Subject: Polar belt transmitters for cows? From: Brooke Aitken Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:03:43 -0600 To: applied-ethology@usask.ca Hello All I am currently working on my masters with Dr. Joe Stookey at the University of Saskatchewan. We are gearing up for a project that involves taking some heart rates on calves entering the feedlot (about 575 lbs). We have the Polar Team System, which has heart rate transmitting belts. They were made to be strapped around a person’s chest and record their heart rate and other parameters. We would like to somehow modify these belts so that they could be connected to a lead which is attached to the animal at the other end. The measurements will be taken while the animal is caught in a headgate, so they don’t have to walk around with the belt on. We have tried taping a wire to the belt and holding to ourselves at the other end with no avail. If anyone has used this or a similar system on cattle or horses, we would be very interested to hear about it! Or if you have any ideas they would be appreciated too!! Thank you Brooke Aitken Brooke Aitken Graduate Student Applied Ethology Large Animal Clincal Sciences WCVM, Saskatoon (306) 966-7056 (306) 270-7432 __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3570 (20081030) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com Subject: contact information for Cambac researchers? From: "Torrey, Stephanie" Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:22:37 -0400 To: Applied-ethology@sask.usask.ca Hi- Does anyone know how to get in contact with E.J. Hunter, T.A. Jones, H.J. Guise, R.H.C. Penny or S. Hoste from Cambac JMA Research in the UK? Thanks! Stephanie Stephanie Torrey, Ph.D. Swine welfare and behaviour Dairy and Swine R&D Centre Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada PO Box 90, 2000 College Street East Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1M1Z3 Phone: (819) 565 9171 x129 Fax: (819) 564 5507 --------------------------- Comportement et bien-être du porc Centre de R&D sur le bovin laitier et le porc Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada PO Box 90, 2000 Rue College Est Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1M1Z3 Téléphone: (819) 565 9171 x129 Télécopie: (819) 564 5507 Subject: Bovine estrus detection From: Simon Gadbois Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:51:40 -0300 To: Applied Ethology List Hi all, Recently a farmer mentioned to me that it was very costly to identify cows in estrus in order to introduce the male at the right time for breeding. Is this true? What are the current means to do this assessment? What sensitivity/reliability/accuracy does this method hold? Thank you, Simon Gadbois ~~~~~~ Y. Simon Gadbois, Ph.D. Department of Psychology / Neuroscience Institute Life Sciences Centre 1355 Oxford Street Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; "> Canid ethology & fish neuroethology http://web.mac.com/ysg/ Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 2009 http://csiv09.dal.ca/ ~~~~~~ Subject: Re: Bovine estrus detection From: Kayce Cover Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:10:17 -0400 (EDT) To: Simon Gadbois , Applied-ethology@usask.ca In 1989-1990, I participated in a project by Mark Varner, PhD, University of Maryland at College Park, Animal Science Department. At this time, failure to detect estrus cows on first cycle was thought to cost the dairy industry over 1.5 billion annually. We trained cows to tell us if they wanted food or a date with a bull. Estrus was controlled, hormonally. It was just a feasability study and was found to have merit (although we all agreed we needed to ask the more specific question, did they want to be bred by the bull...). However, the Dutch published about the use of computer transponders that could identify estrus cows via temperature measured through the transponders. I believe the Dutch subsequently did not release the technology, although I don't know this for sure. The study took us a year. Now the process for teaching animals to answer questions directly is really honed down and it can be done pretty rapidly in most cases. > > > > Hi all, > > > > Recently a farmer mentioned to me that it was very costly to identify > > cows in estrus in order to introduce the male at the right time for > > breeding. > > Is this true? > > What are the current means to do this assessment? What sensitivity/ > > reliability/accuracy does this method hold? > > > > Thank you, > > > > Simon Gadbois > > > > > > > > ~~~~~~ > > Y. Simon Gadbois, Ph.D. > > Department of Psychology / Neuroscience Institute > > Life Sciences Centre > > 1355 Oxford Street > > Dalhousie University > > Halifax, Nova Scotia > > B3H 4J1, Canada > > > > Canid ethology & fish neuroethology > > http://web.mac.com/ysg/ > > Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 2009 > > http://csiv09.dal.ca/ > > ~~~~~~ > > Regards, Kayce Kayce Cover MSEd, BS An Sci, CABC IAABC Syn Alia Training Systems http://www.synalia.com PO Box 8788, Norfolk, VA 23503-0788 001 757 588 5967 or 001 757 609 5066 Subject: Position available From: "Martin, Francois" Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:43:48 -0700 To: "Applied-ethology@usask.ca" Greetings, There is a position available (PhD level) in the Behavior Section at Nestle Purina. The details of the position and how to apply can be found at www.nestlepurinacareers.com. The job is located in St-Joseph, Missouri. Regards, Dr. Martin Subject: RE: Position available From: "Martin, Francois" Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:42:03 -0700 To: "Applied-ethology@usask.ca" The job number for this position is nest-00009523. ________________________________________ From: Martin, Francois [fmartin@vetmed.wsu.edu] Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 6:43 AM To: Applied-ethology@usask.ca Subject: Position available Greetings, There is a position available (PhD level) in the Behavior Section at Nestle Purina. The details of the position and how to apply can be found at www.nestlepurinacareers.com. The job is located in St-Joseph, Missouri. Regards, Dr. Martin Subject: Funds for Tree Removal From: Cecilia Lambert Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:59:00 -0700 (PDT) To: 'PeterMuller' Funds for tree Indiana Coyote Rescue Center is in need of funds to cut down a large tree. I am very sad this has to be done. This huge maple tree is about fifty years old and has sheltered four of my coyote pens and one fox pen for twenty-two years. Eight years ago, it suffered a large wound from a lightening strike. It has tried to heal itself, but now borers are eating at the trunk. It has to come down at a cost of $900. It is in danger of falling on three pens and has become a danger to the animals inside those pens. Can you help? Just click on a PayPal button on the Home Page at www.coyoterescue.com Or make a donation by check to: Indiana Coyote Rescue 7975E 300S Bringhurst, IN 46913 Thank you for continuing to support the coyotes in these very difficult times. CeAnn Lambert Indiana Coyote Rescue Center www.coyoterescue.org Please visit our gift shop @ www.cafepress.com/coyoterescue Subject: Sex or gender in non-human animals? From: Olsson@ibmc.up.pt Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:49:34 +0100 To: applied-ethology@usask.ca Dear all, I know I have raised this question, but I would really appreciate to get input from a number of fellow ethologists on this. I fully agree with using the term "gender" (rather than sex) when we talk about humans who transmit culture and social values. But in non-primates? I'm presently reading a document where the author argues that part of standardizing the experimental procedure is to use animals of the same gender. "What's wrong with sex?" is an interesting question to ask on Friday afternoon, but really, that's my question. If a boar grows bigger than a sow, is that a gender effect? If a male mouse is more aggressive than a female mouse, is that a gender effect? Looking forward to hearing your view on this! Regards, Anna Olsson Subject: Re: Sex or gender in non-human animals? From: Kathy Morgan Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:29:25 -0400 To: applied-ethology@usask.ca Hi Anna! I personally object to using the word "gender" in ANY context when what the author means is "physical appearance" or "physical sex." For some reason, the "s" word has become too "bawdy" or politically incorrect, to the point where people use "gender" incorrectly. Gender refers to a socially prescribed role. Sex is based on chromosomes, or appearance of genitalia. If you mean sex, then, use that word. If you mean "gender," say that. Personally, I think nonhuman primates may have gender in addition to sex, but that is not how the word "gender" is used in your question. --Kathy Morgan Wheaton College Norton, MA 02766 U.S.A. kmorgan@wheatonma.edu also Director of Research Southwick's Zoo 2 Southwick St. Mendon, MA 01756 U.S.A. kmorgan@southwickszoo.com Olsson@ibmc.up.pt wrote: > > Dear all, > > I know I have raised this question, but I would really appreciate to get input from a number of fellow ethologists on this. I fully agree with using the term "gender" (rather than sex) when we talk about humans who transmit culture and social values. But in non-primates? I'm presently reading a document where the author argues that part of standardizing the experimental procedure is to use animals of the same gender. "What's wrong with sex?" is an interesting question to ask on Friday afternoon, but really, that's my question. If a boar grows bigger than a sow, is that a gender effect? If a male mouse is more aggressive than a female mouse, is that a gender effect? > > Looking forward to hearing your view on this! > > Regards, > Anna Olsson