Post-graduate Student Projects

Behaviour and welfare of suburban dogs - Amanda Kobelt

This PhD project involves the collaboration of scientists and industry partners with practical and regulatory responsibilities in improving dog behaviour and welfare. Many dogs in Australia are restricted to suburban backyards. Behavioural problems in these dogs have increasingly become an issue for owner and the community. The incidence of behavioural problems, that are indicative of maladaptation, will be quantified and together with some physiological and health indices of welfare, will be used to assess the risks to the welfare of suburban dogs. The relationships between this assessment and environmental factors (e.g. social and human contact, space and environmental stimulation) will be examined to identify those factors that need to be targeted to improve dog behaviour and welfare.

Confinement of dogs and cats: attitudes and problems for the general community and pet owners - Neva Van De Kuyt

This Master's programme is examining the attitudes of both the general public and pet owners to pet confinement. Furthermore, the main issues or barriers confronting owners in confining their pets will be identified. For example, problems such as ethical issues, economical issues, disinterest and ignorance will be examined. Such information is necessary to assist in the development of public education programmes and legislation that meets the needs of human safety and animal welfare.

Survey of reported welfare abuses to horses - Naomi Pearson

This Master's programme is examining the circumstances surrounding reported cases of welfare abuses in horses in Victoria. Over 1000 cases of horse welfare abuse are reported to the RSPCA and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment each year in Victoria and data on issues, results of investigations, situational and demographic factors associated with the cases, etc. are being collected in order to identify the major factors associated with such cases. With such information, avenues for education may be developed and situations where policy development would be beneficial may be identified.

Designing components of milking sheds - Adele Arnold

This PhD project is examining the behavioural and physiological responses of cows to common components or features of a milking system. A thorough understanding of the aversiveness of common features of a milking system for the animal will enable dairy facilities to be designed or modified that facilitate movement of cows in and out of the dairy shed. In addition to benefits on animal movement, improvements in animal productivity and welfare and job satisfaction for the farmer may also occur.

Time budgets of behaviour in grazing dairy cows - Naomi Botheras

In addition to grazing/foraging, drinking and elimination, animals also require time for maintenance or comfort behaviours such as resting, sleeping, shelter-seeking, ruminating, licking, nibbling, scratching, rubbing and mutual grooming. Animals appear to be highly motivated to perform these comfort behaviours. There is some limited evidence in farm animals for example that lying deprivation may be stressful. Time budgets of behaviour, whereby animals may not have sufficient time for all their behavioural requirements, need to be evaluated in modern livestock production systems. For example, the time budgets of dairy cows on pasture may be constrained by seasonal conditions and management practices. If time budgets are limited because of constraints of low feed quality or time off pasture for milking, comfort behaviours are likely to be reduced, as cows increase their activities associated with feeding and milk production, which in turn leads to stress. This project will study the effects of time off pasture associated with milking on lameness and time available for lying and/or feeding.

An investigation of factors affecting the success of canine adoptions from animal welfare shelters - Linda Marston

Linda's thesis is an investigation of factors affecting the success of canine adoptions from animal welfare shelters. Several studies indicate that dogs in shelters suffer from increased levels of stress as a result of factors such as noise levels, confinement and lack of social interaction with both peers and humans, disruption in routine and loss of familiar relationships. Such increases in stress can impact substantially on animal welfare, resulting in some animals developing stereotypies, attachment-related problems or undesirable behaviours that may impact upon a rescued animal's retention. Human adoption research has identified three major reasons for adoption failure. These are a perceived lack of control by the new parent, behavioural problems and a lack of intimacy as reflected by physical contact and attachment. This will form the starting point for this study of canine adoption. The initial stage of this study will gather archive datacovering a full year from 3 metropolitan shelters, which will form a baseline for subsequent research. Atelephone survey will identify and quantify behavioural problems encountered in the first month post-adoptionand this information will be used to identify the most common behavioural problems which prejudice adoptionsuccess and enable information packages will be developed for use in the final stage of the project. A pilotstudy will explore the initial formation of canine-human attachment, using the SST (Strange Situation Test) todetermine if rewards based obedience training (Control issue), positive handling (intimacy), or habituation offeeding from the hand influence the development of such attachment. The final phase of the project will evaluate the effectiveness of providing behavioural information to new adopters, reward based obedience training and 'attachment training' early in the adoption versus a control group.

The Creation of a Multi-dimensional Human-Companion Animal Bonding Scale - Fleur Dwyer

This clinical doctorate project will develop a multi-dimensional Scale to assess human-companion animal bonding. Although the human-companion animal research area has developed steadily over the past 20 years, it is still a relatively new field. It is also becoming an increasingly important one as the popularity of using companion animals therapeutically continues to grow. Within this field, there are many intriguing areas of research where knowledge is still limited. One such area is that of the bond that forms between humans and companion animals. The "human-companion animal bond" is a term that is not yet clearly defined. Many theoretical models have been proposed for the study of the human companion animal bond including attachment theory, social support theory, quality of life and exchange theory. It is the aim of this research to propose a definition of this term and to create a scale with which the strength of such a bond with a companion dog can be measured. If clearly defined factors are found within the questionnaire it will be possible to also provide measures of people's bonding across various factors as well as an overall measure of the strength. Dogs were chosen as the focus of this study as they are the animal most often used in therapy programs as well as popular pets. Although questionnaires have previously been designed to measure the human-companion animal bond, they are often very brief and not inclusive of questions that measure negative aspects of companion animal ownership.

The Effect of Morphology on Communication in the Dog (Canis familiaris) - Keven Kerswell

Social animals such as wolves have evolved species-specific communication systems that assist in regulating social interactions including aggression. Wolves use a range of visual, auditory and olfactory signals and many of the visual signals utilise morphological features such as ears and tails. Selective breeding and adherence to artificial breed standards that do not include a communication component have lead to a variety of morphologies in dogs, and some dog breeds that are not lupine in appearance may now lack the mechanisms required to send the above signals. If communication, both in terms of delivering species-specific signals and in recognition of these signals, breaks down, misunderstanding between dogs or between dogs and humans may lead to a range of problems such as aggression and training difficulties.

This PhD project will examine the development of investigative social behaviour in dogs and how it may be affected by breed and morphology by studying the social behaviour of dogs towards littermates during rearing, towards unfamiliar dogs of either the same or different breeds during in the juvenile period and towards unfamiliar dogs of the same and different breeds in adulthood (one-year old).

The mental evolution of the horse and its consequences for training - Andrew McLean

The aim of this PhD programme is to identify, as far as possible, from the viewpoints of evolutionary biology and experimental psychology, the mental capabilities of the horse. Experimental trials investigating the mental abilities (particularly insightful abilities) of the horse are underway. Areas of conflict and mental stress in horse training will also be identified. Finally, a training scheme for ground handling and training under saddle will be proposed based on the demonstrated mental capabilities of the horse, and a modern application of conditioning principles. This project aims to reduce welfare problems associated with the training of horses by designing training methodologies appropriate to the mental abilities of this species.

Stress during pregnancy and the behaviour of offspring - Sabine Roussel

Part of this PhD programme is being undertaken at the AWC and this collaborative project with INA will examine the effects of prenatal stress in sheep. In particular the effects on the behavioural and physiological responses of lambs to common stressors and their learning ability will be studied. Research on laboratory species has shown adverse effects of stress during foetal development on young animals. The present project is examining the effects of prenatal stress on the behavioural and physiological responses of sheep to novel, startling and social stimuli. A group of 24 ewes were repeatedly stressed during last third of gestation by isolation while another group of 24 ewes remained undisturbed. The average plasma cortisol concentration was higher in prenatally stressed lambs than control lambs at 1 month of age, but not more at 8 months of age. The prenatally stressed lambs were heavier at birth and had a tendency to be heavier at 1 month of age than the control lambs. These results indicate that mild prenatal stress may increase birth-weight of lambs with possible implications for survival but these results require confirmation.

Michele Silva-Cummin

This PhD is a study of the factors that are conducive to the adoption of a puppy and its successful rearing to adulthood within a human domestic environment. This study aims to identify and analyze the many factors that are implicated in a successful adoption, which is defined by the puppy being reared to adulthood by its original owner. The human - animal bond is a complex one which has evolved and essentially changed through time. It appears reciprocal in nature, where the adaptive needs for humans and to a degree, animals seem to have been met. However, the relationship has been unequal, where certain types of animals such as those kept as companion animals and as livestock, were and currently are, maintained to meet primarily human needs, whilst benefits to animals are incidental or secondary. Of greatest complexity is the bond between humans and companion animals. Humans have had an ambivalent relationship with companion animals and this is particularly noticeable in the bond shared with canines. The study aims to examine variables such as:

Human attitudes towards animals,
Human attachment and empathy towards animals,
Human personality,
Family structure and function,
Stability factors within the human environment, such as accommodation, family change and employment,
Cost and reasons for acquisition dog,
Human education / knowledge regarding dog behaviour,
Past experience with dogs,
Physical features of the dog,
Planning for and daily routine management of the dog,
Characteristics of the dog's physical environment.

The critical role of the stockperson to layer hen welfare and productivity - Lauren Edwards

This PhD focusses on the critical role of the stockperson to layer hen welfare and productivity. The project will 1) determine whether previous findings on fear-productivity links are still valid in modern production facilities using current strains of birds and 2) determine the human behaviours that regulate fear of humans in laying hens, following preliminary studies on an ethogram of human behaviours in the poultry shed and developing methodologies to study these behaviours and determining the human attitudes that regulate fear provoking behaviour in humans towards laying hens.

The welfare of sows housed during gestation in conventional stalls and in large groups on deep-litter systems - Marcus Karlen

Sows in commercial farms are pregnant for about three quarters of their productive life. Depending on the farm, sows are kept in different housing systems with different stall or pen designs. The most common system for gestating sows housing is the individual gestation stall, which raises welfare concerns due to restricted exercise, lack of social contact and reduced fitness. Growing public awareness of animal welfare issues has stimulated increasing interest in alternative housing systems for gestating sows. This Master's program examined the adaptation of sows to an alternative housing system, viz housing sows in large groups on deep-litter, in comparison to conventional stall housing. The study involved measurements of behavioural and physiological responses as well as a number of variables relevant to pig welfare. Deep litter systems are currently used for grower and finisher pigs and they are also a potentially successful housing system for gestating gilts and sows.

Behavioural and physiological effects of introducing a structured enrichment program into a kennelled population of domestic dogs - Mia Cobb (Masters)

This project looks at minimizing kennel stress and consequently improving welfare and providing training outcomes.

Best way to measure personality in dogs using the Five Factor Model of Personality in People as a model – Jacqui Ley
Personality plays a significant role in how individuals behave. If we could measure personality in dogs we would be better able to predict their behaviour and help people choose the best dog for them.

Behavioural assessment of adult companion dogs: Development of national standards for identifying behaviourally sound canidae - Kate Mornement

There are two aims of this study. Firstly, to investigate various attitudes towards adult dogs (pure bred and cross bred) and the reasons why prospective dog owners prefer puppies over adult shelter dogs. Secondly, to analyse the effectiveness and success of current behavioural assessment and rehabilitation programs for shelter dogs, developing “best practice” methods to potentially be used in shelters and pounds Australia wide.

A study of owner factors influencing dog obesity – Vanessa Rolf

The first objective in this study is to develop and then administer a questionnaire to test whether the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1985) can be used to significantly inform our understanding of canine obesity. If so, a second objective is to implement and then evaluate a pilot intervention program targeting the information obtained by administration of the questionnaire. It is hypothesised that owners of obese dogs will differ from owners of normal weight dogs in terms of their salient beliefs towards health and obesity related behaviours (diet and exercise). It is further hypothesised that obese dogs owned by persons who participate in a brief intervention program which targets their relevant beliefs will demonstrate a significant reduction in their body weight and body condition, and that this reduction will be maintained at the end of a six-month follow-up period.

The welfare of recreational horses in Victoria: the occurrence of and factors associated with horse welfare - Studentship not yet allocated

Research on the impact of human-animal interactions on horse welfare is essential since this knowledge on the importance of owner knowledge and attitudes and demographic and horse management characteristics can be utilised in developing education programs as well as government policy and/or legislation aimed at preventing horse welfare problems. It is important to understand owner characteristics as well as circumstances surrounding horse ownership in order to develop targeted educational programs that address the main owner factors associated with horse welfare problems. Furthermore, it is easy to appreciate that an understanding of the attitudes to horse identification and the implications of horse identification may for example lead t the introduction of compulsory horse identification on a state-wide basis, perhaps with an associated levy that could be used to fund a range of ongoing education programs and research, as is currently the case with dog and cat registrations under the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994.

Behavioural development in dairy cows: Factors affecting learning and behavioural responses to novel and startling stimuli - Mariko Lauber

This PhD developed a methodology for assessing behavioural development in calves and, examined the impact of a range of population demographics and reproductive practices on development of behaviours considered essential to survival: exploratory behaviour, learning and fear responses. Gender, sire, breed, time spent with dam and late pregnancy induction altered some of these behavioural responses while there were effects of Age on all of the behavioural responses. Assisted reproductive technologies (IVP and Cloned Sire) and parity of dam did not affect behavioural responses.

Bronwyn Stevens

The partitioning and dynamics of corticosteroid release when animals are under stress is poorly understood particularly the free and bound fractions. Using different environmental and artificial stressors these two PhD projects aim to quantify these changes over time to elucidate the importance of each fraction in the assessment of stress and their physiological effects in intensively farmed animals. Cameron’s focus will be on the peripheral effects whilst Bronwyn will focus on the central effects on the HPA axis and the brain.

Cameron Ralph

The relationship between human factors and the productivity and welfare of commercial broiler chickens - Peter Cransberg

The aim of this thesis was to determine whether there was a relationship between human factors and bird behaviour and productivity in the commercial broiler industry. The hypothesis tested was that the stockperson's attitude towards broiler chickens will influence that stockperson's behaviour towards his/her broiler chickens, which, in turn, will influence the amount of fear shown by those birds towards humans. In situations where fear is high, productivity will be depressed through a stress response.

The major experiment conducted in this thesis provides a preliminary study of the relationship between human attitude and behaviour and bird behaviour and productivity in the commercial broiler industry. Preliminary studies were conducted to clarify a number of critical parameters essential to successfully conduct the major experiment. The key elements to come out of the two preliminary experiments were; there was no sensitive period in the life of a broiler chicken where human contact had a greater effect on the birds later behaviour, thus no requirement to study human behaviour in any particular period during the major experiment, and the techniques to observe the behaviour of stockpeople in commercial broiler sheds were determined.

As was hypothesised, significant relationships were observed between human behaviour, bird behaviour and productivity. The most important human behaviour was speed of movement through the shed, which was significantly correlated with the amount of avoidance shown by birds towards humans and also first week mortality. Interestingly, there was no relationship between human attitudes towards broiler farming and human behaviour, contrary to results previously observed in the pig industry.

In this thesis the emphasis is on the attitude and behaviour of stockpeople towards their stock. Obviously there are other factors, such as the stockperson's work ethic (ie. thoroughness, reliability, conscientiousness, initiative), technical knowledge and skills, which are also important determinants of animal productivity. Thus, a number of other human factors need to be studied to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the relationship between stockpeople and their animals in the broiler industry, and the effects of the relationship on bird production and welfare. Future research should also examine more closely the relationship between human attitude and behaviour, especially focusing on beliefs concerned with movement of the stockperson through the shed, since speed of movement by the stockperson was highly predictive of bird behaviour.