Journal article
Behavioural responses of lambs to plastic clips as an alternative procedure to mulesing
P Hemsworth, G Cronin, J Barnett, K Butler, E Jongman, G Karlen, A Coffey, N Arnold
Australian Veterinary Journal | WILEY | Published : 2012
Abstract
Objective: Compare the effects on the behaviour of lambs of applying occlusive plastic clips, as an alternative procedure to surgical mulesing, with tail docking, surgical mulesing and a control treatment. Procedure: We allocated 48 6-7-week-old Merino lambs to four treatment groups: plastic clips (Clip); surgical mulesing (Mules); tail docking with a rubber ring (Tail ring); no treatment (Control). For each posture and behaviour observed on each of the 4 days post-treatment, a Dunnett's multiple comparison test was used to simultaneously compare the Clip treatment with each of the comparator treatments (Control, Tail ring and Mules treatments). Results: Most of the significant differences (..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This research was funded by Australian woolgrowers and taxpayers through Australian Wool Innovation Ltd and the Department of Primary Industries Victoria. We are grateful to Dr Chris Abel for the animals and facilities he made available for the conduct of the experiment. We are also grateful to Bronwyn Stevens and Cameron Ralph of the University of Melbourne for assisting in the conduct of the observations and the contractors who conducted the mulesing and tail ring treatments.