All Outputs (87)

Comparing expert stakeholders’ assessments of the relative impact of management practices on dairy calf welfare using best-worst scaling (2025)
Journal Article
Smith, A.-L., Doidge, C., & Kaler, J. (2025). Comparing expert stakeholders’ assessments of the relative impact of management practices on dairy calf welfare using best-worst scaling. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 242, Article 106587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106587

The UK dairy industry is under increasing public scrutiny, with growing intensification sparking concerns for farm animal health and welfare. Despite established best practices, achieving optimal calf health and welfare remains an industry-wide chall... Read More about Comparing expert stakeholders’ assessments of the relative impact of management practices on dairy calf welfare using best-worst scaling.

Descriptive analysis of national bovine viral diarrhoea test data in England (2016–2023) (2025)
Journal Article
Prosser, N. S., Hill, E. M., Gow, L., Cavallaro, M., Tildesley, M. J., Keeling, M. J., Kaler, J., Ferguson, E., & Green, M. J. (2025). Descriptive analysis of national bovine viral diarrhoea test data in England (2016–2023). Veterinary Record, https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.5325

Background: Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD)is an endemic disease in the UK. In England, a voluntary control and eradication scheme, BVDFree England, has been running since 2016. Methods: We analysed test results from 7005 herds that were submitted to BV... Read More about Descriptive analysis of national bovine viral diarrhoea test data in England (2016–2023).

Dairy calves provided with environmental enrichment are more active, playful and have fewer feeding interruptions (2025)
Journal Article
Occhiuto, F., Vázquez-Diosdado, J. A., Thomas, M., Gayner, E. R., King, A. J., & Kaler, J. (2025). Dairy calves provided with environmental enrichment are more active, playful and have fewer feeding interruptions. Scientific Reports, 15(1), Article 4241. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88129-7

Concerns for farm animal welfare have led to the use of environmental enrichment to stimulate natural behaviours and promote positive emotions. In cattle, the provision of brushes is sometimes recommended but their use in calves and the effects they... Read More about Dairy calves provided with environmental enrichment are more active, playful and have fewer feeding interruptions.

Dairy farmers’ intention to use calf management technologies in four European countries: A QCA and PLS-SEM approach (2025)
Journal Article
Doidge, C., Bokma, J., ten Brinke, N., Carmo, L. P., Hopp, P., Santman-Berends, I., Veldhuis, A., & Kaler, J. (2025). Dairy farmers’ intention to use calf management technologies in four European countries: A QCA and PLS-SEM approach. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 236, Article 106417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106417

Whilst livestock management technologies may help to improve productivity, economic performance, and animal welfare on farms, there has been low uptake of technologies across farming systems and countries. This study aimed to understand dairy farmers... Read More about Dairy farmers’ intention to use calf management technologies in four European countries: A QCA and PLS-SEM approach.

Stochastic simulation modeling of the economics of providing additional living space for housed dairy cows (2024)
Journal Article
Thompson, J. S., Hudson, C. D., Huxley, J. N., Kaler, J., & Green, M. J. (2024). Stochastic simulation modeling of the economics of providing additional living space for housed dairy cows. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 11, https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1473696

The housed environment for dairy cattle is of critical importance to their health, wellbeing, and productivity. Lack of space is an important factor for housing quality assessment due to links with increased likelihood of disease. A recently publishe... Read More about Stochastic simulation modeling of the economics of providing additional living space for housed dairy cows.

Early detection of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves using sensor based feeding, movement, and social behavioural data (2024)
Journal Article
Bushby, E. V., Thomas, M., Vázquez-Diosdado, J. A., Occhiuto, F., & Kaler, J. (2024). Early detection of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves using sensor based feeding, movement, and social behavioural data. Scientific Reports, 14(1), Article 9737. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58206-4

Previous research shows that feeding and activity behaviours in combination with machine learning algorithms has the potential to predict the onset of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). This study used 229 novel and previously researched feeding, move... Read More about Early detection of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves using sensor based feeding, movement, and social behavioural data.

Quantification of play behaviour in farmed calves using automated ultra-wide band location data and its association with age, weaning and health status (2024)
Journal Article
Vázquez-Diosdado, J., Doidge, C., Bushby, E., Occhiuto, F., & Kaler, J. (2024). Quantification of play behaviour in farmed calves using automated ultra-wide band location data and its association with age, weaning and health status. Scientific Reports, 14, Article 8872. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-59142-z

Play behaviour can act as an indicator of positive animal welfare. Previous attempts to predict play behaviour in farmed calves are limited because of the classification methods used, which lead to overestimation, and the short time periods that calv... Read More about Quantification of play behaviour in farmed calves using automated ultra-wide band location data and its association with age, weaning and health status.

The tales of contradiction: A thematic analysis of British sheep farmers’ perceptions of managing sheep scab in their flocks (2024)
Journal Article
Smith, A. E. O., Doidge, C., Knific, T., Lovatt, F., & Kaler, J. (2024). The tales of contradiction: A thematic analysis of British sheep farmers’ perceptions of managing sheep scab in their flocks. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 227, Article 106194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106194

Sheep scab is endemic in Great Britain with an estimated national herd-level prevalence of 10.9% from a surveyed population of sheep farms. Previous studies have investigated how sheep farmers manage sheep scab on their farms in Great Britain, but th... Read More about The tales of contradiction: A thematic analysis of British sheep farmers’ perceptions of managing sheep scab in their flocks.

A qualitative survey approach to investigating beef and dairy veterinarians’ needs in relation to technologies on farms (2024)
Journal Article
Doidge, C., Burrell, A., van Schaik, G., & Kaler, J. (2024). A qualitative survey approach to investigating beef and dairy veterinarians’ needs in relation to technologies on farms. Animal, 18(4), Article 101124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2024.101124

Globally, farmers are being increasingly encouraged to use technologies. Consequently, veterinarians often use farm data and technologies to provide farmers with advice. Yet very few studies have sought to understand veterinarians’ perceptions of dat... Read More about A qualitative survey approach to investigating beef and dairy veterinarians’ needs in relation to technologies on farms.

A Living Lab approach to understanding dairy farmers' technology and data needs to improve herd health: Focus groups from 6 European countries (2024)
Journal Article
Doidge, C., Ånestad, L. M., Burrell, A., Frössling, J., Palczynski, L., Pardon, B., Veldhuis, A., Bokma, J., Carmo, L. P., Hopp, P., Guelbenzu-Gonzalo, M., Meunier, N. V., Ordell, A., Santman-Berends, I., van Schaik, G., & Kaler, J. (2024). A Living Lab approach to understanding dairy farmers' technology and data needs to improve herd health: Focus groups from 6 European countries. Journal of Dairy Science, 107(8), 5754-5778. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-24155

For successful development and adoption of technology on dairy farms, farmers need to be included in the innovation process. However, the design of agricultural technologies usually takes a top-down approach with little involvement of end-users at th... Read More about A Living Lab approach to understanding dairy farmers' technology and data needs to improve herd health: Focus groups from 6 European countries.

Quantification of the effect of in utero events on lifetime resilience in dairy cows (2024)
Journal Article
Lewis, K., Shewbridge Carter, L., Bradley, A., Dewhurst, R., Forde, N., Hyde, R., Kaler, J., March, M. D., Mason, C., O'Grady, L., Strain, S., Thompson, J., & Green, M. (2024). Quantification of the effect of in utero events on lifetime resilience in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 107(7), 4616-4633. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-24215

Currently, the dairy industry is facing many challenges that could affect its sustainability, including climate change and public perception of the industry. As a result, interest is increasing in the concept of identifying resilient animals, those w... Read More about Quantification of the effect of in utero events on lifetime resilience in dairy cows.

Novel enrichment reduces boredom-associated behaviors in housed dairy cows (2024)
Journal Article
Russell, A. L., Randall, L. V., Eyre, N., Kaler, J., & Green, M. J. (2024). Novel enrichment reduces boredom-associated behaviors in housed dairy cows. JDS Communications, 5(5), 452-456. https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2023-0475

There is currently societal interest and concern for dairy cow welfare. It has been suggested that boredom poses a welfare issue for dairy cows, particularly when presented with extended disposable time in housed environments that lack stimuli. Farm... Read More about Novel enrichment reduces boredom-associated behaviors in housed dairy cows.

Evidence of personality-dependent plasticity in dairy calf movement behaviours derived from automated data collection (2023)
Journal Article
Occhiuto, F., Vázquez-Diosdado, J. A., King, A. J., & Kaler, J. (2023). Evidence of personality-dependent plasticity in dairy calf movement behaviours derived from automated data collection. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 18243. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44957-z

Individual consistency in behaviour, known as animal personality, and behavioural plasticity in response to environmental changes are important factors shaping individual behaviour. Correlations between them, called personality-dependent plasticity,... Read More about Evidence of personality-dependent plasticity in dairy calf movement behaviours derived from automated data collection.

Exploring the data divide through a social practice lens: A qualitative study of UK cattle farmers (2023)
Journal Article
Doidge, C., Palczynski, L., Zhou, X., Bearth, A., van Schaik, G., & Kaler, J. (2023). Exploring the data divide through a social practice lens: A qualitative study of UK cattle farmers. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 220, Article 106030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.106030

Appropriate management decisions are key for sustainable and profitable beef and dairy farming. Data-driven technologies aim to provide information which can improve farmers’ decision-making practices. However, data-driven technologies have resulted... Read More about Exploring the data divide through a social practice lens: A qualitative study of UK cattle farmers.

Incorporating heterogeneity in farmer disease control behaviour into a livestock disease transmission model (2023)
Journal Article
Hill, E., Prosser, N., Brown, P., Ferguson, E., Green, M., Kaler, J., Keeling, M., & Tildesley, M. (2023). Incorporating heterogeneity in farmer disease control behaviour into a livestock disease transmission model. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 219, Article 106019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.106019

Human behaviour is critical to effective responses to livestock disease outbreaks, especially with respect to vaccination uptake. Traditionally, mathematical models used to inform this behaviour have not taken heterogeneity in farmer behaviour into a... Read More about Incorporating heterogeneity in farmer disease control behaviour into a livestock disease transmission model.

Accurate prediction of calving in dairy cows by applying feature engineering and machine learning (2023)
Journal Article
Vázquez-Diosdado, J., Gruhier, J., Miguel-Pacheco, G., Green, M., Dottorini, T., Kaler, J., Vázquez-Diosdado, J. A., & Kaler, J. (2023). Accurate prediction of calving in dairy cows by applying feature engineering and machine learning. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 219, Article 106007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.106007

Prediction of calving is key to dairy cow management. Current trends of increasing herd sizes globally can directly impact the time that farmers spend monitoring individual animals. Automated monitoring on behavioural and physiological changes prior... Read More about Accurate prediction of calving in dairy cows by applying feature engineering and machine learning.

Social and ethical implications of data and technology use on farms: a qualitative study of Swedish dairy and pig farmers (2023)
Journal Article
Doidge, C., Frössling, J., C. Dórea, F., Ordell, A., Vidal, G., & Kaler, J. (2023). Social and ethical implications of data and technology use on farms: a qualitative study of Swedish dairy and pig farmers. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, Article 1171107. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1171107

Introduction:

Livestock farmers are being increasingly encouraged to adopt digital health technologies on their farms. Digital innovations may have unintended consequences, but there tends to be a pro-innovation bias in previous literature. This... Read More about Social and ethical implications of data and technology use on farms: a qualitative study of Swedish dairy and pig farmers.

A multistate modeling approach to investigate long-term effects of claw horn disruption lesions and early lesion development in dairy cows (2023)
Journal Article
Thomas, M., Green, M., Kypraios, T., & Kaler, J. (2023). A multistate modeling approach to investigate long-term effects of claw horn disruption lesions and early lesion development in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21749

Claw horn disruption lesions (CHDL) are a leading cause of lameness in dairy cattle, and the development, effect, and pathology of these lesions remains an open area of interest within dairy cattle health. Current literature typically attempts to mea... Read More about A multistate modeling approach to investigate long-term effects of claw horn disruption lesions and early lesion development in dairy cows.

Use of qualitative behavioural assessment to investigate affective states of housed dairy cows under different environmental conditions (2023)
Journal Article
Russell, A. L., Randall, L. V., Kaler, J., Eyre, N., & Green, M. J. (2023). Use of qualitative behavioural assessment to investigate affective states of housed dairy cows under different environmental conditions. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, Article 1099170. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1099170

In addition to the reduction of suboptimal welfare, there is now a need to provide farmed animals with positive opportunities to provide confidence that they have experienced a life worth living. Diversification of the environment through environment... Read More about Use of qualitative behavioural assessment to investigate affective states of housed dairy cows under different environmental conditions.

Familiarity, age, weaning and health status impact social proximity networks in dairy calves (2023)
Journal Article
Vázquez-Diosdado, J. A., Occhiuto, F., Carslake, C., & Kaler, J. (2023). Familiarity, age, weaning and health status impact social proximity networks in dairy calves. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 2275. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29309-1

Social network analysis in dairy calves has not been widely studied, with previous studies limited by the short study duration, and low number of animals and replicates. In this study, we investigated social proximity interactions of 79 Holstein–Frie... Read More about Familiarity, age, weaning and health status impact social proximity networks in dairy calves.