Behavioural assessment of the habituation of feral rangeland goats to an intensive farming system

Miller, David; Fleming, Patricia A.; Barnes, Anne; Wickham, Sarah L.; Collins, Teresa; Stockman, C.

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2017.11.001

Cited by 21 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…On the other hand, in our experiment, Acceptance was positively related to a high level of arousal on PC2, probably due to the fact that curious and lively animals are more prone to approach humans and to accept to get in contact with them, and this seems in line with the observation of explorative horses engaging in close contact with humans [ 10 ]. An experimental study conducted by Miller et al [ 24 ] confirmed that goats subjected to high degree of positive human interactions were scored by observers as more “calm/content” compared to goats that received a low degree of interactions, scored as more “agitated/scared”. Goats that were more habituated to humans also obtained scores negatively correlated with the number of agonistic contacts and flight speed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The results of this study are interesting, but the trial was conducted in an experimental setting, thus, in a situation that was very different from that of the present research and of the above mentioned studies conducted in horses and donkeys [ 10 , 12 ] that were conducted on farms. First, the study conducted by Miller et al [ 24 ] used a free choice profile method for term generation and not the fixed list, and QBA observations were conducted watching video clips and not by direct observations. Furthermore, studies involving QBA generally ground on contrasting expressive qualities where treatments are previously selected for their divergent characteristics (as in Miller et al [ 24 ]), but this may unlikely happen in on-farm studies [ 6 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, the study conducted by Miller et al [ 24 ] used a free choice profile method for term generation and not the fixed list, and QBA observations were conducted watching video clips and not by direct observations. Furthermore, studies involving QBA generally ground on contrasting expressive qualities where treatments are previously selected for their divergent characteristics (as in Miller et al [ 24 ]), but this may unlikely happen in on-farm studies [ 6 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Use of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment for the On-Farm Welfare Assessment of Dairy Goats

Battini

Barbieri

Vieira

et al. 2018

Animals

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Simple SummaryThe use of feasible indicators to evaluate animals’ emotional states in farm animals is strongly encouraged for welfare assessment. The inclusion of qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA) in on-farm protocols has been constantly increasing during the last few years; but its association with other welfare measures has been scarcely investigated so far. In the present study; we investigated whether QBA shows a meaningful coherence with other measures included in the AWIN (Animal Welfare Indicators) welfare assessment protocol for dairy goats. We confirmed that QBA can clearly discern mood (from Agitated/Alert to Content/Relaxed) and the level of activity (from Bored to Lively) in goats. Furthermore; goats with a shiny hair coat seem more relaxed and sociable than goats with a poor hair coat condition. In contrast; farms where the workload for the stockperson is high have goats that were observed as more bored and suffering; probably because farmers do not invest enough time in taking care of their animals. Even though we found only few relations between QBA and the other measures of the AWIN welfare assessment protocol; the holistic approach of QBA can be useful to integrate the assessment and give a different perspective on the complexity of animals’ emotions and overall welfare state.AbstractThis research investigated whether using qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA) with a fixed list of descriptors may be related to quantitative animal- (ABM) and resource-based (RBM) measures included in the AWIN (Animal Welfare Indicators) welfare assessment prototype protocol for goats, tested in 60 farms. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on QBA descriptors; then PCs were correlated to some ABMs and RBMs. Subsequently, a combined PCA merged QBA scores, ABMs and RBMs. The study confirms that QBA can identify the differences in goats’ emotions, but only few significant correlations were found with ABMs and RBMs. In addition, the combined PCA revealed that goats with a normal hair coat were scored as more relaxed and sociable. A high farm workload was related to bored and suffering goats, probably because farmers that can devote less time to animals may fail to recognise important signals from them. Goats were scored as sociable, but also alert, in response to the presence of an outdoor run, probably because when outdoors they received more stimuli than indoors and were more attentive to the surroundings. Notwithstanding these results, the holistic approach of QBA may allow to register animals’ welfare from a different perspective and be complementary to other measures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Use of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment for the On-Farm Welfare Assessment of Dairy Goats

Battini

Barbieri

Vieira

et al. 2018

Animals

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“…Previous studies have demonstrated physiological differences (plasma cortisol, packed cell volume) in sheep genotypes, with some more reactive to land transport than others [ 30 ]. In a non-transport example, Miller et al [ 31 ] demonstrated that QBA scores were different for feral goats exposed to varying levels of human interaction, suggesting that the scores reflected habituation and possibly their ability to adapt to the challenge of confinement. Grandin [ 32 ] found that animals with an excitable temperament may have greater difficulty adapting to a situation, while calmer animals may adapt more easily and become less stressed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The behavioural dimensions identified in this study concur with key qualitative descriptors for sheep demeanor that were identified in previous studies, such as agitated , distressed , alert and curious [ 13 , 15 , 16 , 34 ]. These dimensions used terms semantically consistent with a valence of ‘mood’ (GPA 1) and ‘arousal’ (GPA2) that have been similarly reported elsewhere [ 13 , 27 , 31 , 34 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative Behavioural Assessment as a Method to Identify Potential Stressors during Commercial Sheep Transport

Collins

Stockman

Barnes

et al. 2018

Animals

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Simple SummaryLand transport is a common and unavoidable experience for most livestock, yet it remains a health and welfare concern. From the animals’ perspective, transport involves mixing with other animals, novel experiences, and prolonged standing, often after periods of water and feed withdrawal (‘curfews’). Although the physical effects of transport have been studied, often by the impact on meat quality, the effects on the mental well-being of sheep are unknown. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influence the behavioural expression of sheep undergoing land transport, using observers who were blinded to the experimental treatments to score the animal’s body language during land transport. Various vehicle crate types, deck positions, sheep breeds and point of origin were compared. All treatments were variations on current commercial transport, and therefore stocking density was similar between the vehicles as per regulatory requirements, but truck designs varied. This study supports using the scoring of behavioural expression to assess sheep welfare during transport.AbstractLand transport is an unavoidable experience for most livestock, yet there is limited research comparing animal welfare under different conditions. We video recorded sheep responses during short (2 h) commercial road transport journeys. Using Qualitative Behavioural Assessment, observers (blinded to the treatments) scored the behavioural expression of sheep and reached significant consensus in their scoring patterns (p < 0.001). There were also significant effects of vehicle crate design (sheep transported in a ‘standard’ crate were more calm/relaxed than those transported in a ‘convertible’ crate), deck position (sheep on upper decks were more curious/alert than those on lower decks), and sheep breed (fat-tail sheep were more agitated/distressed than merino sheep) on observer scores. We only found marginal differences for sheep originating from feedlot or saleyard. Significant effects of vehicle driver (included as a random factor in all but one of our analyses) suggest driving patterns contributed to demeanour of the sheep. Finally, the fourteen drivers who participated in the study were asked their opinions on livestock transport; none of the factors we tested were identified by drivers as important for sheep welfare during transport. This study supports the use of qualitative measures in transport and revealed differences that could inform truck design.

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Goats’ Natural Behaviour

Zobel,

Neave,

Nawroth

2024

Animal Welfare

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Behavioural assessment of the habituation of feral rangeland goats to an intensive farming system

Abstract: Highlights  Habituation methodologies needed for captured feral goats transitioning to intensive rearing.  Simple technique of increased human-animal interaction was tested.  The human-animal interaction resulted in production performance and behavioural benefits.

Cited by 21 publications

References 36 publications

The Use of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment for the On-Farm Welfare Assessment of Dairy Goats

The Use of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment for the On-Farm Welfare Assessment of Dairy Goats

Qualitative Behavioural Assessment as a Method to Identify Potential Stressors during Commercial Sheep Transport

Goats’ Natural Behaviour

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