University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Beate Müllner
(2011):
Comparison of Free Choice Profiling and Fixed Terms for Qualitative Behaviour Assessment in Dairy Cattle.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Nutztierwissenschaften (NUWI),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 63.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- Qualitative Behaviour Assessment describes animal behaviour with terms such as “relaxed” (“entspannt”) or “enjoying” (“genießend”) to find out detailed information about animal welfare. The present study investigated, if given Fixed Terms (FT) can be used to evaluate dairy cattle behaviour instead of time-consuming Free Choice Profiling (FCP). Additionally, the study should reveal similarities or differences in assessing individual animals in a specific social licking interaction or groups of animals with FCP and FT. Therefore, 20 video clips of a herd (h-clips) and 20 individual animal clips (i-clips) were assessed by 12 observers (8 women; 4 men). For FCP, a term-generating session was prepared, where the assessors generated their own adjectives that were entered into the FCP-protocol. The Welfare Quality standard protocol served as Fixed Terms for the herd assessment. This protocol was adapted for individual animal assessment with FT to cover behaviours seen in specific social licking situation. The rating started with FCP. One week later the rating was repeated using FT. The statistical analysis was conducted with Generalised Procrustes Analysis. The Procrustes Statistics of the i-clips with FCP had a value of 57.96%; with FT 56.93%. Two main dimensions were found to describe the clips. These dimensions were characterized with the umbrella terms “interest” (Dimension 1) and “relaxation” (Dimension 2). The Procrustes Statistics of the h-clips had a value of 65.40% with FCP and 66.18% with FT. The two main dimensions were also characterized with the umbrella terms – “relaxation” (Dimension 1) and “interest” (Dimension 2). These results reveal that herd assessments gave a higher agreement than the assessments of the individual animals. The study showed that FT could be used for on-farm assessment of dairy cattle if FCP is not possible because of the time and personal effort.
- Beurteilende(r): Winckler Christoph
- 1.Mitwirkender: Leeb Christine