title: Chinese consumers and European beer: Associations between attribute importance, socio-demographics, and consumption

authors: Wang, Ou

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: The demand for western alcoholic beverages in China has increased tremendously in recent years. However, there is still a lack of understanding with regard to the behaviour of Chinese consumers towards European beer, which is a common western alcoholic beverage. This study explores associations between beer attribute importance scores, socio-demographic factors, general beer consumption frequency and country associations of European beer, and the consumption of imported European beer in China. The data (n = 541) were collected in two Chinese cities: Shanghai and Xi'an. Results of ordered logistic regression analyses show that the consumption of imported European beer is positively associated with importance attached to the product attributes Origin, Brand, Colour and Texture, and it is negatively associated with importance attached to Price and Alcoholic content. Furthermore, male gender, living in Shanghai city, a good financial situation, frequent beer consumption and a high-level employment position have a significantly positive influence on European beer consumption in China. In addition, about two thirds of the study participants associate imported European beer with ‘Germany’.

text: Chinese consumers and European beer: Associations between attribute importance, socio-demographics, and consumption The demand for western alcoholic beverages in China has increased tremendously in recent years. However, there is still a lack of understanding with regard to the behaviour of Chinese consumers towards European beer, which is a common western alcoholic beverage. This study explores associations between beer attribute importance scores, socio-demographic factors, general beer consumption frequency and country associations of European beer, and the consumption of imported European beer in China. The data (n = 541) were collected in two Chinese cities: Shanghai and Xi'an. Results of ordered logistic regression analyses show that the consumption of imported European beer is positively associated with importance attached to the product attributes Origin, Brand, Colour and Texture, and it is negatively associated with importance attached to Price and Alcoholic content. Furthermore, male gender, living in Shanghai city, a good financial situation, frequent beer consumption and a high-level employment position have a significantly positive influence on European beer consumption in China. In addition, about two thirds of the study participants associate imported European beer with ‘Germany’.

year: 2017

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: The art of dialogue with indigenous communities in the new biotechnology world

authors: Hudson, Maui

subjects: biotechnology

abstract: Te Hau Mihi Ata is a research project that aims to negotiate spaces for and develop processes of dialogue that allow for a deeper level of interaction between mtauranga Māori (Māori indigenous knowledge) and science. Over a two-year period a series of facilitated exchanges or wnanga were held focusing on areas of new technology (assisted reproductive technologies, life technologies, and future food technologies) that involved Māori scientists and people with expertise in mtauranga Māori. These dialogue events were designed to explore, through the challenge of considering new biotechnologies, the similarities and differences that emerge from approaching these issues from different knowledge paradigms. This paper will outline the key project findings from this series of exchanges including the barriers and facilitators to the dialogue process and knowledge exchange as well as discuss how participants created connections between scientific discourse and indigenous knowledge frameworks.

text: The art of dialogue with indigenous communities in the new biotechnology world Te Hau Mihi Ata is a research project that aims to negotiate spaces for and develop processes of dialogue that allow for a deeper level of interaction between mtauranga Māori (Māori indigenous knowledge) and science. Over a two-year period a series of facilitated exchanges or wnanga were held focusing on areas of new technology (assisted reproductive technologies, life technologies, and future food technologies) that involved Māori scientists and people with expertise in mtauranga Māori. These dialogue events were designed to explore, through the challenge of considering new biotechnologies, the similarities and differences that emerge from approaching these issues from different knowledge paradigms. This paper will outline the key project findings from this series of exchanges including the barriers and facilitators to the dialogue process and knowledge exchange as well as discuss how participants created connections between scientific discourse and indigenous knowledge frameworks.

year: 2012