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Inter-observer and test-retest reliability of on-farm behavioural observations in veal calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

EAM Bokkers ,
H Leruste ,
LFM Heutinck ,
M Wolthuis-Fillerup ,
JTN van der Werf ,
BJ Lensink  and
CG van Reenen
EAM Bokkers*
Affiliation:
Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
H Leruste
Affiliation:
Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture, 48 Boulevard Vauban, 59046 Lille, France
LFM Heutinck
Affiliation:
Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
M Wolthuis-Fillerup
Affiliation:
Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
JTN van der Werf
Affiliation:
Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
BJ Lensink
Affiliation:
Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture, 48 Boulevard Vauban, 59046 Lille, France
CG van Reenen
Affiliation:
Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints [email protected]
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Abstract

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The objective of this study was to investigate inter-observer and test-retest reliability of different behavioural observations to be used in an on-farm, animal welfare monitoring system for veal calves. Twenty-three veal calf farms, varying in size, housing system, feeding regime and age of the calves were visited twice with two observers, simultaneously. Behavioural tests were conducted in eight pens per farm, measuring the response of calves to: a human entering the barn; a novel object; a passive, unfamiliar person; disturbance in the pen and an active approach by an unfamiliar and a familiar person. Furthermore, behaviour was recorded 20 min before and 20 min after feeding in eight other pens per farm. For all behavioural tests, inter-observer reliability was very high. Farm effects and test-retest reliabilities were high and significant for all behavioural tests, except for the test measuring response to disturbance in the pen. Although the active approach test with the familiar person was reliable, it was not feasible in practice due to the availability of the farmer. Since the active approach test with the unfamiliar person gave similar results, this test was recommended for an on-farm animal welfare monitoring system. For most behavioural elements recorded around feeding, farms differed significantly and interobserver and test-retest reliabilities were high as well as being significant. The behavioural tests with entering the barn, novel object and unfamiliar person, and the behavioural observations before and after feeding were feasible and distinctive and reliable enough to be performed on-farm. These methods are promising tools to use as a monitor of animal welfare in veal calves.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourbehavioural response testmonitoringreliabilityveal calves
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 18 , Issue 4: Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level , November 2009 , pp. 381 - 390
Copyright
© 2009 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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