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Now showing items 21-30 of 45
Dissertation
Exploratory and dust-bathing behaviour in laying hens kept in commercial aviaries and furnished cages
(2013-01-18)
The aim of the present thesis was to identify management factors that affect the extent of exploratory behaviour (ground pecking, scratching) as well as quantitative and qualitative as-pects of dust-bathing behaviour in laying hens kept in commercial furnished cages (‘small group housing’) and aviaries. Based on the results, it should be considered which management measures can be recommended for farmers to enhance hen welfare.
The feasibility of direct observations of dust-bathing behaviour as well as video ...
Dissertation
Cleanliness versus cow comfort – an insolvable problem?
(2012-02-27)
Cubicle should provide good resting comfort as well as clean udders. Dairy cows in cubicle houses often face a restrictive environment with regard to resting behaviour, whereas cleanliness may still be impaired. This study aimed to determine reliable behavioural measures regarding resting comfort applicable in on-farm welfare assessments. Furthermore, relationships between cubicle design, cow sizes, management factors and udder cleanliness (namely teats and teat tips) were investigated.
Altogether 15 resting measures ...
Dissertation
Interrelatedness of grazing livestock with vegetation parameters and farmers’ livelihoods in the Mahafaly region, southwestern Madagascar
(2015-10-27)
The study aims to get deeper insight into the highly extensive system of animal husbandry in the Mahafaly region of southwestern Madagascar. It tries to understand the major drivers for pastoral dynamics, land and resource use along a gradient in altitude and vegetation to consider the area’s high spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The study also analyzes the reproductive performance of local livestock as well as the owners’ culling strategies to determine herd dynamics, opportunities for economic growth, and future ...
Dissertation
Sensor-based Control of Chewing and Rumination Behavior of Dairy Cows
(2014-02-20)
The measurement of feed intake, feeding time and rumination time, summarized by the term feeding behavior, are helpful indicators for early recognition of animals which show deviations in their behavior. The overall objective of this work was the development of an early warning system for inadequate feeding rations and digestive and metabolic disorders, which prevention constitutes the basis for health, performance, and reproduction.
In a literature review, the current state of the art and the suitability of different ...
Dissertation
Production Diseases in European Organic Dairy Farms – Current Status and Identification of Drivers for Improvement by Means of a Systemic Approach
(2017-01-18)
The aims of this thesis were to determine the animal health status in organic dairy farms in Europe and to identify drivers for improving the current situation by means of a systemic approach. Prevalences of production diseases were determined in 192 herds in Germany, France, Spain, and Sweden (Paper I), and stakeholder consultations were performed to investigate potential drivers to improve animal health on the sector level (ibid.). Interactions between farm variables were assessed through impact analysis and evaluated ...
Dissertation
Quantifizierung der Fress- und Wiederkäuaktivitäten von Milchkühen
(2011-02-16)
Niedrige Milchpreise setzen die deutschen Milchbauern unter Kostendruck und veranlassen sie, die Laktationsleistung der Kühe zu erhöhen. Im Zusammenhang mit weiteren Milchleistungssteigerungen kommt einer wiederkäuergerechten Fütterung im Hinblick auf die Vermeidung gesundheitlicher Risiken eine besondere Bedeutung zu. Ziel des Forschungsvorhabens war es, eine Messmethode zur Bestimmung von Fress- und Wiederkäuaktivitäten zu entwickeln, welche die bisherigen methodischen Unzulänglichkeiten überwindet und ermöglicht ...
Dissertation
Effects of tubers of the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) on the intestinal microbiota of pigs and evaluation of a procedure for quantification of microbial mass in pig faeces
(2011-12-21)
Die Mikrobiota im Gastrointestinaltrakt (GIT) spielt eine bedeutende Rolle beim Fermentationsprozess im Bezug auf die Nährstoffversorgung sowie die Gesundheit des Darms und des gesamten Organismus. Inulin und resistente Stärke (RS) konnten als präbiotisch wirksame Substanzen identifiziert werden und sind jeweils auch in den Knollen der Topinamburpflanze (Helianthus tuberosus) und in Kartoffeln (Solanum tuberosum) enthalten. Da sie ebenfalls energiereiche Futtermittel für Schweine sind, war es das Ziel der ersten ...
Aufsatz
Identification and development of measures suitable as potential breeding traits regarding dairy cows´ reactivity towards humans
(Elsevier B.V., 2016-09-19)
Behavioural indicators of the human-animal relationship (HAR) are predominantly used in animal welfare science. However, the reactivity of dairy cows – as part of the HAR - is also of interest in the context of dairy breeding, due to its estimated moderate heritability. The avoidance distance (AD) towards an unfamiliar experimenter in a standardized test is regarded an established behavioural indicator of the HAR, but for breeding purposes more feasible measures would be advantageous.
The aim of the present pilot ...
Aufsatz
Behavioural response of dairy cows with and without calf-contact to hair of own and alien calves presented in the milking parlour
(Elsevier B.V., 2016-05-06)
In systems where dairy cows are milked and additionally suckle their calves during the first months of lactation, problems with alveolar milk ejection during machine-milking occur. As olfaction is a key sense for kin recognition and acceptance at the udder, olfactory stimulation might alleviate this challenge. In this pilot study, we investigated whether cows behaviourally respond to calf hair presented in the parlour, and whether this is affected by suckling the own calf or not. Discrimination between hair of the ...
Dissertation
Opportunities and constraints of transhumant small ruminant production in the Chinese Altay Mountains
(2016-08-16)
This PhD thesis focuses on current livelihoods of agro-pastoral livestock keepers, their animal nutrition, herd and rangeland management strategies. It thereby aims to contribute to sustainable rangeland management, livestock production and household income in Qinghe county of the Chinese Altay Mountain region, located in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, PR China.
In its first part the study characterizes the socio-economic situation and agricultural practices of agro-pastoralists through structured household ...