights demonstrated by the calves. This study confirmed this study’s hypothesis that prior to weaning, calves offered more milk demonstrate behaviours associated with positive welfare indicating satiety, comfort and grooming in comparison to calves offered less milk who demonstrate behaviours associated with negative welfare such as hunger and restlessness (higher activity). Creating change in the dairy industry enhancing positive animal welfare gives calves the best opportunity to have a good life.

year: 2024

title: New Zealand Mustelids and the Ecomorphometrics of Mandibles

authors: Hill, Carly Michelle

subjects: Ferret

abstract: Three species of Mustelidae are found in New Zealand: ferrets (Mustela furo), stoats (Mustela erminea), and weasels (Mustela nivalis vulgaris). The introduction and spread of mustelids into a wide range of habitats different from those of their native lands has provided an opportunity to study the impacts that habitat differences might had on mustelid mandible morphology, especially stoats which are more widespread in New Zealand. Geometric morphometrics were used to make comparisons of the morphological variation of mandibles within and between the three New Zealand species. Each mandible had 24 landmarks. There was size sexual dimorphism within each species but no shape sexual dimorphism. However, there was between species allometry and mandible shape differences, which can be related to diet composition and the bite force required to kill prey. The second comparison examined the morphological plasticity of stoat mandibles collected across ten New Zealand habitats and one English location. There was no shape sexual dimorphism and the degree of size sexual dimorphism was different at each location. Male stoats had a high variation in mandible size likely from size plasticity in a response to differential prey availability during growth. Some locations had significantly different mandible shapes from others, these matched differences in biomechanical advantage and likely represents adaptation to the environment. Mandible shape of stoats was correlated with rainfall which has been correlated to mice density. My results also called the into question the correlation between mandible size and skull size, which now requires further study.

text: New Zealand Mustelids and the Ecomorphometrics of Mandibles Three species of Mustelidae are found in New Zealand: ferrets (Mustela furo), stoats (Mustela erminea), and weasels (Mustela nivalis vulgaris). The introduction and spread of mustelids into a wide range of habitats different from those of their native lands has provided an opportunity to study the impacts that habitat differences might had on mustelid mandible morphology, especially stoats which are more widespread in New Zealand. Geometric morphometrics were used to make comparisons of the morphological variation of mandibles within and between the three New Zealand species. Each mandible had 24 landmarks. There was size sexual dimorphism within each species but no shape sexual dimorphism. However, there was between species allometry and mandible shape differences, which can be related to diet composition and the bite force required to kill prey. The second comparison examined the morphological plasticity of stoat mandibles collected across ten New Zealand habitats and one English location. There was no shape sexual dimorphism and the degree of size sexual dimorphism was different at each location. Male stoats had a high variation in mandible size likely from size plasticity in a response to differential prey availability during growth. Some locations had significantly different mandible shapes from others, these matched differences in biomechanical advantage and likely represents adaptation to the environment. Mandible shape of stoats was correlated with rainfall which has been correlated to mice density. My results also called the into question the correlation between mandible size and skull size, which now requires further study.

year: 2017

title: Cultural Justice and Ethics

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Maori

abstract: Contains the complete proceedings of the Cultural Justice and Ethics symposium held within the Annual Conference of the New Zealand Psychological Society, Wellington, 23rd-24th August, 1993. The responsibility for ensuring that the discipline of psychology is culturally just, is not only that of Maori or some other non-dominant group - the responsibility belongs to all involved in psychology. This collection of papers is about questioning and challenging the psychology that has been adopted from other settings. It is about nurturing and valuing the development of local and indigenous psychologies. It is about developing psychological tools and methods of application that are culturally compatible. It is an invitation to become excited about and instrumental in building a profession and practice in Aotearoa, for Aotearoa.

text: Cultural Justice and Ethics Contains the complete proceedings of the Cultural Justice and Ethics symposium held within the Annual Conference of the New Zealand Psychological Society, Wellington, 23rd-24th August, 1993. The responsibility for ensuring that the discipline of psychology is culturally just, is not only that of Maori or some other non-dominant group - the responsibility belongs to all involved in psychology. This collection of papers is about questioning and challenging the psychology that has been adopted from other settings. It is about nurturing and valuing the development of local and indigenous psychologies. It is about developing psychological tools and methods of application that are culturally compatible. It is an invitation to become excited about and instrumental in building a profession and practice in Aotearoa, for Aotearoa.

year: 1993