University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Bernhard Schwed
(2014):
Einfluss der Tageszeit auf die Ergebnisse des Qualitative Behaviour Assessment bei Milchkühen.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Nutztierwissenschaften (NUWI),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 63.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) using predefined descriptors forms part of the Welfare Quality® (WQ) assessment protocol for dairy cattle. As for other on-farm measures of welfare, reliability is an important issue especially if farms are to be certified. This study investigated the repeatability of QBA results across three different observation times during the day (early morning, late morning, early afternoon). For this purpose, in total 30 4-min video clips from ten commercial dairy farms were assessed by 13 observers using visual analogue scales for 20 terms. QBA scores for ‘emotional state’ were computed according to the Welfare Quality® protocol and additionally a Principal Component Analysis was carried out. The latter revealed two main dimensions which may be described by 'mood' thus corresponding to the ‘emotional state’ score of the WQ protocol and by 'activity'. Independent of type of parameter, i.e. scores derived according to WQ or from PCA, repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant effect of observation time depending on the farm. In order to improve reliability of welfare assessment in dairy cattle it should be considered that at least in some farms the observation time can affect QBA results.
- Beurteilende(r): Winckler Christoph