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Welfare responses of female cattle subject to reproductive procedures in Northern Australia

Project start date: 15 March 2006
Project end date: 07 April 2008
Publication date: 01 February 2009
Project status: Completed
Livestock species: Grassfed cattle, Grainfed cattle
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Summary

The spaying of cattle is considered an essential management tool in parts of Northern Australia.  In recent years traditional flank spaying has been increasingly replaced by the Willis Dropped Ovary Technique (WDOT), which is perceived as having better welfare outcomes than flank spaying, however this perception has never been scientifically validated.  Studies conducted under commercial conditions demonstrated that the acute (up to 8 hours post-procedure) physiological and behavioural responses of commercial Brahman heifers and cows to flank and WDOT spaying were virtually indistinguishable.

More information

Project manager: Johann Schroder
Primary researcher: University of Queensland