@conference {3672,
	title = {Changes in rumination behaviour after abrupt or diluted-milk weaning methods in goat kids},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {77},
	year = {2017},
	month = {06/2017},
	pages = {161-163},
	address = {Rotorua},
	abstract = {Rumination development is vital during weaning, when kids are transitioning from a reliance on milk to hard feeds.  This study analysed rumination behaviour prior to, and following, two weaning methods: abrupt milk removal, and dilution of milk with water; both are common weaning practices on farm. We hypothesised that the dilution weaning method would better prepare kids to cope with the transition to full rumination. Thirty, 13-week-old Saanen cross goat kids were housed in pens of five. Two kids were nominated, for observation, from six pens (n=6/treatment). Kids had free choice access to hay, straw, water and a pelleted ration. Rumination behaviour was continuously recorded for two 24 h periods, before weaning and after weaning. Weaning treatment had no effect on rumination behaviour, though, both daily rumination time and number of boli regurgitated increased following weaning (3.6 vs. 5{\textpm}0.4 h/d, and 289 vs. 403{\textpm}29 boli/day). Rumination may be unaffected by using either weaning method, provided the kids have had access to forages and are not weaned too early. Early development of rumination allows kids to cope with milk removal and the switch to solid food, and quantifying its development is important to create best practice guidelines for the weaning period.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Freeman HBR and Webster JR and Zobel G}
}
@conference {3672,
	title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Variability in growth rates of goat kids on 16 New Zealand dairy goat farms},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {76},
	year = {2016},
	month = {07/2016},
	pages = {137-138},
	address = {Adelaide},
	abstract = {Average daily weight gains (ADG) in early life are
associated with health, welfare and future production
potential of dairy animals. While this has yet to be
established for goats, research in cows demonstrates a
positive relationship between growth in early life and milk
production (Shamay et al. 2005, Soberon et al. 2012). Early
growth rates are largely determined by the management
practices from birth onwards. It is therefore unsurprising
that large differences in ADG under different management
systems have been reported. In lambs, Mahgoub et al.
(2000) reported a large range in ADG (84-154 g/day).
Similarly, in calves, Bartlett et al. (2006) reported ADGs
ranging from 251 g/day to 703 g/day. The ADGs reported
in goats have not been as variable (152-170 g/day: Galina
et al. 1995; 167-173 g/day: Goetsch et al. 2001); however,
these were small, controlled studies. To our knowledge,
no research has yet quantified variability in the ADG of
goat kids on a large, multi-farm scale. Therefore, the aim
of this study was to describe the variation in growth rates
on multiple dairy goat farms in the Waikato region of NZ,
providing a benchmark for dairy goat farmers.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Deeming LE and Beausoleil NJ and Stafford KJ and Webster JR and Zobel G}
}
@conference {75921,
	title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Effects of handling during calf rearing on behavioural and physiological responses of one year-old dairy heifers},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {71},
	year = {2011},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {275-277},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Invercargill},
	abstract = {Interaction with humans is a daily part of most farm animal{\textquoteright}s lives. The nature of these interactions is an important factor contributing to animal welfare and productivity. Exposure to negative handling can increase fearfulness in animals, which can cause problems such as increased handling time, poor meat quality and... Continued},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Stewart M and Worth G and Webster JR and Sch{\"u}tz KE}
}
@conference {75920,
	title = {Raising lambs with intact tails to meet retailer welfare requirements: on farm feasibility and farmer perspectives},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {71},
	year = {2011},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {270-274},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Invercargill},
	abstract = {The aim was to study the practical feasibility of raising lambs with intact tails to satisfy welfare concerns over tail-docking. On four farms, two groups of ewes were bred with either a farm ram (Normal) or a Dorper ram (Dorper). Lamb body weight and dag scores were monitored at weaning and before transport to slaughter. Tail length was measured at weaning. Dorper-sired lambs were not tail-docked. Farmers recorded all management procedures and participated in a post-trial questionnaire. On average, the number of handling and health treatments, farm labour and measurements at weaning and transport were similar for the Normal and Dorper-sired lambs. Dag scores averaged 1.2 and 1.3 at weaning, and 0.6 and 0.8 at transport for Normal and Dorper-sired lambs, respectively. Three farms returned a higher value/head for their Dorper-sired lambs. Three farmers stated they would not raise lambs with intact tails in the future unless they received a higher premium. One farmer reported that he would continue to raise undocked Dorper-sired lambs. These results suggest that while it is possible to meet retailer demands for higher welfare standards by raising lambs with intact tails, industry uptake may be dependent on higher premiums that satisfy the perceived extra costs of the farmers.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Rogers AR and Dowling SK and Webster JR}
}
@conference {41733,
	title = {The use of diazepam as a pharmacological method for evaluating anxiety in sheep},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {67},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {232-236},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Wanaka},
	abstract = {The aim of this study was to examine the effects of diazepam, an anti-anxiety drug, on the fear responses of sheep and its usefulness as a pharmacological method to study welfare. Fourteen, eight month old Romney ewes were randomly assigned to two treatments and injected via jugular venepuncture with diazepam (0.37mg/kg) or saline (controls) 20 minutes before exposure to a barking dog. Heart rate (bpm) and escape attempts were recorded throughout a 10 minute period before injection (baseline), 20 minutes post injection and 15 minutes following the dog. Average heart rate was lower in diazepam-treated sheep during the first 5 minutes following injection (P<0.01) and was significantly higher (P<0.01) for both diazepam and saline-treated sheep during the 5 minutes following exposure to the dog compared to baseline (+23.1 and +21.5 bpm for diazepam and saline respectively). Heart rate then decreased back to baseline levels during the last 10 minutes. Diazepam-treated sheep tended to have a higher number of escape attempts during the 5 minutes following exposure to the dog (P=0.08) compared to controls, suggesting that diazepam may have paradoxically increased anxiety in some sheep. The lack of differences between treatments suggests that diazepam did not modify the fear response of sheep to a dog. There appear to be interpretive difficulties associated with dose rates and the appropriate fear model in the use of diazepam to study anxiety in sheep.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Stewart M and Webster JR and Dowling SK and Stafford KJ and Huddart FJ}
}
@conference {41553,
	title = {Animal welfare in large dairy herds: a survey of current practices},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {65},
	year = {2005},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {127-131},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Christchurch},
	abstract = {To gain insight into the farm practices and animal welfare issues on large dairy herds, we conducted a postal survey (n = 132). The questionnaire covered four areas: demographics, stand-off practices, management during extreme weather, and races. Respondents managed 910 {\textpm} 466 (mean {\textpm} SD) milking cows during the 2003 season. When asked to identify the most important animal welfare problem on their farm, 73\% of the respondents named one of the following: lameness, disease, or nutrition/growth. Fifty-one percent of respondents used some form of stand-off area during periods of inclement weather. There are several management practices used with stand-off areas that are relevant to animal welfare including: provision of feed, shelter, space allowance, and surface type. During extreme winter and summer weather, a range of practices was used to manage cows, including changes in grazing patterns. For example, 61\% of respondents used paddocks closer to the milking shed and 40\% used sprinklers at the shed during hot weather. Finally, on average, cows walked 1.9 {\textpm} 0.8 km to the milking shed, and walking distance increased with the number of cows/farm. Farmers demonstrated awareness of animal welfare issues and implemented management practices that likely improve the well-being of their stock.
KEYWORDS: animal welfare; dairy cattle; herd size; management practices. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Tucker CB and Verkerk GA and Small BH and Tarbotton IS and Webster JR}
}
