@conference {3672,
	title = {Analysing hidden patterns of farmers{\textquoteright} preferences for farm performance characteristics that may be related to tail-docking practice decisions},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {75},
	year = {2015},
	month = {07/2015},
	pages = {205-209},
	address = {Dunedin},
	abstract = { We investigated how multivariate statistics can be used to determine the different patterns of preferences that may exist within a
farmer population. As a case study, we used adaptive conjoint analysis to analyse farmers{\textquoteright} preferences for nine farm performance
characteristics that may be related to tail docking practice decisions. As expected, at the whole population level, farmers{\textquoteright}
preferences for these traits were found to be highly heterogeneous, with only the most important issues and least important issues
being able to be statistically differentiated. Using Cluster Analysis and Principal Components Analysis we found some hidden
relationships and identified the existence of four groups of farmers that had greater preferences for different characteristics; group
one preferred having less dags and less costs associated with dagging and crutching, group two preferred to reduce euthanasia
from uterine prolapse and rectal prolapse, group three preferred to avoid stressing lambs at the time of docking and group four
preferred to have less fly-strike and greater weaning weights. We discuss how the use of multivariate statistics allowed a deeper
interpretation of preference studies in a context of importance to NZ farmers.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Martin-Collado D and Byrne TK and Amer PR and Behrent MJ and Maclennan G and Kerslake JI}
}
@conference {3672,
	title = {The effect of grazing high-sugar ryegrass on lamb performance},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {75},
	year = {2015},
	month = {07/2015},
	pages = {235-238},
	address = {Dunedin},
	abstract = { A multi-year grazing study was undertaken on three commercial properties in the southern South Island to compare the performance
of lambs grazing high-sugar ryegrass/white clover (HSG) with lambs grazing a standard ryegrass/white clover pasture (SRG).
Cultivars were established in late spring 2012; approximately 400 lambs in each treatment group per property grazed the swards in
autumn 2013 and summer/autumn 2014 at a density of 30 to 35 lambs per hectare. Lambs were weighed regularly throughout the
season; those that reached the desired weight were sent for slaughter. Across both years and properties, lambs grazing the HSG
pasture grew 31 grams per day faster (17\%) on average than those grazing SRG (P<0.001). These lambs were an average of 0.4 kg
heavier in terms of carcase weight at slaughter (P<0.001) yielding 0.2 kg more meat per carcase based on VIAScan yield. These
results suggest that lambs grazing HSG outperform those grazing SRG.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Proctor LE and Craig HJB and McLean NJ and Fennessy PF and Kerslake JI and Behrent MJ and Chuah JCL and Campbell AW}
}
@conference {3672,
	title = {Effect of shearing on lamb growth and carcase performance},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {75},
	year = {2015},
	month = {07/2015},
	pages = {215-218},
	address = {Dunedin},
	abstract = { A study was undertaken on three properties throughout New Zealand to determine the impact of shearing on lamb performance
and whether this offered any economic benefit to farmers as a farm-management tool. A total of 1,183 lambs were randomly
allocated to one of four treatments, shorn fasted, bellied fasted, woolly fasted and woolly not fasted. Shorn fasted lambs grew
12 g/d faster than woolly fasted lambs (P<0.05), but at similar rates to bellied lambs and woolly not fasted lambs. There were no
differences among treatments for carcase weight, meat yield or proportion of lambs killed at slaughter. The difference observed in
average daily gain between the shorn fasted and the woolly fasted lambs, and the lack of difference observed between shorn fasted
and woolly not fasted lambs, indicated that while shearing improved lamb growth rates, the weight loss due to fasting overnight
was not overcome by the increased growth rate associated with shearing. While there was no economic benefit associated with
lamb carcase weight or time to slaughter, at a wool price of $5.40 per kg clean, shorn lambs were still of a greater value to farmers
compared to lambs from all other treatments.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {McLean NJ and Craig HJB and Fennessy PF and Behrent MJ and Kerslake JI and Campbell AW}
}
@conference {3672,
	title = {The reasons farmers choose to dock lamb tails to certain lengths, or leave them intact},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {75},
	year = {2015},
	month = {07/2015},
	pages = {210-214},
	address = {Dunedin},
	abstract = { Compared to a survey carried out in 2005, New Zealand farmers appear to be docking fewer lamb tails flush (6\% vs. 22\%) and
docking a greater number of lamb tails at 4-7 cm length (32\% vs. 16\%). The main reasons for docking were to minimize fly strike
risk, reduce accumulation of dags and keep the crutching costs down. Farmers who docked lamb tails to a shorter length (3-4
cm) gave significantly (P<0.05) more importance to minimizing fly-strike, reducing the likelihood of dags and reducing the cost
of crutching than any other reason. Farmers who docked lamb tails at a longer length (4-7 cm) gave significantly (P<0.05) more
importance to meeting the processor requirements, minimizing euthanasia from uterine prolapse and minimizing fly-strike risk
than any other reason. When farm performance characteristics, that may influence decisions relating to tail docking practices, were
prioritised by farmers, preferences for minimizing deaths from fly-strike, improving weaning weight and making more money
from the processor were greater than having fewer dag events, less euthanasia from rectal prolapses and less stress for the lamb at
docking. These preferences did not differ among farmers that dock tails at different lengths or leave them intact.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Kerslake JI and Bryne TJ and Behrent MJ and Maclennan G and Martin-Collado D}
}
