title: The effects of early handling on play behaviour and social interactions in dairy calves

authors: Hawke, Michelle

subjects: Animal welfare

abstract: The effects of early handling on play behaviour, faecal corticosteroid metabolite concentrations and social interactions during regrouping was studied in 40 Holstein Friesian group housed dairy calves. Calves were exposed to either positive (handler speaking quietly and using pats, n=20) or negative (pushing the animals and using harsh voices, n=20) handling for five minutes, twice a day, for five weeks (1-5 weeks of age). Fresh faecal samples were collected daily from each group for corticosteroid metabolite analysis. Play behaviour was video recorded for 30 minutes, once a week, for five weeks. There were no differences in the frequency of any play behaviour between the positive and negative treatments (mean values; positive: 2.5 events/animal/30 minutes, negative: 3.1 events/animal/30 minutes, P greater than or equal to 0.122). Play running increased by 12 seconds between weeks one and two (SED: 2.0, P=0.000) and decreased by 11 seconds between weeks four and five (SED: 2.0, P=0.022) when treatment groups were combined. The negative groups tended to have higher maximum concentrations of corticosteroid metabolites (positive: 77 ng/g, negative: 148 ng/g, SED: 18.8, P=0.064) during the first week of handling than the positives (two groups/treatment).
In a follow up study conducted at nine months of age, the initial 40 animals and 20 control animals (i.e. animals that received normal on-farm handling) of the same age were assessed on their fearfulness of humans (avoidance test, and latency to approach a food container with and without a handler present), and their social behaviour during regrouping, focussing on aggression. There were no treatment differences in the latency to approach the food container (latency to approach container with and without handler, positive: 21 seconds, negative: 22 seconds, control: 23 seconds, SED: 4.0, P=0.365) and avoidance test scores (positive: 1.3, negative: 1.2, control: 0.9, SED: 0.26, P=0.528); nor were there any differences in behaviours exhibited during regrouping (eating: 11, 10, 10 No/animal/15 minutes, SED : 1.3, P=0.680, head to head duration greater than 1 second: 0.7, 0.6, 0.3 No/animal/15 minutes SED: 0.14, P=0.630, agonistic behaviours: 1.4, 1.6, 2.2 No/animal/15 minutes, SED: 0.42 , P=0.290, for positive, negative and control, respectively). Unfamiliar animals performed more head to head behaviours (duration greater than 1 second; familiar: 0.44 No/animal/15 minutes, unfamiliar: 0.94 No/animal/15 minutes, SED: 0.18, P=0.049) than familiar animals (positive, negative and control).
In conclusion, early handling had no effect on play behaviour in dairy calves; however negatively handled calves tended to have higher faecal corticosteroid metabolites. Also there were no detectable differences in calves‟ fearfulness of humans or social behaviours at nine months of age; however positively and negatively handled animals showed less avoidance behaviours and performed fewer aggressions compared to animals that received minimal handling (control and unfamiliar: trend only). These results could have been influenced by the animals habituating to the negative handling or the length of time between handling application (one to five weeks of age) and social behaviour testing (nine months of age). However, further research is needed to determine how the amount of handling received at an early age influences fearfulness, play and social interactions in calves.

text: The effects of early handling on play behaviour and social interactions in dairy calves The effects of early handling on play behaviour, faecal corticosteroid metabolite concentrations and social interactions during regrouping was studied in 40 Holstein Friesian group housed dairy calves. Calves were exposed to either positive (handler speaking quietly and using pats, n=20) or negative (pushing the animals and using harsh voices, n=20) handling for five minutes, twice a day, for five weeks (1-5 weeks of age). Fresh faecal samples were collected daily from each group for corticosteroid metabolite analysis. Play behaviour was video recorded for 30 minutes, once a week, for five weeks. There were no differences in the frequency of any play behaviour between the positive and negative treatments (mean values; positive: 2.5 events/animal/30 minutes, negative: 3.1 events/animal/30 minutes, P greater than or equal to 0.122). Play running increased by 12 seconds between weeks one and two (SED: 2.0, P=0.000) and decreased by 11 seconds between weeks four and five (SED: 2.0, P=0.022) when treatment groups were combined. The negative groups tended to have higher maximum concentrations of corticosteroid metabolites (positive: 77 ng/g, negative: 148 ng/g, SED: 18.8, P=0.064) during the first week of handling than the positives (two groups/treatment).
In a follow up study conducted at nine months of age, the initial 40 animals and 20 control animals (i.e. animals that received normal on-farm handling) of the same age were assessed on their fearfulness of humans (avoidance test, and latency to approach a food container with and without a handler present), and their social behaviour during regrouping, focussing on aggression. There were no treatment differences in the latency to approach the food container (latency to approach container with and without handler, positive: 21 seconds, negative: 22 seconds, control: 23 seconds, SED: 4.0, P=0.365) and avoidance test scores (positive: 1.3, negative: 1.2, control: 0.9, SED: 0.26, P=0.528); nor were there any differences in behaviours exhibited during regrouping (eating: 11, 10, 10 No/animal/15 minutes, SED : 1.3, P=0.680, head to head duration greater than 1 second: 0.7, 0.6, 0.3 No/animal/15 minutes SED: 0.14, P=0.630, agonistic behaviours: 1.4, 1.6, 2.2 No/animal/15 minutes, SED: 0.42 , P=0.290, for positive, negative and control, respectively). Unfamiliar animals performed more head to head behaviours (duration greater than 1 second; familiar: 0.44 No/animal/15 minutes, unfamiliar: 0.94 No/animal/15 minutes, SED: 0.18, P=0.049) than familiar animals (positive, negative and control).
In conclusion, early handling had no effect on play behaviour in dairy calves; however negatively handled calves tended to have higher faecal corticosteroid metabolites. Also there were no detectable differences in calves‟ fearfulness of humans or social behaviours at nine months of age; however positively and negatively handled animals showed less avoidance behaviours and performed fewer aggressions compared to animals that received minimal handling (control and unfamiliar: trend only). These results could have been influenced by the animals habituating to the negative handling or the length of time between handling application (one to five weeks of age) and social behaviour testing (nine months of age). However, further research is needed to determine how the amount of handling received at an early age influences fearfulness, play and social interactions in calves.

year: 2010

title: Online self-promotion

authors: Weijers, Dan M.

abstract: - Online Self-Promotion
- Research impact
- Interdisciplinary collaborations
- Media interviews (also from uni knowledge areas database)
- Follow-throughs (that person checks out)
- Being able to use data to support self-promotion in other areas

text: Online self-promotion - Online Self-Promotion
- Research impact
- Interdisciplinary collaborations
- Media interviews (also from uni knowledge areas database)
- Follow-throughs (that person checks out)
- Being able to use data to support self-promotion in other areas

year: 2019

title: Urban Māori Whānau Connection / Re Connection to Cultural Confidence Via Wānanga

authors: Maihi, Bonnie

abstract: The  purpose  of this research is to explore and interrogate  dynamics  involved  with positive health and transformation of urban Māori whānau and the challenges of pursuing this using the medium of wānanga. The research component of this thesis rest around a recent series of whānau wānanga held and embarked on in partnership with my whānau through a journey of re-connecting back to our whakapapa, marae and our culture. Current statistics for Māori reflect health and well-being as a site of continuous struggle and one where much work is necessary to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori. While equitable outcomes are an ‘in the future’ dream what remains is asking what steps do we have to take as a whānau? What is the Māori culture that we must capture, know, and strive for, in our whānau journey of self-discovery?

The theoretical framework guiding this thesis is that of Kaupapa Māori. Within Kaupapa Māori theory acknowledgement and recognition of the effects of colonisation, destruction of culture and power 
imbalances are known as a given, with no need to question the validity of whether or not these are true accounts. A comprehensive literature review covering wānanga, Māori culture, Māori health &  well-being, sustainability and more is included in this study. In terms of the research component, five significant themes have been sourced from a series of semi-structured interviews to best represent the experiences of my whānau members pertaining to connection to whakapapa; te reo Māori; tikanga Māori and marae. They are as follows: structural inequality; influences on Māori identity; cultural confidence; whānau capacities; and resistive strategies.

Results identified spaces of progress and spaces that needed strengthening in relation to whānau building cultural confidence and connection to a Māori identity. In conclusion, this thesis ascertains a need for whānau to foster appreciation for lifelong learning and a compassionate approach for those teaching as key markers for nurturing and reconnecting urban Māori whānau to their cultural roots.

text: Urban Māori Whānau Connection / Re Connection to Cultural Confidence Via Wānanga The  purpose  of this research is to explore and interrogate  dynamics  involved  with positive health and transformation of urban Māori whānau and the challenges of pursuing this using the medium of wānanga. The research component of this thesis rest around a recent series of whānau wānanga held and embarked on in partnership with my whānau through a journey of re-connecting back to our whakapapa, marae and our culture. Current statistics for Māori reflect health and well-being as a site of continuous struggle and one where much work is necessary to ensure equitable outcomes for Māori. While equitable outcomes are an ‘in the future’ dream what remains is asking what steps do we have to take as a whānau? What is the Māori culture that we must capture, know, and strive for, in our whānau journey of self-discovery?

The theoretical framework guiding this thesis is that of Kaupapa Māori. Within Kaupapa Māori theory acknowledgement and recognition of the effects of colonisation, destruction of culture and power 
imbalances are known as a given, with no need to question the validity of whether or not these are true accounts. A comprehensive literature review covering wānanga, Māori culture, Māori health &  well-being, sustainability and more is included in this study. In terms of the research component, five significant themes have been sourced from a series of semi-structured interviews to best represent the experiences of my whānau members pertaining to connection to whakapapa; te reo Māori; tikanga Māori and marae. They are as follows: structural inequality; influences on Māori identity; cultural confidence; whānau capacities; and resistive strategies.

Results identified spaces of progress and spaces that needed strengthening in relation to whānau building cultural confidence and connection to a Māori identity. In conclusion, this thesis ascertains a need for whānau to foster appreciation for lifelong learning and a compassionate approach for those teaching as key markers for nurturing and reconnecting urban Māori whānau to their cultural roots.

year: 2016