1,721,050 research outputs found
Perspectives of western Canadian dairy farmers on the future of farming
No full textSimilar to the situation in many countries, the dairy industry in Canada is challenged by the need to adapt to changing societal demands. An industry-led initia-tive (Dairy Farmers of Canada’s proAction Initative, known as proAction) was developed to respond to this challenge, providing mandatory national standards for on-farm practices. Farmers are more likely to follow such standards if they are aligned with their values and beliefs. The aim of this study was to better un-derstand farmers’ perspectives on the future of the Canadian dairy industry, with a focus on the role of mandatory policies such as those related to proAction. Seven focus groups were conducted, with discussions based on the principles of appreciative inquiry. Par-ticipants were each asked to write down key words that represent the “must-haves” on dairy farms in 20 yr from now. Although participants were encouraged to focus on aspects directly related to animal care, all answers were accepted. Key words were then used to facilitate a discussion and elicit ideas on how to achieve these must-haves. Particular focus was on the direction that participants believed policy should take to meet these goals. Explorative qualitative analysis was used for the written key words, and transcripts of the audio-recorded focus group discussions were analyzed using thematic analysis. Examples of farm-specific consider-ations that were raised as future must-haves of animal care on dairy farms included cow comfort, employee management, responsible health management, and use of advanced thechnologies. Participants agreed that objectives can only be achieved through collaboration among farmers and between farmers and researchers, and they regarded citizen education as a promising ap-proach to align differing expectations of the public and farmers. Citizen trust in the dairy industry was consid-ered a must-have, and participants believed that one of the benefits of mandatory policies for animal care is their potential to increase trust. These results may help guide the development of new animal care policies and increase understanding of the perceived legitimacy of new policies by dairy farmers
Linking the social environment to illness in farm animals
No full textDisease is one of the single largest issues facing food animal agriculture today. Risk factors for various diseases in cattle, swine and chickens include aspects of both the physical and social environment. In this paper we review literature linking the social environment to illness in farm animals, drawing from a conceptual framework developed primarily in the human and laboratory animal literature. To date, researchers have identified various social determinants of disease, have linked social stressors to biological intermediaries and clinical signs of disease, and have established individual behavioural and neuroendocrine differences in susceptibility to disease. Further, ill animals reduce social behaviours as part of a suite of ‘sickness behaviours’. In animal agriculture, the social environment is controlled by management practices implemented on individual farms. Globally, farm sizes are growing, but there is no clear link between farm size and disease incidence. Rather, researchers have tied specific grouping practices, such as moving cows between groups, to increased disease risk, and have begun to determine the biological chain connecting the social world to biological determinants of disease. Studies with farm animals have also established individual variation in behavioural and neuroendocrine response to these practices. Some individuals are more reactive to changes in their social environment than others; however, there remains no consensus on how to recognize these at-risk animals. Additionally, despite the potential role in disease detection, little farm animal work has investigated whether a reduction in social behaviours could be used as early predictors of disease. We end the review by urging further farm animal research to determine the relationship between the social environment and disease, utilizing the concepts and methodologies that have been developed in the human and laboratory animal literature
Views of American animal and dairy science students on the future of dairy farms and public expectations for dairy cattle care: A focus group study
No full textStudents completing advanced degrees in dairy or animal science may go on to have a major impact on the food animal agriculture industries. The aim of this study was to better understand student views of the future of dairying, including changes in practices affecting animal care on farms as well as perceived public perceptions. We conducted 6 focus group sessions with undergraduate students enrolled in the 2019 US Dairy Education and Training Consortium held in Clovis, New Mexico, and used explorative key word analysis of written notes and thematic analysis of the semi-structured discussions. Some “must-haves” of future animal care on dairy farms included increased use of technology, group housing of calves, and adequate facilities, including enrichment. Students also discussed their views of public expectations regarding animal care on dairy farms, and measures that they felt must be put into place to address these expectations in the coming years. Although the influence of the public was highlighted by the students, they were not always certain what specific values the public holds and doubted the feasibility and practicality of some expectations, such as providing pasture access or keeping the calf and cow together. They further demonstrated uncertainty about how best to align the directions of the industry with public expectations. Although they felt that public education could be used to demonstrate the legitimacy of dairy practices, they also believed that the industry should strive to find compromises and work toward meeting public expectations. Deciding what animal welfare considerations (e.g., naturalness, affective states, or animal health) were most relevant was a challenge for the students, perhaps reflecting diverging messages received during their own education
Impediments to and possibilities for respectful human-animal relationships in agriculture
No full textDespite advancements in understanding the experiences of farmed animals, harmful practices continue. This thesis explores the complexity of understanding and achieving mutually beneficial human-animal relationships in agriculture, investigating the spectrum of possible relational states between humans and animals and the importance of understanding and considering perspectives on the human-animal relationship in ethical decision-making. Chapter 2 reviews various disciplinary literature that illustrate ways of expanding conceptions of human-animal relationships, beyond what is typically considered in animal welfare science. This literature points to approaches for transitioning from an instrumental perspective to a more relational understanding, providing more agency to animals such that they are better able to express and realize their interests, and seeking better ways of comprehending and relating to animals. Engaging the public is crucial for transforming practices, for example, in helping animal welfare scientists understand public perceptions of social obligations towards animals. Technological interventions are often proposed as a solutions to animal suffering on farms, as discussed in Chapter 3. However, these interventions may also be seen as ‘band-aids’ to problems inherent to the system. Participant responses indicate the importance of factors such as respect for dignity that go beyond traditional scholarship within animal welfare. Chapter 3 results also suggest a need to avoid framing questions as dichotomous (i.e. as either accepting a new technology, or the status quo), and instead provide participants the opportunity to suggest options that more closely align with their values. Chapter 4 investigates how people vary in their willingness to adopt animals’ perspectives in decision-making by prompting study participants to adopt these perspectives. Results indicate that providing people with the opportunity to share the experiences of animals can facilitate recognition of harms, foster empathy, and encourage more a consideration of the animals' perspectives. Results also describe barriers to perspective taking, including difficulties in understanding the animal’s perspective. This thesis ends with Chapter 5, highlighting contributions and limitations of this work on understanding human-animal relationships, and pointing to new research areas. Combining an understanding of animals’ interests, with concern for enabling those interests, could provide a basis for transforming relationships between humans and agricultural animals.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofGraduat
"Chickens living in better environments lay happier eggs" : consumer attitudes towards cage-free eggs
No full textThe practice of housing laying hens in cages is increasingly debated by scientists, policy makers, and the public due to animal welfare concerns. Cage-free systems are seen by some as favourable, as they provide hens with more freedom to express natural behaviours. Consumers play a key role in influencing the demand for cage-free eggs through their purchasing behaviours. In China, approximately 10% of eggs are produced in cage-free systems. The overall aim of my thesis was to understand the perspectives of Chinese consumers towards cage-free eggs by exploring how and why they purchase these products. To address this aim I used purposive sampling to recruit 19 participants who self-identified as purchasing cage-free eggs. A total of 46 interviews, ranging from 10 to 90 minutes, were conducted and 33 food diaries collected. I analyzed all data using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants considered cage-free eggs to be superior compared to conventionally produced eggs. Four themes were generated to capture the reasons and motivations driving cage-free egg purchasing behaviours: 1) pleasurable experience, 2) healthy lifestyle, 3) trustworthy product, and 4) economical purchase. Understanding the purchasing behaviours and priorities of consumers can inform strategies for marketing cage-free eggs and better communicate the concept of animal welfare to consumers through the language they understand.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofGraduat
Understanding the social licence to use animals for scientific purposes and the role of institutional transparency
No full textMeaningful societal dialogue about the use of animals for scientific purposes requires a level of transparency regarding the procedures these animals are likely to experience and the processes institutions engaged in using animals employ to determine what is acceptable. The overall thesis objective was to better understand social licence to use animals for scientific purposes and the role of institutional transparency in this process. Analysis of interviews with research animal facility managers and attending veterinarians at Canadian universities showed the interpretation of institutional transparency varied within and between universities, institutional transparency could be influenced by internal and external pressures, and the main barrier to increased transparency was a lack of motivation to change. Transparency was conceptualized in four ways: 1) true transparency; communication of information for the sake of openness, 2) misguided transparency; attempt to educate people about animal research because then they will support it, 3) manipulative transparency; selective release of positive stories to direct public opinion, and 4) fearful non-transparency; not communicating any information for fear of negative opposition to animal research. Given the diverse understanding of the purpose of transparency, I suggest that active and sustained communication between senior administrators, university veterinarians, animal care staff, and scientists is necessary to build a consensus on how to pursue transparency. While generating consensus at the local institutional level is important, substantial progress would likely benefit from involvement of all stakeholders to work collaboratively and agree to a shared vision for transparency. Analysis of a mix-methods survey that requested public input on proposed animal experiments found that many participants provided substantive and nuanced input that could aid in institutional decision making including social policy alternatives. Analysis of a second mix-methods survey found the public expected oversight for invertebrate animals used for scientific experiments and the absence of this oversight decreased public confidence and trust in scientists. In summary, my results suggest that increased information in the public domain about these practices, incorporation of societal values into decision making, and increased opportunities for participation in research animal governance could help institutions maintain social licence for these practices.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofGraduat
Automated monitoring of grooming behaviour in dairy cows
No full textAccess to brushes allows for natural scratching behaviours in cattle, especially in confined indoor settings. Cattle are motivated to use brushes, but brush use varies with multiple factors including social hierarchy and health. Brush use might serve as an indicator of cow health or welfare, but practical application of these measures requires accurate and automated monitoring tools. This study describes a machine learning approach to monitor brush use by dairy cattle. We aimed to capture the daily brush use by integrating data on the rotation of a mechanical brush with data on cow identification derived from either 1) low-frequency radio frequency identification or 2) a computer vision system using fiducial markers. We found that the computer vision system outperformed the RFID system in accuracy, and that the machine learning algorithms enhanced the precision of the brush use estimates. This study presents the first description of a fiducial marker-based computer vision system for monitoring individual cattle behaviour in a group setting; this approach could be applied to develop automated measures of other behaviours with the potential to better assess welfare and improve the care for farm animals.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofGraduat
Changes in behaviour of dairy cows with clinical mastitis
No full textBehaviour is an important tool for recognizing illness in animals. One of the most common diseases in dairy cattle is clinical mastitis. Evidence suggests that cows with this disease show sickness behaviours, but little is known about the progression of behavioural changes before and after the disease becomes clinical. The aims of this study were to determine changes in feeding and competitive behaviour at the feed bunk of dairy cows before the diagnosis of clinical mastitis and determine the effect of intramammary antibiotic treatment on behaviour. Dry matter intake, feeding time, number of visits to the feeder, rate of feed intake, number of replacements occurring at the feeder (when one cow displaced a feeding cow and took her position at the feed bin) and the percent of intake during peak feeding time were measured daily in eight cows diagnosed with clinical mastitis in one quarter of the udder. Clinical mastitis was diagnosed based on daily rectal body temperature as well as condition of the foremilk and udder assessed by the milker at each milking from calving until 30 days in milk. Starting on the day of diagnosis, cows received an intramammary antibiotic twice daily for three consecutive days. During the 5 days period before diagnosis, cows decreased feed intake by 1.2 kg/d (SE = 0.2, P < 0.001) but showed no other changes in feeding behaviour during this time. The frequency of competitive replacements at the feeder (slope = −2.3 no./d, SE = 1.0, P = 0.04) and the percentage of intake at peak feeding time (slope = −1.8%, SE = 0.6, P = 0.008) were lower compared to day of diagnosis. Following treatment, cows immediately increased feed intake, feeding time and competitive replacements at the feeder. These results show that cows with naturally occurring clinical mastitis exhibit signs of sickness behaviour in the days before diagnosis, and that these behaviours rapidly recover in the days after treatment
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