@conference {41949,
	title = {Reconciling the differences between the length at which lambs{\textquoteright} tails are commonly docked and animal welfare recommendations},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {67},
	year = {2007},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {32-38},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Wanaka},
	abstract = {The rationale for the length at which lambs{\textquoteright} tails are docked was investigated by comparing lambs with No-tail, Short, Medium (covering the vulva in ewe lambs and at a similar length in males), Long, and Undocked tails. In Experiment 1, dagging and shearing required additional effort in Long and Undocked animals. There were no differences in average dag scores, but few lambs had dags. Shorter tail docking resulted in significantly (P<0.05) lighter recto-coccygeal muscles (from 8.9 {\textpm} 0.5g in Undocked to 6.6 {\textpm}0.4g in No-tail). The tail stumps of half of the No-tail, Short and Medium showed evidence of neuroma development and degenerative nerve changes compared with few of the Long and Undocked lambs. In Experiment 2, restlessness, an indicator of pain and distress in rubber ring docked lambs, tended to be more pronounced the shorter the tail was docked. Experiment 3 compared typical farm practices (Short), with the AWAC-recommended length (Medium). The slightly longer length was associated with (1) more lambs difficult to dag (11/44 Medium vs. 4/44 Short; P<0.001); and (2) no perceived benefits in increasing tail length. While the traditional Short and Medium tails appear to be the most appropriate, pain and distress, neuroma development and rectal muscle function may also be affected by tail length. It is yet to be determined if these additional factors justify a change to current practicesbut that possibility is considered unlikely.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Fisher MW and Gregory NG}
}
@conference {41523,
	title = {Justifying the appropriate length for docking lambs{\textquoteright} tails - a review of the literature},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {64},
	year = {2004},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {293-296},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Hamilton},
	abstract = {It is generally accepted that tail docking is beneficial in farming systems where sheep are predisposed to dag formation and flystrike, but that it is a stressful procedure. Although there have been many studies of tail docking, relatively few have looked at the effects of different tail lengths. The incidence of flystrike depended on tail length, being least in medium-, and greatest in short-tail docked sheep. Short-tail docked ewes had higher rates of carcinoma of the vulva and short-tail docked lambs had a greater incidence of rectal prolapse. In some cases, increased tail length was associated with increased dags, and with longer tails crutching and shearing effort was greater. There apparently have been no studies documenting the effects of docking at different lengths on the welfare of the lamb at the time of docking, on muscle anatomy, or on defecation and urination. Furthermore, the results obtained in some studies were confounded by differences in breed (e.g. Merino) and mutilations (e.g. mulesing), which question the validity of extrapolating their conclusions to New Zealand conditions. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Fisher MW and Gregory NG and Kent JE and Scobie DR and Mellor DJ and Pollard JC}
}
@conference {41204,
	title = {Short-term physiological effects of refeeding 5 to 10-day-old calves after fasting and transport},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {60},
	year = {2000},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {230-233},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Hamilton},
	abstract = {The short-term physiological responses of 5 to 10-day-old calves to refeeding after 30 hours without food and up to 12 hours of transport were assessed by monitoring packed cell volume and plasma concentrations of total protein, glucose, triglycerides, urea and lactate. Samples were taken immediately before refeeding after three and 12 hours of transport and at the end of 30 hours without food, and in each case three hours later. Refeeding after fasting caused replenishment of plasma glucose concentrations to control levels and in some cases beyond. It was suggested that the overshoot in glucose concentrations, when it occurred, may have been caused by a temporary increase in insulin resistance as a result of metabolic adaptation to starvation. Refeeding after 12 hours transport also resulted in increased glucose concentrations. Thus, refeeding after transport and starvation was beneficial to the calves as it enabled rapid replenishment of depleted energy reserves. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Todd SE and Mellor DJ and Stafford KJ and Gregory NG and Bruce RA and Ward RN}
}
