A5046033818- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Agriculture and Farm Safety
- Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health
- Gut microbiota and health
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Dermatology and Skin Diseases
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Pharmacological Effects and Assays
- Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
The University of Adelaide
2011-2018
South Australian Research and Development Institute
2015-2017
Poultry CRC
2015
Introduction Early life interactions with the sow or humans can have lifelong consequences on welfare and performance in pigs. It was hypothesised that piglets received increased maternal contact positive human would display improved responses to stressful events performance. Methods Ninety-eight litters were allocated a 2 x factorial design for (MC+)/restricted (MC-); (HC+)/no additional (HC-). Modified farrowing crates used restrict (MC-) HC+ treatment five minutes of daily interaction...
Lamb mortality represents reproductive wastage and an animal welfare concern. While lambs are thought to be at a thermogenic advantage following birth in comparison other species, death from exposure can still major contributor lamb mortality, largely because of the inclement conditions often prevailing lambing. For this reason, thermogenesis has been studied extensively neonatal lambs. Heat is produced by shivering non-shivering thermogenesis. The latter heat generated metabolism brown...
Sows are strongly driven to build a nest prior farrowing, and the performance of this behaviour is linked environment in which animal housed. The aim study was investigate impact two nest-building materials, hessian straw, on peri-parturient sow behaviour, plasma cortisol concentration piglet survival farrowing crates. In first experiment, sows (parity 1.7 ± 0.1) were allocated four treatments: (n = 15), straw provided lead up an open pen, with pen closed after (STRAW OPEN); 14), CLOSED);...
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect sow confinement and nonconfinement during parturition early lactation on performance sows piglets prior weaning. Sows their litters were housed in either a conventional farrowing crate (control; 1.7 × 2.4 m) or swing-sided pen (2.8 2.15 m). had open (open) closed (closed) opened d 3 (LAC3) 7 (LAC7) lactation. Data are means ± SEM. numbers total live-born not different between treatments averaged 13.1 0.4 12.3 0.2 piglets/litter,...
This study investigated the effects of providing lucerne hay on behaviour and performance sows housed in farrowing crates during lactation. Seventy-two mixed parity received either 1 kg daily from entry into crate (-2 d expected date) until weaning at 17 (lucerne group, n = 36), or no additional enrichment (control 36). In 18 h prior to farrowing, treatment spent more time performing nest-building (14.8% vs 11.1% control,
This study investigated the impact of early life interactions on stress resilience weaner pigs. The hypotheses tested were that reduced maternal contact increases response pigs to weaning, and positive human during lactation reduces, weaning. Ninety-eight litters allocated a 2×2 factorial randomised block design for treatments (MC+) / (MC-); (HC+) control (HC-). Modified farrowing crates used reduce (MC-). Litters in HC+ treatment received five minutes daily interaction (stroking)....
In this experiment, intermittent suckling (IS) with or without the co-mingling (CoM) of piglets was studied as a method to stimulate solid feed intake and reduce post-weaning stress.Three weaning regimes using 30 multiparous sows were compared: (1) conventional (CW) (n = 10 litters), where had continuous access sow until (d 0, farrowing d -25 relative weaning); (2) separated from for 8 h/d starting at -7 (relative (3) (ISCo) litters) IS started two litters housed together during separation...
Aggression between domestic sows is greatest when are first introduced to each other and hierarchies form. The aim of this study was determine the effect a spacious "mixing pen" on sow aggression stress. Sows were mixed into groups 6 allowed 2 (LOW; 8 48 sows), 4 (MED; 7 42 or m2/sow (HIGH; sows) for d after mixing, at which point all pens equalized m2/sow. Salivary cortisol concentration injury counts measured –1, 0, 1, 3, relative behavior also recorded these days following mixing....
Piglet hypoxia during farrowing is common and can lead to increased stillbirth rates, reduced piglet vitality, an risk of preweaning mortality. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has successfully been used as a neuroprotectant readily crosses the placenta in humans. Based on this human data, aim study was determine if maternal dietary supplementation with MgSO4 prior would reduce impact peri-natal period. Five days farrowing, Large White × Landrace sows were fed either standard lactation sow diet...
When sows are mixed into groups, hierarchies form and resulting aggression stress can affect production welfare. This study determined the effect of providing point-source materials on aggressive play behaviors in gestating sows. Large white cross Landrace were after insemination; six pens 12 housed 'standard' pens, 'enhanced' pens. The each contained two rubber mats, eight strands 24 mm-thick sisal rope yellow plastic disks, suspended from roof. remained these until pregnancy confirmation....
The ability to accurately estimate fat mass and fat-free (FFM) has the potential improve way in which sow body condition can be managed a breeding herd. Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) been evaluated as practical technique for assessment of composition several livestock species, but similar work is lacking sows. uses population-specific algorithms that require values apparent resistivities fluids proportion factors. This study comprised three major aims: (i) derive resistivity...
Weaning stress imposes considerable physiological challenges on piglets, often manifesting in intestinal disturbances, such as inflammation and compromised barrier function, ultimately affecting growth health outcomes. While conventional interventions, including antimicrobials, have effectively mitigated these sequelae, concerns surrounding antimicrobial resistance necessitate the exploration of alternatives. Fucoidan, derived from brown seaweed, offers promise due to its antioxidant...