Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915
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Item The Effect of Gymnema Sylvestre on Motivation to Consume Sweet Foods—A Qualitative Investigation(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2025-09-01) Nelson I; Kruger R; Hsiao D; Stice E; Ali A; Min K-JBackground/Objectives: Excessive intake of sugar-sweetened food (SSF) increases obesity risk. Various psychological, physiological, and environmental factors may drive high consumption of SSF. Due to blocking sweet tastes, the herb Gymnema sylvestre (GS) has been shown to reduce SSF consumption, but its impact on motivation to eat SSF is unknown. This research aimed to qualitatively investigate adults’ perceptions regarding effects of GS on their motivation to eat SSF when administered systematically (three times/day in-between meals, i.e., GS-SYS treatment) or ad libitum (up to six times/day at participants’ discretion, i.e., GS-ADLIB) over 14 days, compared to placebo (taste-matched mint; PLAC-SYS). Methods: This study represents the qualitative investigation of a placebo-controlled randomised cross-over trial, conducted as three 14-day phases. The qualitative investigation included interviews at baseline and three post-testing phases. Seven participants (mean age 34.7 ± 13.8 years; two males, five females) agreed to participate. Twenty-eight interviews (across phases) were thematically analysed using NVivo software, identifying themes and highlighting changes in motivation to eat SSFs across the study. Results: The GS-SYS and GS-ADLIB treatments made SSFs unpleasant to eat and increased mindful eating, subsequently increasing motivation to avoid SSFs. External factors could increase or decrease motivation, depending on individual circumstances. Participants preferred GS-SYS and GS-ADLIB over PLAC-SYS, feeling it was more effective at changing behaviours related to SSF intake. Self-control over SSF intake changed during the study, mostly due to external factors, and in part GS-ADLIB. Conclusions: Participants found both GS administrations successful as motivation to avoid SSF; GS-ADLIB was considered most effective.Item The effect of prepartum synthetic zeolite supplementation on the eating, lying and activity behaviours of grazing dairy cows(Taylor and Francis Group on behalf of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 2024) Dalton JI; Hendriks SJ; Roche JR; Donaghy DJ; Dela Rue B; Kuhn-Sherlock B; Phyn CVC; Corner-Thomas RThis study determined the effect of feeding synthetic zeolite A prepartum to reduce periparturient hypocalcaemia risk on the eating, lying, and activity behaviours of multiparous grazing dairy cows. Animals were randomly allocated to either a Zeolite treatment group (n = 21; individually fed 500 g/d zeolite for two weeks prepartum) or a Control group (n = 22). Behaviour data obtained from accelerometers were analysed to determine the effects of treatment, parity (Parity 2−3 vs. 4+), and their interactions during 3 periods: PRE (−21 to −3 d), PERI (−2–2 d) and POST (3–28 d) relative to the day of calving (day 0). Parity 2–3 Zeolite cows ate for 18 min/day less than Parity 2–3 Control cows PRE. Zeolite-fed cows also ate for 24 min/day less than Control cows during the PERI period. There were no treatment differences in lying time or activity PRE or PERI, but Zeolite-fed cows spent more time lying POST. Regardless of treatment, Parity 2–3 cows were generally more active and ate for longer than Parity 4 + cows. Our results suggest zeolite may subtly decrease appetite or alter eating behaviour during the supplementation period, particularly in younger cows, and may improve cow comfort postcalving.Item How Lazy Are Pet Cats Really? Using Machine Learning and Accelerometry to Get a Glimpse into the Behaviour of Privately Owned Cats in Different Households(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-04-19) Smit M; Corner-Thomas R; Draganova I; Andrews C; Thomas D; Friedrich CMSurprisingly little is known about how the home environment influences the behaviour of pet cats. This study aimed to determine how factors in the home environment (e.g., with or without outdoor access, urban vs. rural, presence of a child) and the season influences the daily behaviour of cats. Using accelerometer data and a validated machine learning model, behaviours including being active, eating, grooming, littering, lying, scratching, sitting, and standing were quantified for 28 pet cats. Generalized estimating equation models were used to determine the effects of different environmental conditions. Increasing cat age was negatively correlated with time spent active (p < 0.05). Cats with outdoor access (n = 18) were less active in winter than in summer (p < 0.05), but no differences were observed between seasons for indoor-only (n = 10) cats. Cats living in rural areas (n = 7) spent more time eating than cats in urban areas (n = 21; p < 0.05). Cats living in single-cat households (n = 12) spent more time lying but less time sitting than cats living in multi-cat households (n = 16; p < 0.05). Cats in households with at least one child (n = 20) spent more time standing in winter (p < 0.05), and more time lying but less time sitting in summer compared to cats in households with no children (n = 8; p < 0.05). This study clearly shows that the home environment has a major impact on cat behaviour.Item The Behaviour of Sheep around a Natural Waterway and Impact on Water Quality during Winter in New Zealand(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-04-25) Bunyaga A; Corner-Thomas R; Draganova I; Kenyon P; Burkitt L; Giuseppe PAccess of livestock, such as cattle, to waterways has been shown to be a cause of poor water quality due to pugging damage and excretion entering the water. In New Zealand, regulations require that cattle, deer, and pigs are excluded from accessing waterways, but there are no such requirements for sheep. The current study utilised 24 h video cameras, global positioning system units, and triaxial accelerometers to observe the interaction of Romney ewes (n = 40) with a natural waterway. Ewes were either restricted (week 1) or given access to a reticulated water trough (week 2). Proximity data showed that ewes spent more time within 3 m of the waterway when the trough was unrestricted than when restricted (14.1 ± 5.7 and 10.8 ± 5.1 min/ewe/day, respectively; p < 0.05). Ewes travelled shorter distances on the steeper areas of paddock than flatter areas. Similarly, ewes showed a spatial preference for the flat and low sloped areas of the paddock. Concentrations of suspended sediment and total phosphorus were higher during access to a reticulated water trough which coincided with the week with more rainy days. Phosphorus and E. coli concentrations in the stream water samples were the above recommended Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council water quality guidelines, especially after rainy days, but did not appear to be directly related to sheep activity. Overall, the results suggest that during winter, ewes interacted very little with the waterway and were thus unlikely to influence the levels of nutrient and pathogens in the waterway.Item Evaluating Potential Cetacean Welfare Indicators from Video of Live Stranded Long-Finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas edwardii)(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-07-21) Boys RM; Beausoleil NJ; Pawley MDM; Betty EL; Stockin KA; Filiciotto FDespite the known benefit of considering welfare within wildlife conservation and management, there remains a lack of data to inform such evaluations. To assess animal welfare, relevant information must be captured scientifically and systematically. A key first step is identifying potential indicators of welfare and the practicality of their measurement. We assessed the feasibility of evaluating potential welfare indicators from opportunistically gathered video footage of four stranded odontocete species (n = 53) at 14 stranding events around New Zealand. The first stranded cetacean ethogram was compiled, including 30 different behaviours, 20 of which were observed in all four species. Additionally, thirteen types of human intervention were classified. A subset of 49 live stranded long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas edwardii) were assessed to determine indicator prevalence and to quantify behaviours. Four ‘welfare status’ and six ‘welfare alerting’ non-behavioural indicators could be consistently evaluated from the footage. Additionally, two composite behavioural indicators were feasible. Three human intervention types (present, watering, and touching) and five animal behaviours (tail flutter, dorsal fin flutter, head lift, tail lift, and head side-to-side) were prevalent (>40% of individuals). Our study highlights the potential for non-invasive, remote assessments via video footage and represents an initial step towards developing a systematic, holistic welfare assessment framework for stranded cetaceans.Item Factors influencing individual ability to follow physical distancing recommendations in Aotearoa New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population survey(Taylor and Francis Group, 2021-02-14) Gray L; Rose SB; Stanley J; Zhang J; Tassell-Matamua N; Puloka V; Kvalsvig A; Wiles S; Murton SA; Johnston DM; Becker JS; MacDonald C; Baker MGPhysical distancing (also commonly known as social distancing) is an important non-pharmaceutical strategy to minimise the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus. A range of restrictions to promote physical distancing form a key part of the Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) all-of-government response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of physical distancing strategies is highly dependent on buy-in and the actions of individuals, households and communities. This NZ population survey was conducted to identify people’s views on the effectiveness of various strategies, and factors impacting on their capacity to follow physical distancing requirements during Alert Levels 4, 3, and 2 (April 24th–June 8th 2020). The majority of the 2407 participants were supportive of the public health measures implemented to promote physical distancing across Alert Levels. Few substantial differences were observed in relation to demographic characteristics, suggesting high overall levels of understanding and willingness to adhere to distancing requirements. Around half of the participants reported difficulties practicing physical distancing when in public. Reasons included being an essential worker and challenges related to the behaviour of others. These survey findings highlight the willingness of NZ’s population to play their part in eliminating COVID-19 transmission, and the way in which behavioural change was rapidly adopted in line with government requirements.Item Benefits of animal exposure on veterinary students’ understanding of equine behaviour and self-assessed equine handling skills(MDPI, 2019-09) Guinnefollau L; Gee E; Bolwell C; Norman E; Rogers CHorses are one of the most dangerous animals veterinarians have to work with. For many veterinary students, their first exposure to horses occurs during practical classes. To evaluate the level of knowledge students have of equine behaviour and their equine handling competency when entering the programme, 214 veterinary students (1st and 4th year) were recruited to participate in a questionnaire. Participants were asked to choose one out of 12 terms that best represented the affective state of a horse in a picture, and to self-assess their equine handling skills. Half (n = 56/115) of the first-year students correctly interpreted the horse’s behaviour. The majority had (1) a poor understanding of equine learning mechanisms and (2) poor self-rated equine handling skills. A history of pet ownership (p = 0.027) and the presence of horses on their family property (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with a correct understanding of equine behaviour. Fourth-year students were three times more likely to accurately interpret the horse’s behaviour (p = 0.01) and rated their handling skills higher than first-year students (p = 0.006). These results suggest that previous animal experience confers a considerable advantage to interpret equine behaviour and highlight the critical importance of practical training in the veterinary programme.