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Virtual fencing technology uses a neckband-mounted device to deliver an audio cue when an animal nears a virtual boundary that is set via a global positioning system, followed by an electrical stimulus if it crosses the boundary. The flexibility offered by this technology could revolutionize grazing management on dairy farms, but its application and effects on lactating dairy cattle have not been assessed. This experiment reports on the effects of an electric or a virtual front-fence on dairy cow behavior and welfare. Two temporally separated treatments were applied to a herd of 30 multiparous cows. Cows were provided an estimated 14 to 15 kg of dry matter/cow of fresh pasture in a new paddock every 24 h. From d 1 to 10 cows were grazed using a conventional electric front-fence (control treatment) and from d 14 to 23 they were grazed using a virtual front-fence (eShepherd, Agersens Pty Ltd.). Cows were trained to the technology from d 11 to 13. The milk production and live weight of individual cows were recorded daily. Cortisol concentrations were obtained from milk samples collected from individual cows on 3 d during each of the control and the virtual fence grazing periods, plus the first day of training. From d 6 of the experiment, 6 focal cows were fitted with a RumiWatch (Itin + Hoch GmbH) noseband sensor to monitor grazing and ruminating time, and 8 focal cows were fitted with an IceTag (IceRobotics Ltd.) sensors to monitor activity. Milk production, live weight, and the time cows spent standing and lying did not differ between the electric and virtual fence periods. Milk cortisol concentrations, activity, and the times spent ruminating and grazing were comparable between the electric and early virtual fence periods (i.e., d 1-3 with a virtual fence). However, at d 4 to 6 with a virtual fence, activity (steps taken and motion index) and time spent grazing were lower, and time spent ruminating was greater, compared with an electric fence. Further, least significant difference tests suggest milk cortisol concentrations were higher at d 5 with a virtual fence than at d 8 with an electric fence and d 1 with a virtual fence. We conclude there is no evidence of behavioral and welfare effects of virtual fencing on dairy cows in the days immediately following implementation of the technology in a simple intensive grazing regimen, but a longer study is required to fully elucidate effects beyond this period.
Megan Verdon; Adam Langworthy; Richard Rawnsley. Virtual fencing technology to intensively graze lactating dairy cattle. II: Effects on cow welfare and behavior. Journal of Dairy Science 2021, 104, 7084 -7094.
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, Adam Langworthy, Richard Rawnsley. Virtual fencing technology to intensively graze lactating dairy cattle. II: Effects on cow welfare and behavior. Journal of Dairy Science. 2021; 104 (6):7084-7094.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; Adam Langworthy; Richard Rawnsley. 2021. "Virtual fencing technology to intensively graze lactating dairy cattle. II: Effects on cow welfare and behavior." Journal of Dairy Science 104, no. 6: 7084-7094.
Virtual fencing is promoted as the next advancement for rotational grazing systems. This experiment compared the capacity of conventional temporary electric versus virtual fencing to contain a herd of 30 lactating dairy cows within the boundaries of their daily pasture allocation (inclusion zone). Cows were moved each day to a new rectangular paddock that was divided crosswise into an inclusion and exclusion zone by a single linear electric (first 10 d) or virtual (second 10 d) front-fence. A 3-d virtual fence training period separated the 2 treatments. Virtual fences were imposed using a pre-commercial prototype of the eShepherd virtual fencing system (Agersens Pty Ltd.). Neckband-mounted devices replaced the visual cue of an electric fence with benign audio cues, which if ignored were accompanied by an aversive electrical stimulus. Cows learned to respond to the audio cues to avoid receiving electrical stimuli, with the daily ratio of electrical to audio signals for individual cows averaging (± standard deviation) 0.18 ± 0.27 over the 10 d of virtual fence deployment. Unlike the electric fence, the virtual fence did not fully eliminate cow entry into the exclusion zone, but individual cows were generally contained within the inclusion zone ≥99% of the time. Pasture depletion within the inclusion zone reduced the efficacy of the virtual fence in preventing cows from entering the exclusion zone, but the magnitude of this effect was insignificant in practical terms (i.e., increased time spent in the exclusion zone by ≤28 s/h per cow). This highlights the potential for virtual fences to control grazing dairy cow movement even when pasture availability is limited (i.e., 1 kg of dry matter/cow above a target residual of 1,500 kg of dry matter/ha), but requires confirmation under longer and more complex virtual fencing applications. Within each treatment period, uniform daily pasture utilization (% of pasture consumed above a target residual of 1,500 kg of dry matter/ha) within inclusion zones indicates that cows did not avoid grazing near electric or virtual front-fences. Overall, this study demonstrated a successful simple application of this virtual fencing system to contain a herd of grazing lactating dairy cows within the boundaries of their daily pasture allocation.
Adam D. Langworthy; Megan Verdon; Mark J. Freeman; Ross Corkrey; James L. Hills; Richard P. Rawnsley. Virtual fencing technology to intensively graze lactating dairy cattle. I: Technology efficacy and pasture utilization. Journal of Dairy Science 2021, 104, 7071 -7083.
AMA StyleAdam D. Langworthy, Megan Verdon, Mark J. Freeman, Ross Corkrey, James L. Hills, Richard P. Rawnsley. Virtual fencing technology to intensively graze lactating dairy cattle. I: Technology efficacy and pasture utilization. Journal of Dairy Science. 2021; 104 (6):7071-7083.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdam D. Langworthy; Megan Verdon; Mark J. Freeman; Ross Corkrey; James L. Hills; Richard P. Rawnsley. 2021. "Virtual fencing technology to intensively graze lactating dairy cattle. I: Technology efficacy and pasture utilization." Journal of Dairy Science 104, no. 6: 7071-7083.
Virtual fencing contains and controls grazing cattle using sensory cues rather than physical fences. The technology comprises a neckband-mounted device that delivers an audio cue when the animal nears a virtual boundary that has been set via global positioning system, followed by an electrical stimulus if it walks beyond the boundary. Virtual fencing has successfully been used to intensively graze cattle using a simple virtual front-fence, but a more complex intensive grazing system comprising moving virtual front and back-fences has not been assessed. We studied the effectiveness of virtual fencing technology to contain groups of Angus heifers within grazing cells defined by semi-permanent electric side-fences and virtual front and back-fences, compared to groups of heifers contained in cells defined only by electric fencing. Four groups of 10 Angus heifers were randomly allocated to a “control” (grazed with a conventional electric front and back-fence, n = 2 groups) or “virtual fence” treatment (grazed with a virtual front and back-fence, n = 2 groups). The groups of heifers grazed four adjacent experimental paddocks that were established using TechnoGrazing™ infrastructure. An estimated 9.5 kg pasture DM/heifer.day was offered in each of three 3 day allocations (9 day study period). Data collected include cues delivered by the neckbands, time beyond the virtual boundaries, pasture consumption for each allocation and heifer live weight changes over the study period. The virtual front and back-fences successfully contained one group of heifers in their grazing cell, but the second group of heifers spent an increasing amount of time in the exclusion zone during the second and third allocations and consequently received an increasing number of audio and electrical stimuli. There were no effects of electric or virtual-fence treatment on live weight change or pasture utilization. By grazing heifers in adjacent paddocks our experimental design may have produced a motivation for some heifers to cross the virtual boundary to regain close contact with familiar conspecifics. Despite this, valuable learnings were gained from this study. Most notably, virtual fencing should not be used to manage cattle that have close visual contact to other mobs. We conclude that the successful application of virtual fencing technology needs to accommodate the natural behaviors of cattle.
Megan Verdon; Brian Horton; Richard Rawnsley. A Case Study on the Use of Virtual Fencing to Intensively Graze Angus Heifers Using Moving Front and Back-Fences. Frontiers in Animal Science 2021, 2, 1 .
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, Brian Horton, Richard Rawnsley. A Case Study on the Use of Virtual Fencing to Intensively Graze Angus Heifers Using Moving Front and Back-Fences. Frontiers in Animal Science. 2021; 2 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; Brian Horton; Richard Rawnsley. 2021. "A Case Study on the Use of Virtual Fencing to Intensively Graze Angus Heifers Using Moving Front and Back-Fences." Frontiers in Animal Science 2, no. : 1.
A better understanding of factors that influence learning of cattle with respect to new virtual fencing technology is required to inform the development of best practice training protocols and guide the introduction of the technology to naïve dairy cattle. This experiment examined the effect of age on (1) the efficiency of associative pairing of audio and electrical stimuli in dairy heifers and (2) the retention of this associative pairing over a long period of time without use. Fifty-nine Holstein dairy heifers were used in feed attractant trials where audio cues and electrical stimuli were delivered through manually controlled training collars. Heifers were allocated to four treatments that differed in the age at which naïve animals underwent training; these were 6-months (“6M”; n = 15), 9-months (“9M”; n = 15), 12-months (“12M”; n = 15), or 22-months of age (“22M”; n = 14). Animals in the 6, 9, and 12M treatments underwent a second round of training at 22-months of age (i.e., at the same time as naïve 22M heifers). Heifers received an audio stimulus (2 s; 84 dB) when they breached a virtual fence after which a short electrical stimulus (0.5 s; 3 V, 120 mW) was administered if they continued to move forward. If the animal stopped moving forward no further stimuli were applied. There were no effects of age treatment on the total number of interactions with the virtual fence (P > 0.05). During initial training, 22M heifers received a lower proportion of electrical stimuli (i.e., responded to audio without requiring the electrical stimulus; P < 0.001) and more frequently stopped walking (P = 0.01) and turned back (P = 0.008) following administration of the audio cue compared to younger heifers. Previous training at an early age did not improve the responsiveness of heifers to virtual fencing when re-trained at 22-months of age (P > 0.05). We conclude that dairy heifers should be trained to virtual fencing technology close to calving age rather than earlier in their ontogeny and that stock be re-trained following an extended period without virtual fencing technology.
Megan Verdon; Richard Rawnsley. The Effects of Dairy Heifer Age at Training on Rate of Learning and Retention of Learning in a Virtual Fencing Feed Attractant Trial. Frontiers in Animal Science 2020, 1, 1 .
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, Richard Rawnsley. The Effects of Dairy Heifer Age at Training on Rate of Learning and Retention of Learning in a Virtual Fencing Feed Attractant Trial. Frontiers in Animal Science. 2020; 1 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; Richard Rawnsley. 2020. "The Effects of Dairy Heifer Age at Training on Rate of Learning and Retention of Learning in a Virtual Fencing Feed Attractant Trial." Frontiers in Animal Science 1, no. : 1.
Transferring sows and their litters to group lactation (GL) after an initial period of farrowing crate (FC) housing could enhance the viability of GL for commercial production. Group lactation from 7 d postpartum would reduce the time sows spend in confinement, but the effects of early mixing on animal welfare and productivity require examination. Two experiments were conducted on sows and piglets kept in GL from 7, 10, or 14 d postpartum, compared with FC. Experiment 1 utilized 180 sows and 1,887 piglets over five time replicates (n = 60 sow and litter units per treatment) comparing GL from 7 or 14 d postpartum to FC. In experiment 2, 108 sows and 1,179 piglets were studied over three time replicates (n = 36 sow and litter units per treatment) comparing GL from 10 or 14 d postpartum to FC. All sows farrowed in FC. Group lactation sows were transferred to pens (one pen of five sows at 8.4 m2/sow and one pen of seven sows at 8.1 m2/sow, per GL treatment and replicate) with their litters at 7 (GL7), 10 (GL10), or 14 (GL14) d postpartum. Farrowing crate sows and their litters remained in their FC. Data were collected on sow feed intake and reproduction, piglet mortality (from day 6 postpartum), and sow and piglet weight changes, plasma cortisol concentrations, and injuries. Piglet mortality was greater in the GL7 (17 ± 1.8%) and GL10 treatments (12 ± 0.9%) compared with GL14 (8.3 ± 1.8% P ≤ 0.001 and 8.1 ± 0.9% P ≤ 0.001 in experiments 1 and 2), and greater in GL overall compared with FC (2.7 ± 1.5% and 1.8 ± 0.9% in FC in experiments 1 and 2; P ≤ 0.001). Piglets from GL7 were also lighter at weaning than GL14 piglets (P < 0.001), whereas GL10 and GL14 did not differ (P > 0.05). Overall, piglets in GL were lighter at weaning than piglets in FC (P ≤ 0.01). Sows from GL7 were heavier at weaning (P = 0.001), and GL10 sows tended to be heavier at weaning (P = 0.08), than GL14 and FC sows. Post-mixing, sow cortisol (P ≤ 0.01) and sow and piglet injuries (P ≤ 0.02) were greater in GL than FC. Treatment had no effect on sow feed intake or reproductive performance (P > 0.05). Under the conditions of this research, the known benefits of two-stage GL housing were achieved at a cost particularly to piglets in terms of increased piglet mortality and injuries after mixing, and reduced piglet growth. The risk of piglet mortality decreased with older age at mixing.
Megan Verdon; Rebecca S Morrison; Jean-Loup Rault. The welfare and productivity of sows and piglets in group lactation from 7, 10, or 14 d postpartum. Journal of Animal Science 2020, 98, 1 .
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, Rebecca S Morrison, Jean-Loup Rault. The welfare and productivity of sows and piglets in group lactation from 7, 10, or 14 d postpartum. Journal of Animal Science. 2020; 98 (3):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; Rebecca S Morrison; Jean-Loup Rault. 2020. "The welfare and productivity of sows and piglets in group lactation from 7, 10, or 14 d postpartum." Journal of Animal Science 98, no. 3: 1.
Virtual fencing may soon provide an alternative to electric fencing in livestock production systems. In virtual fencing systems, a collar is worn by each animal and emits an audio cue when the animal approaches a virtual boundary that has been set via a Global Positioning System (GPS). An electrical stimulus is delivered by the collar if the animal continues to walk forward, but not if they stop or turn. Over time, the animal increasingly responds to the audio cue alone. A better understanding of factors that influence learning of the association between audio and electrical stimuli may ensure all animals adapt in systems that utilise virtual fencing. Dairy heifers were reared with or without exposure to electric fencing. Heifers with experience of electric fencing showed more rapid learning of the association between audio and electrical stimuli. There were differences between heifers in the speed of associative learning, perhaps due to individual differences in the significance of the audio cue, the aversive nature of the electrical stimulus, or the animal’s motivation to feed. Ethically acceptable virtual fencing requires that all animals learn quickly how to interact with the technology. The technology and training protocols may require continual refinement to account for individual differences in learning. This experiment examined whether pre-exposure to an electrical stimulus from electric fencing attenuates associative pairing of audio and electrical stimuli in dairy heifers. Two treatments were applied to 30 weaned heifers naive to electric fencing. Heifers in the ‘electric-fence’ treatment were exposed to an electrified perimeter fence and two periods of strip-grazing using electrified poly-wire. Control heifers remained naïve to electric fencing. The pairing of audio and electrical stimuli was assessed in a feed attractant trial using manually controlled training collars. Heifers received an audio stimulus (2 s; 84 dB) when they breached a virtual fence after which a short electrical stimulus (0.5 s; 120 mW) was administered if they continued to move forward. If the animal stopped moving forward no further stimuli were applied. By the third training session, electric-fence heifers received a lower proportion of electrical stimuli than control heifers (p = 0.03). The more exploratory interactions a heifer had with the electric fence, the lower the proportion of electrical stimuli she received during training (rs = −0.77, p = 0.002). We conclude that experience with electrical fencing enhanced the salience of the electrical stimulus delivered by manual collars used for virtual fence training.
Megan Verdon; Caroline Lee; Danila Marini; Richard Rawnsley. Pre-Exposure to an Electrical Stimulus Primes Associative Pairing of Audio and Electrical Stimuli for Dairy Heifers in a Virtual Fencing Feed Attractant Trial. Animals 2020, 10, 217 .
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, Caroline Lee, Danila Marini, Richard Rawnsley. Pre-Exposure to an Electrical Stimulus Primes Associative Pairing of Audio and Electrical Stimuli for Dairy Heifers in a Virtual Fencing Feed Attractant Trial. Animals. 2020; 10 (2):217.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; Caroline Lee; Danila Marini; Richard Rawnsley. 2020. "Pre-Exposure to an Electrical Stimulus Primes Associative Pairing of Audio and Electrical Stimuli for Dairy Heifers in a Virtual Fencing Feed Attractant Trial." Animals 10, no. 2: 217.
Under natural conditions, sows and piglets abandon the nest between 7 and 14 days postpartum and re-join the group. If given the choice, commercially housed sows begin to nurse piglets communally around this time. The best age at which to group sows and their litters in two-stage group lactation systems has not been determined. A total of 112 multiparous sows and their litters were allocated to three lactation housing treatments over four time replicates. All sows farrowed in standard farrowing crates. Group lactation (GL) sows were transferred to group pens (one pen of 5 sows at 8.4 m2/sow and one pen of 7 sows at 8.1 m2/sow, per GL treatment and replicate) with their litters at 7 (GL7; n = 48 sow and litter units) or 14 (GL14; n = 48 sow and litter units) days postpartum until weaning. Farrowing crate (FC; n = 16 sow and litter units) sows and their litters remained within FC in single litters until weaning. In each replicate, two focal sows per GL pen (one high and one low parity) were video recorded for 1 h post-mixing. The GL focal sows, along with 4 FC sows (two high and two low parity) and 2 focal piglets per focal sow (one average sized male and one average sized female), were also recorded from 0700 to 1700 on the day after mixing and 2 days before weaning. Data gathered continuously from video records included sow aggressive and nursing behaviours while sow and piglet time-budgets were observed using point sampling at 5-min intervals. Social affiliative nosing was more frequent between GL14 than GL7 sows (P = 0.01), but aggression did not differ (P > 0.05). There were no other effects of litter age at mixing on sow or piglet behaviour (P > 0.05). Compared to FC sows, GL sows were more active (P < 0.001), explorative (P < 0.001) and interactive with piglets (P = 0.03). However, FC sows had more successful nursings (P = 0.002) and terminated fewer nursings (P = 0.001). The time GL piglets spent suckling (P < 0.001) and nosing (P = 0.001) sows other than their dam increased over time. Compared to FC piglets, GL piglets spent more time in the creep (P = 0.05), active when outside of the creep (P = 0.04) and investigating the pen (P = 0.02), and less time manipulating other piglets (P = 0.005). There do not appear to be differences in the behaviour of sows and piglets mixed into GL at 7 or 14 days postpartum. While GL allows for the expression of maternal and exploratory behaviours, these benefits come at the cost of disrupted nursing behaviour and cross-suckling.
Megan Verdon; Rebecca. S. Morrison; Jean-Loup Rault. Sow and piglet behaviour in group lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post-partum. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2019, 214, 25 -33.
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, Rebecca. S. Morrison, Jean-Loup Rault. Sow and piglet behaviour in group lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post-partum. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2019; 214 ():25-33.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; Rebecca. S. Morrison; Jean-Loup Rault. 2019. "Sow and piglet behaviour in group lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post-partum." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 214, no. : 25-33.
Early life experiences can affect social behaviour in later life, but opportunities for socio-behavioural development are often overlooked in current husbandry practices. This experiment investigated the effects of rearing piglets in two-stage group lactation (GL) system from 7 or 14 days of age on piglet aggression at weaning. Three lactation housing treatments were applied to a total of 198 piglets from 30 litters of multiparous sows. All dams farrowed in standard farrowing crates (FCs). Group lactation litters were transferred with their dam at 7 (GL7) or 14 days (GL14) postpartum to GL pens (one pen of five sows at 8.4 m2/sow and one pen of seven sows at 8.1 m2/sow, per GL treatment). Farrowing crate litters remained with their dam in a single litter until weaning. At weaning, 10 to 14 piglets from two unfamiliar litters from the same housing treatment were mixed into pens (n=5 pens/treatment) and their behaviour was continuously recorded for 3.5 h. For each pen, the frequency of aggressive bouts (reciprocal and non-reciprocal aggression lasting <5 s), the frequency and duration of fights (reciprocal aggression lasting ⩾5 s) and bullying events (non-reciprocal aggression lasting ⩾5 s) were recorded, along with whether interactions involved familiar or unfamiliar piglets. Aggressive bouts delivered by FC piglets were approximately 1.5 and 3.0 times more frequent than that delivered by GL7 and GL14 piglets, respectively (40.5, 16.7 and 9.9 bouts/pig, respectively; P<0.05). Fighting was more frequent (1.6, 0.3 and 0.4 fights/pig, respectively; P<0.001) and fights were longer (83, 15 and 32 s fight/pig, respectively; P0.05). GL7 and GL14 piglets engaged in a similar number of fights with unfamiliar as familiar piglets, but FC piglets had almost three times as many fights with unfamiliar than with familiar piglets (P<0.05). This experiment confirms the benefits of GL housing for pig social development. Further investigation is required to determine whether mixing before 14 days postpartum has implications for other indicators of animal welfare and productivity in a two-stage GL housing system.
M. Verdon; R. S. Morrison; Jean-Loup Rault. Group lactation from 7 or 14 days of age reduces piglet aggression at weaning compared to farrowing crate housing. Animal 2019, 13, 2327 -2335.
AMA StyleM. Verdon, R. S. Morrison, Jean-Loup Rault. Group lactation from 7 or 14 days of age reduces piglet aggression at weaning compared to farrowing crate housing. Animal. 2019; 13 (10):2327-2335.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Verdon; R. S. Morrison; Jean-Loup Rault. 2019. "Group lactation from 7 or 14 days of age reduces piglet aggression at weaning compared to farrowing crate housing." Animal 13, no. 10: 2327-2335.
Recent technological advances will soon allow pastoral dairy farmers to manage their cattle using increasingly intense and complex grazing regimes. Ensuring there is merit in the implementation of more intense grazing regimes will minimise the potential misuse of this technology and the associated consequences of misuse for animal welfare and productivity. Two groups of dairy cattle were provided with the same amount of fresh pasture over either 2 or 7 feeds per day. Cows that received pasture over 7 feeds produced less milk and spent less time ruminating, but more time resting, per day. However, feeding frequency did not affect the time cows spent feeding or estimated pasture consumption. Increasing the frequency of feeding restricts the amount of pasture available to cattle at any one time. In response, cattle adjust their ingestive behaviour (e.g., adopt high intake rates) which may negatively impact digestive processes. The success of more intensive pastoral dairy production requires grazing regimes that support the natural ingestive, digestive, and social behaviours of cattle, rather than necessitating cattle to substantially alter their behaviour in accordance with the grazing regime imposed upon them. Research into the effects of intense grazing regimes on cattle behaviour and productivity will support the ethical intensification of pastoral dairy production. Two treatments were applied to two herds of 30 mid-lactation cows over 28 days. Cows were offered an estimated 12 kg DM/cow (above 5 cm from ground level) of irrigated pasture per day. The control herd received their daily pasture allocation in two equal grazings while the experimental herd received theirs over seven smaller grazings. Backgrazing beyond the current allocation (morning or afternoon) was prevented. Individual records were taken daily for milk production and behaviour (MooMonitor+). Milk composition, energy corrected milk (ECM), and live weight were recorded weekly. Feeding mid-lactation dairy cows over seven smaller grazing allocations reduced the time cows spent ruminating (p < 0.001), milk yield (p < 0.001), and ECM (p < 0.05). However, milk composition, live weight, time feeding, and pasture consumption were not affected by feeding frequency (p > 0.05). Cattle may have adapted their ingestive behaviour in response to the more intensive strip-grazing regime utilised in this study, with negative consequences for digestive processes and consequently milk production. Intense grazing regimes need to support the ingestive, digestive, and social behaviours of cattle.
Megan Verdon; Richard Rawnsley; Pieter Raedts; Mark Freeman. The Behaviour and Productivity of Mid-Lactation Dairy Cows Provided Daily Pasture Allowance over 2 or 7 Intensively Grazed Strips. Animals 2018, 8, 115 .
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, Richard Rawnsley, Pieter Raedts, Mark Freeman. The Behaviour and Productivity of Mid-Lactation Dairy Cows Provided Daily Pasture Allowance over 2 or 7 Intensively Grazed Strips. Animals. 2018; 8 (7):115.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; Richard Rawnsley; Pieter Raedts; Mark Freeman. 2018. "The Behaviour and Productivity of Mid-Lactation Dairy Cows Provided Daily Pasture Allowance over 2 or 7 Intensively Grazed Strips." Animals 8, no. 7: 115.
Floor feeding is one of the cheapest and simplest methods of feed delivery for groups of commercial gestating sows, but results in high levels of competition for feed. Consequently, feed intake and weight gain are reduced for low-ranking sows in floor-feeding systems. More equitable feeding opportunities may be achieved by providing floor fed sows their daily allocation over multiple feed drops per day. This study recorded (over two gestations) the aggressive and feeding behavior of sows that were floor fed four times a day. High-ranking sows spent the most time feeding where the majority of feed was distributed. All other sows fed opportunistically, consuming what they could from between and around high-ranking females. The lowest ranking sows spent more time than middle and highly ranked sows avoiding the feeding area. These relationships were true regardless of day, feed drop, or gestation. Further research is necessary to ensure that all sows are able to feed with less risk to their welfare, or, alternatively, determine whether variation in feed intake is a feature of floor feeding systems per se. In terms of accessing the feeding area, this research has broad implications for most feeding systems. This research studied whether floor feeding group-housed sows their daily allocation over multiple feed drops per day provides more equitable feeding opportunities in later drops. Over four time replicates, 275 sows were mixed into groups of 10 for both their first and second gestations (200 sows/gestation, 126 sows observed in both gestations). The feeding behavior of individual sows was recorded for 10 min following each of four feed drops per day (0730, 0900, 1100, 1500 h) on days 2, 9 and 51 post-mixing. The location of feeding sows (i.e., feeding in areas associated with high, reduced or little/no food availability) was also recorded. Sow aggressive behavior on day 2 was used to classify sows as dominant (D), subdominant (SD), or submissive (SM). Dominant sows spent the most time feeding in areas of high-food availability (gestation 1, p < 0.001; gestation 2, p = 0.023); SD sows fed more frequently than D sows from areas of reduced food availability (gestation 1, p = 0.001; gestation 2, p = 0.025); and SM sows performed more feeding behavior in areas of little/no food availability (gestation 1, p < 0.001; gestation 2, p < 0.001). These relationships did not change over feed drops or days in either gestation (p > 0.05). Further research on the management and design of floor feeding systems is required, with a particular emphasis on increasing accessibility to sows that avoid the feeding area.
Megan Verdon; Natalia Zegarra; Rutu Achayra; Paul H. Hemsworth. Floor Feeding Sows Their Daily Allocation over Multiple Drops per Day Does Not Result in More Equitable Feeding Opportunities in Later Drops. Animals 2018, 8, 86 .
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, Natalia Zegarra, Rutu Achayra, Paul H. Hemsworth. Floor Feeding Sows Their Daily Allocation over Multiple Drops per Day Does Not Result in More Equitable Feeding Opportunities in Later Drops. Animals. 2018; 8 (6):86.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; Natalia Zegarra; Rutu Achayra; Paul H. Hemsworth. 2018. "Floor Feeding Sows Their Daily Allocation over Multiple Drops per Day Does Not Result in More Equitable Feeding Opportunities in Later Drops." Animals 8, no. 6: 86.
This experiment examined the effects of group composition on sow aggressive behaviour and welfare. Over 6 time replicates, 360 sows (parity 1-6) were mixed into groups (10 sows per pen, 1.8 m/sow) composed of animals that were predicted to be aggressive (n = 18 pens) or groups composed of animals that were randomly selected (n = 18 pens). Aggressive sows were selected based on a model-pig test that has been shown to be related to the aggressive behaviour of parity 2 sows when subsequently mixed in groups. Measurements were taken on aggression delivered post-mixing, and aggression delivered around feeding, fresh skin injuries and plasma cortisol concentrations at days 2 and 24 post-mixing. Live weight gain, litter size (born alive, total born, stillborn piglets), and farrowing rate were also recorded. Manipulating the group composition based on predicted sow aggressiveness had no effect (P > 0.05) on sow aggression delivered at mixing or around feeding, fresh injuries, cortisol, weight gain from day 2 to day 24, farrowing rate, or litter size. The lack of treatment effects in the present experiment could be attributed to (1) a failure of the model-pig test to predict aggression in older sows in groups, or (2) the dependence of the expression of the aggressive phenotype on factors such as social experience and characteristics (e.g., physical size and aggressive phenotype) of pen mates. This research draws attention to the intrinsic difficulties associated with predicting behaviour across contexts, particularly when the behaviour is highly dependent on interactions with conspecifics, and highlights the social complexities involved in the presentation of a behavioural phenotype.
Megan Verdon; R.S. Morrison; Paul Hemsworth. Forming groups of aggressive sows based on a predictive test of aggression does not affect overall sow aggression or welfare. Behavioural Processes 2018, 150, 17 -24.
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, R.S. Morrison, Paul Hemsworth. Forming groups of aggressive sows based on a predictive test of aggression does not affect overall sow aggression or welfare. Behavioural Processes. 2018; 150 ():17-24.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; R.S. Morrison; Paul Hemsworth. 2018. "Forming groups of aggressive sows based on a predictive test of aggression does not affect overall sow aggression or welfare." Behavioural Processes 150, no. : 17-24.
Megan Verdon; Rebecca S. Morrison; Paul Hemsworth. Reprint of “Rearing piglets in multi-litter group lactation systems: Effects on piglet aggression and injuries post-weaning”. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2017, 192, 35 -41.
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, Rebecca S. Morrison, Paul Hemsworth. Reprint of “Rearing piglets in multi-litter group lactation systems: Effects on piglet aggression and injuries post-weaning”. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2017; 192 ():35-41.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; Rebecca S. Morrison; Paul Hemsworth. 2017. "Reprint of “Rearing piglets in multi-litter group lactation systems: Effects on piglet aggression and injuries post-weaning”." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 192, no. : 35-41.
This study examined relationships between the behavioural response of pregnant gilts (n = 200, gestation 1) and sows (n = 200, gestation 2) to a live, similarly-aged female pig (unfamiliar pig test, UPT) and to a fibre-glass model pig (model pig test, MPT), and aggressive behaviour on the day after mixing (day 2). Sows with a short latency to make contact with an unfamiliar sow in the UPT were more likely to deliver high levels of aggression at day 2 of gestation 2 (P = 0.005), but this relationship was stronger when a model pig was used (P < 0.001). Similarly, sows with a long duration of tactile contact with the model pig in the MPT were more likely to deliver high levels of aggression at day 2 of gestation 2 (P = 0.015), but this relationship was weaker than that between aggression and the latency to contact the model pig. When the terms the latency to contact the unfamiliar pig in the UPT and the model pig in the MPT, as well as the duration of contact with the model pig in the MPT, were included in an overall model of aggression at day 2 of gestation 2, behaviour towards the unfamiliar pig became not statistically significant (P > 0.05). A strong relationship was not apparent with gilts (P > 0.05). Thus, the socially inexperienced pig may not be an ideal model for sow behaviour. This study indicates that sows with a short latency to contact a model pig are more likely to be aggressive when mixed into groups.
M. Verdon; R.S. Morrison; M. Rice; K.L. Butler; P.H. Hemsworth. The short-term behavioural response of sows, but not gilts, to a social stimulus is related to sow aggressiveness in groups. Behavioural Processes 2017, 140, 216 -225.
AMA StyleM. Verdon, R.S. Morrison, M. Rice, K.L. Butler, P.H. Hemsworth. The short-term behavioural response of sows, but not gilts, to a social stimulus is related to sow aggressiveness in groups. Behavioural Processes. 2017; 140 ():216-225.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Verdon; R.S. Morrison; M. Rice; K.L. Butler; P.H. Hemsworth. 2017. "The short-term behavioural response of sows, but not gilts, to a social stimulus is related to sow aggressiveness in groups." Behavioural Processes 140, no. : 216-225.
Temporary confinement during parturition and early postpartum may provide an intermediary step preceding loose housing that offers improvement in sow and piglet welfare. Three experiments were conducted to investigate the implications of replacing farrowing crates (FCs) with an alternative housing system from 3 days postpartum until weaning. In each experiment sows farrowed in FCs and were randomly allocated at day 3 of lactation to either a FC or a pen with increased floor space (lactation pen (LP)) until weaning. In experiment 1, piglet growth and sow and piglet skin injuries were recorded for 32 sows and 128 focal piglets in these litters. Behaviour around nursing and piglet behavioural time budgets were also recorded for 24 of these litters (96 focal piglets for time budgets). In experiment 2, measures of skin injury and behavioural time budgets were conducted on 28 sows and 112 focal piglets. The behavioural response of sows to piglet vocalisation (maternal responsiveness test (MRT)) was also assessed. In experiment 3, piglet mortality from day 3 of lactation until weaning was recorded in 672 litters over 12 months. While housing did not affect piglet weight gain in experiment 1, or piglet skin injuries in experiments 1 or 2, sows in both experiments sustained more injuries in LP than FC (experiment 1, 2.9 v. 1.4; experiment 2, 2.5 v. 0.8 lesions/sow; P<0.05). Sow–piglet interactions were more frequent in LP than FC at days 11 and 18 postpartum in both experiment 1 (day 11, 1.4% v. 1.2%; day 18, 1.7% v. 1.0% of observations; P=0.05) and 2 (day 11, 1.0% v. 0.3%; and at day 18 were 1.0% v. 0.6% of observations; P<0.01), and LP sows were more responsive in the MRT in experiment 2 (2 v. 0 median number of tests in which sows react, P<0.01). In experiment 1 piglets played more (0.7% v. 0.3% of observations, P=0.05) and manipulated others less (0.3% v. 0.7% of observations, P=0.04) in LP, but more piglets missed nursing bouts (0.2 v. 0.1 piglets/bout, P0.05). Thus, housing sows and litters in LP from day 3 of lactation minimises piglet mortality while improving maternal behaviour in sows and social behaviour in piglets.
C. Singh; M. Verdon; G. M. Cronin; Paul Hemsworth. The behaviour and welfare of sows and piglets in farrowing crates or lactation pens. Animal 2017, 11, 1210 -1221.
AMA StyleC. Singh, M. Verdon, G. M. Cronin, Paul Hemsworth. The behaviour and welfare of sows and piglets in farrowing crates or lactation pens. Animal. 2017; 11 (7):1210-1221.
Chicago/Turabian StyleC. Singh; M. Verdon; G. M. Cronin; Paul Hemsworth. 2017. "The behaviour and welfare of sows and piglets in farrowing crates or lactation pens." Animal 11, no. 7: 1210-1221.
Animal Production Science (continuing Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture) publishes original research into applied agriculture including animal production, animal-plant interactions, pasture and fodder crops, field crops, extension and horticulture
M. Verdon; R. S. Morrison; J.-L. Rault. Group-lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post-partum: effects on piglet behaviour. Animal Production Science 2017, 57, 2450 -2450.
AMA StyleM. Verdon, R. S. Morrison, J.-L. Rault. Group-lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post-partum: effects on piglet behaviour. Animal Production Science. 2017; 57 (12):2450-2450.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Verdon; R. S. Morrison; J.-L. Rault. 2017. "Group-lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post-partum: effects on piglet behaviour." Animal Production Science 57, no. 12: 2450-2450.
Animal Production Science (continuing Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture) publishes original research into applied agriculture including animal production, animal-plant interactions, pasture and fodder crops, field crops, extension and horticulture
M. Verdon; R. S. Morrison; J.-L. Rault. Group-lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post partum: effects on sow behaviour. Animal Production Science 2017, 57, 2461 -2461.
AMA StyleM. Verdon, R. S. Morrison, J.-L. Rault. Group-lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post partum: effects on sow behaviour. Animal Production Science. 2017; 57 (12):2461-2461.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Verdon; R. S. Morrison; J.-L. Rault. 2017. "Group-lactation housing from 7 or 14 days post partum: effects on sow behaviour." Animal Production Science 57, no. 12: 2461-2461.
Megan Verdon; Rebecca S. Morrison; Paul Hemsworth. Rearing piglets in multi-litter group lactation systems: Effects on piglet aggression and injuries post-weaning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2016, 183, 35 -41.
AMA StyleMegan Verdon, Rebecca S. Morrison, Paul Hemsworth. Rearing piglets in multi-litter group lactation systems: Effects on piglet aggression and injuries post-weaning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2016; 183 ():35-41.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMegan Verdon; Rebecca S. Morrison; Paul Hemsworth. 2016. "Rearing piglets in multi-litter group lactation systems: Effects on piglet aggression and injuries post-weaning." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 183, no. : 35-41.
This study examined the relationships between individual sow aggressive behavior and sow welfare, based on aggression, skin injuries, and stress, in a total of 275 pregnant domestic sows. Over 4 time replicates, sows were randomly mixed into groups of 10 (floor space of 1.8 m2/sow) within 7 d of insemination in both their first and second gestations (200 sows per gestation with 126 sows observed in both gestations). Measurements were taken on aggression (both delivered and received) at feeding, skin injuries, and plasma cortisol concentrations at d 2, 9, and 51 after mixing. Live weight gain, nonreproductive removals, litter size (born alive, total born, and stillborn piglets), and farrowing rate were also recorded. In both the first and the second gestations, sows were classified at d 2 after mixing as “submissive” (delivered little or no aggression at feeding relative to aggression received), “subdominant” (received more aggression at feeding than delivered), and “dominant” (delivered more aggression at feeding than received). In both gestations, sows classified as dominant at d 2 subsequently delivered more (gestation 1, P < 0.01; gestation 2, P < 0.01) and received less (gestation 1, P < 0.01; gestation 2, P < 0.01) aggression and gained the most weight (gestation 1, P < 0.01; gestation 2, P < 0.01). Dominant sows had the least skin injuries throughout gestation 1 (P = 0.04), and although submissive sows sustained the most skin injuries at d 9 and 51 of gestation 2, at d 2 the classifications did not differ in skin injuries (P < 0.01). Subdominant sows had the highest cortisol concentrations at d 2 of gestation 2, but there were no differences between classifications at d 9 and 51 in either gestation (gestation 1, P > 0.05; gestation 2, P = 0.02). There were no significant relationships between aggression classification and reproduction and nonreproductive removals (P > 0.05). In conclusion, sows classified as dominant at feeding at d 2 subsequently received less aggression at feeding, sustained fewer skin injuries, and had higher live weight gain. Submissive and subdominant sows in groups are likely to benefit from the provision of increased resources such as space and access to feed.
M. Verdon; R. S. Morrison; Maxine Rice; Paul Hemsworth. Individual variation in sow aggressive behavior and its relationship with sow welfare1. Journal of Animal Science 2016, 94, 1203 -1214.
AMA StyleM. Verdon, R. S. Morrison, Maxine Rice, Paul Hemsworth. Individual variation in sow aggressive behavior and its relationship with sow welfare1. Journal of Animal Science. 2016; 94 (3):1203-1214.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Verdon; R. S. Morrison; Maxine Rice; Paul Hemsworth. 2016. "Individual variation in sow aggressive behavior and its relationship with sow welfare1." Journal of Animal Science 94, no. 3: 1203-1214.
Factors that have been shown to impact the welfare of group-housed sows are discussed in this review. Floor space allowance markedly affects sow welfare. In addition to quantity of floor space, the quality of space is important: spatial separation between sows can be provided with visual or physical barriers and stalls. Whereas 1.4 m2/sow is insufficient, further research is required to examine space effects in the range of 1.8 to 2.4 m2/sow in more detail. The period immediately after mixing has the most pronounced effects on aggression and stress, and therefore, well-designed mixing pens offer the opportunity to reduce aggression, injury, and stress while allowing the social hierarchy to quickly form. Because hunger is likely to lead to competition for feed or access to feeding areas, strategies to reduce hunger between meals through higher feeding levels, dietary fiber, or foraging substrate should be examined. However, feeding systems, such as full-body feeding stalls, can also affect aggression and stress by providing protection at feeding, but deriving conclusions on this topic is difficult because research directly comparing floor feeding, feeding stalls, and electronic sow feeder systems has not been conducted. Familiar sows engage in less aggression, so mixing sows that have been housed together in the previous gestation may reduce aggression. Although there is evidence in other species that early experience may affect social skills later in life, there are few studies on the effects of early “socialization” on aggressive behavior of adult sows. Genetic selection has the potential to reduce aggression, and therefore, continued research on the opportunity to genetically select against aggressiveness and its broader implications is required. Most research to date has examined mixing sows after insemination and knowledge on grouping after weaning is limited. Copyright © 2015. American Society of Animal Science.
M. Verdon; C. F. Hansen; Jean-Loup Rault; Ellen Jongman; L. U. Hansen; K. Plush; P. H. Hemsworth. Effects of group housing on sow welfare: A review1. Journal of Animal Science 2015, 93, 1999 -2017.
AMA StyleM. Verdon, C. F. Hansen, Jean-Loup Rault, Ellen Jongman, L. U. Hansen, K. Plush, P. H. Hemsworth. Effects of group housing on sow welfare: A review1. Journal of Animal Science. 2015; 93 (5):1999-2017.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Verdon; C. F. Hansen; Jean-Loup Rault; Ellen Jongman; L. U. Hansen; K. Plush; P. H. Hemsworth. 2015. "Effects of group housing on sow welfare: A review1." Journal of Animal Science 93, no. 5: 1999-2017.
M. Verdon; R. S. Morrison; P. H. Hemsworth. Short and long-term repeatability of individual sow aggressiveness. Animal Production Science 2015, 55, 1512 -1512.
AMA StyleM. Verdon, R. S. Morrison, P. H. Hemsworth. Short and long-term repeatability of individual sow aggressiveness. Animal Production Science. 2015; 55 (12):1512-1512.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Verdon; R. S. Morrison; P. H. Hemsworth. 2015. "Short and long-term repeatability of individual sow aggressiveness." Animal Production Science 55, no. 12: 1512-1512.