Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
7-27-2021
Year of Publication
2021
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College
Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department/School/Program
Animal and Food Sciences
Advisor
Dr. Joao H. C. Costa
Abstract
Personality tests are utilized to characterize individual differences in personality traits across species. Currently, there is no objective personality test that can be implemented on-farm to measure personality in dairy calves. Measuring personality of youngstock in the dairy industry may allow producers to utilize information on individual differences for management decisions and limit the investment in unfit individuals. The isolation box test is a personality test that has potential to be adapted and utilized for dairy calves. The main objective of this thesis is to develop, validate, and utilize an isolation box test for use on-farm in dairy calves. More specifically, the objectives of this thesis are to determine if an isolation box test can determine individual differences in dairy calves, if outcomes from the isolation box test agree with outcomes of established standardized personality tests, and if outcomes from an isolation box test can predict performance outcomes through weaning in dairy calves. The measures produced from an isolation box test were associated with outcomes of standardized personality tests (novel person, novel object, and startle tests) and growth through weaning. The isolation box test has potential to be used as a personality test in dairy calves on-farm.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2021.269
Recommended Citation
Woodrum Setser, Megan Marie, "ISOLATION BOX TEST (IBT) AND DAIRY CALF PERSONALITY TRAITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PERFORMANCE THROUGH WEANING" (2021). Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences. 128.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/animalsci_etds/128
