Māori perspectives on animals in research
Project start: 20 January 2022
Project length: 1 year
MPI funding: $54,893
Industry funding: $31,581
Industry partner: Royal Society Te Apārangi, University of Auckland
Region: Nationwide
The project will explore Māori perspectives on the use of animals in research, including examples from farming and agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, tourism and conservancy, and laboratory research. The outputs will be useful for teaching animal ethics, as well as animal ethics committees and researchers who wish to learn more about Mātauranga Māori in relation to animals in research.
Reducing tail damage on New Zealand dairy farms
Project start: 26 November 2021
Project length: 4 years
MPI funding: $604,172.50
Industry funding: $352,577
Industry partner: Veterinary Enterprises Group Limited
Region: Nationwide
This project will gather data on tail damage in cattle to improve cattle welfare in New Zealand. It aims to gauge the prevalence and cause of damaged tails, as well as farmer attitudes towards and understanding of tail damage in New Zealand.
National development of farmer-led regional sustainable health groups
Project start: 1 November 2021
Project length: 2 years
MPI funding: $472,200
Industry funding: $310,000
Industry partner: VetSouth Limited, VetNZ Limited
Region: Nationwide
This project will develop farmer-led groups to initiate and drive change regarding antimicrobial use, and an improvement in disease management on farms. Using Participatory Development methodology, farmer-led Sustainable Health Groups will be established nationally. These groups will be responsible for developing farmer-initiated strategies to reduce antimicrobial use and improve disease management.
Decreasing the lameness impact on NZ dairy farms
Project start: 28 February 2020
Project length: 3 years
MPI funding: $450,108
Industry funding: $337,617
Industry partner: VetEnt Research
Region: Nationwide
Cattle tend to only show pain and weakness when lameness becomes excruciating. VetEnt will investigate the national prevalence, incidence, duration and risk factors for lameness in cattle, as well as current farmer management practice. It will determine practical interventions for farmers and investigate what stops them implementing lameness control strategies.
