Effect of Animal Welfare Quality on the Reproductive Performance of Extensive Pasture-Based Beef Cows in New Zealand

Kaurivi, Y. Baby; Laven, Richard; Parkinson, T. J.; Stafford, Kevin J.

doi:10.20944/preprints202011.0247.v1

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 37 publications

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“…A number of these address cattle welfare in extensive (AssureWel, -2016aAssureWel, -2016b and intensive systems (Welfare Quality ® , 2009 Canadian Feedlot Animal Care Assessment Program (CFACA), 2018). Several protocols have also been developed for cattle under different systems (e.g., calf-cow operations; Simon et al, 2016;Kaurivi et al, 2020) or for specific stages of supply chains (e.g., sea transport; Dunston-Clarke et al, 2020, and slaughter;Losada-Espinosa et al, 2021). The diversity and breadth of measures available within these protocols are extensive because it is necessary to capture any aspects that may compromise the physical and psychological health of cattle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing a welfare assessment protocol for Australian lot-fed cattle

Taylor,

Dunston-Clarke,

Brookes

et al. 2023

Front. Anim. Sci.

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Lot feeding of cattle has gained momentum in recent years to improve efficiency in meeting market demands for high quality protein. Concurrently, societal concern for the welfare of animals raised in intensive farming systems has increased. Thus, the reporting of animal health and welfare measures is a key goal for the Australian cattle lot-fed industry. Although feedlots vary in location, climate, capacity, cattle genotype, and feeding programs, many welfare concerns are applicable across the industry. Despite this, no recognised standardised animal welfare assessment protocol exists for the Australian lot-fed industry. This study aimed to identify relevant measures to develop an assessment protocol, by identifying key welfare issues and their relevant measures, considering the validity, reliability, and practicality of each when applied to the feedlot context. An advisory model was derived after reviewing the relevant literature and five international protocols for the assessment of beef cattle (Welfare Quality®, AssureWel, US Beef Quality Assurance assessment tool, Canadian Feedlot Animal Care Assessment program, and an Australian Live Export industry protocol), followed by stakeholder consultation. A total of 109 measures were evaluated, with 99 environmental-, management-, resource- and animal-based measures being proposed. Piloting of the protocol on commercial feedlots will enable further refinement and validation, to provide an evidence-based, practical protocol to facilitate standardised monitoring of cattle welfare. Such a protocol could promote continued advances in animal welfare at a feedlot level and support a sustainable industry by addressing societal concerns.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing a welfare assessment protocol for Australian lot-fed cattle

Taylor,

Dunston-Clarke,

Brookes

et al. 2023

Front. Anim. Sci.

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Fundamental Concepts, Knowledge Gaps and Key Concerns Relating to Welfare and Survival of Stranded Cetaceans

et al. 2022

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Wildlife management can influence animal welfare and survival, although both are often not explicitly integrated into decision making. This study explores fundamental concepts and key concerns relating to the welfare and survival of stranded cetaceans. Using the Delphi method, the opinions of an international, interdisciplinary expert panel were gathered, regarding the characterisation of stranded cetacean welfare and survival likelihood, knowledge gaps and key concerns. Experts suggest that stranded cetacean welfare should be characterised based on interrelated aspects of animals’ biological function, behaviour, and mental state and the impacts of human interventions. The characterisation of survival likelihood should reflect aspects of stranded animals’ biological functioning and behaviour as well as a 6-month post-re-floating survival marker. Post-release monitoring was the major knowledge gap for survival. Welfare knowledge gaps related to diagnosing internal injuries, interpreting behavioural and physiological parameters, and euthanasia decision making. Twelve concerns were highlighted for both welfare and survival likelihood, including difficulty breathing and organ compression, skin damage and physical traumas, separation from conspecifics, and suffering and stress due to stranding and human intervention. These findings indicate inextricable links between perceptions of welfare state and the likely survival of stranded cetaceans and demonstrate a need to integrate welfare science alongside conservation biology to achieve effective, ethical management at strandings.

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Effect of Animal Welfare Quality on the Reproductive Performance of Extensive Pasture-Based Beef Cows in New Zealand

Cited by 2 publications

References 37 publications

Developing a welfare assessment protocol for Australian lot-fed cattle

Developing a welfare assessment protocol for Australian lot-fed cattle

Fundamental Concepts, Knowledge Gaps and Key Concerns Relating to Welfare and Survival of Stranded Cetaceans

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