Niamh O'Connell

Research output

Research output per year 1999 2005 2008 2010 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

• 75 Article
• 6 Other contribution
• 4 Abstract
• 3 Poster
• 9 More
  • 2 Commissioned report
  • 2 Literature review
  • 1 Conference contribution
  • 1 Chapter (peer-reviewed)
  • 1 Paper
  • 1 Meeting abstract
  • 1 Comment/debate

Research output per year

Research output per year

Search results

• Why do we need animal behaviour and welfare research? Article in "AgriSearch:Making a difference for Generations". Publication to mark 20 years of Agri-Search funded research.

  O'Connell, N., 22 Nov 2017, Northern Ireland : AgriSearch.

  Research output: Other contribution

• What can carcass-based assessments tell us about the lifetime welfare status of pigs?

  Carroll, G. A., Boyle, L. A., Hanlon, A., Collins, L., Griffin, K., Friel, M., Armstrong, D. & O'Connell, N. E., 10 May 2018, (Early online date) In: Livestock Science.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • tail 100%
  • Tail 98%
  • Swine 95%
  • lesions (animal) 88%
  • skin lesions 80%
  10 Citations (Scopus)

  220 Downloads (Pure)

• Welfare of dairy cows in continuously housed versus pasture-based systems

  Arnott, G., Ferris, C. & O'Connell, N., 2016, Book of Abstracts of the 67th annual meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science. Wageningen Academic Publishers

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

• The influence of providing perches and string on activity levels, fearfulness and leg health in commercial broiler chickens

  Bailie, C. L. & O'Connell, N. E., Apr 2015, In: Animal. 9, 4, p. 660-668 9 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • perches (animal housing) 100%
  • perch 79%
  • fearfulness 77%
  • legs 59%
  • broiler chickens 56%
  30 Citations (Scopus)

  359 Downloads (Pure)

• The influence of natural light and straw bales on the behaviour and leg health of broiler chickens

  Lewis, C. & O'Connell, N., 2012, p. 175-176. 2 p.

  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review

• The influence of access to aerial perches on fearfulness, social behaviour and production parameters in free-range laying hens

  Donaldson, C. & O'Connell, N., 2012, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 142, p. 51 60 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  20 Citations (Scopus)

• The effect of slurry on skin permeability to methylene blue dye in dairy cows with an without a history of digital dermatitis

  Palmer, M. A., Donnelly, R. F., Garland, M. J., Majithiya, R. & O'Connell, N. E., Oct 2013, In: Animal. 7, 10, p. 1731-1737

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • methylene blue 100%
  • dermatitis 99%
  • dairy cows 71%
  • permeability 71%
  • dyes 70%
  11 Citations (Scopus)

• The effect of level of straw bale provision on the behaviour and leg health of commercial broiler chickens

  Bailie, C. L. & O'Connell, N. E., Oct 2014, In: Animal. 8, 10, p. 1715-1721 7 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • bales 100%
  • straw 69%
  • legs 68%
  • broiler chickens 63%
  • birds 14%
  9 Citations (Scopus)

  342 Downloads (Pure)

• The effect of increasing dietary fibre and the provision of straw racks on the welfare of sows housed in small static groups

  Stewart, C. L., Boyle, L. A. & O'Connell, N., Oct 2011, In: Animal Welfare. 20, 4, p. 633-640 8 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Dietary Fiber 100%
  • sows 80%
  • straw 73%
  • dietary fiber 68%
  • Diet 56%
  10 Citations (Scopus)

• The effect of feeding a high fibre diet on the welfare of sows housed in large dynamic groups

  Stewart, C. L., Boyle, L. A., McCann, M. E. E. & O'Connell, N., Aug 2010, In: Animal Welfare. 19, 3, p. 349-357 9 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • high fiber diet 100%
  • sows 70%
  • dietary fiber 50%
  • Diet 49%
  • Fiber 45%
  8 Citations (Scopus)

• The effect of feeder type and change of feeder type on growing and finishing pig performance and behaviour

  Magowan, E., McCann, M. E. E. & O'Connell, N., 15 Apr 2008, In: Animal Feed Science and Technology. 142, 1-2, p. 133-143 11 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • swine finishing 100%
  • Swine 69%
  • swine 56%
  • Weaning 47%
  • finishing 40%
  12 Citations (Scopus)

• The effect of access to aerial perches and of individual bird parameters on keel bone injuries in commercial free-range laying hens

  Donaldson, C. J., Ball, M. E. E. & O'Connell, N., Feb 2012, In: Poultry Science. 91, 2, p. 304-315 12 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  27 Citations (Scopus)

• Testing ultra-wideband technology as a method of tracking fast-growing broilers under commercial conditions

  Baxter, M. & O'Connell, N. E., 04 Nov 2020, (Early online date) In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 233, 8 p., 105150.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • Chickens 100%
  • broiler chickens 84%
  • Body Weight 73%
  • Grooming 67%
  • Technology 67%
  1 Citation (Scopus)

  33 Downloads (Pure)

• Stakeholder perspectives on the use of pig meat inspection as a health and welfare diagnostic tool in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; a SWOT analysis

  Devitt, C., Boyle, L., Teixeira, D. L., O'Connell, N. E., Hawe, M. & Hanlon, A., 07 Nov 2016, In: Irish Veterinary Journal. 69, 1, p. 1-4 5 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • Animal Welfare 100%
  • meat inspection 97%
  • Northern Ireland 92%
  • Pork Meat 92%
  • Ireland 78%
  11 Citations (Scopus)

  177 Downloads (Pure)

• Should we split-market groups of pigs?

  O'Connell, N., Apr 2010

  Research output: Other contribution

• Responses of calves to acute stress: Individual consistency and relations between behavioral and physiological measures

  Van Reenen, C. G., O'Connell, N., Van Der Werf, J. T. N., Korte, S. M., Hopster, H., Jones, R. B. & Blokhuis, H. J., 07 Aug 2005, In: Physiology & Behavior. 85, 5, p. 557-570 14 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Hydrocortisone 100%
  • Individuality 54%
  • Principal Component Analysis 29%
  • Locomotion 27%
  • Fear 24%
  111 Citations (Scopus)

• Residual feed intake and feeding behaviour in group housed pigs

  Palmer, M., Magowan, E., Metzler-Zebeli, B., Lawlor, P. & O'Connell, N., 02 Sep 2016.

  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

• Relationships between lameness and feeding behaviour in cubicle-housed Holstein-Friesian dairy cows

  Palmer, M. A., Law, R. & O'Connell, N., Sep 2012, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 140, 3-4, p. 121-127 7 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • lameness 100%
  • Locomotion 80%
  • Feeding Behavior 79%
  • feeding behavior 79%
  • locomotion 78%
  20 Citations (Scopus)

• Relationship between rooting behaviour and foraging in growing pigs

  Beattie, V. E. & O'Connell, N., 2002, In: Animal Welfare. 11, 3, p. 295-303 9 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Compost 100%
  • rooting 68%
  • Swine 57%
  • foraging 56%
  • Food 51%
  36 Citations (Scopus)

• Proceedings of the 42nd Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology

  Boyle, L. (ed.), O'Connell, N. (ed.) & Hanlon, A. (ed.), 2008, The Netherlands : Wageningen Academic Publishers.

  Research output: Other contribution

• Primary school-based food environment intervention for improved behaviour, food knowledge and dietary habits: Results from Project Daire, a randomised-controlled, factorial design cluster trial evaluation

  Brennan, S. F., Lavelle, F., Moore, S. E., Dean, M., McKinley, M. C., McCole, P., Hunter, R. F., Dunne, L., O’Connell, N. E., Cardwell, C. R., Elliott, C. T., McCarthy, D. & Woodside, J. V., 19 Oct 2020, (Early online date) In: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. E738.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

• Pre-Weaned Calf Rearing on Northern Irish Dairy Farms: Part 1. A Description of Calf Management and Housing Design

  Brown, A. J., Scoley, G., O’Connell, N., Robertson, J., Browne, A. & Morrison, S., 30 Jun 2021, In: ANIMALS. 11, 7, 17 p., e1954.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • Farms 100%
  • dairy farming 87%
  • Practice Management 83%
  • rearing 74%
  • calves 69%
  62 Downloads (Pure)

• Prepartum concentrate supplementation of a diet based on medium-quality grass silage: Effects on performance, health, fertility, metabolic function, and immune function of low body condition score cows

  Little, M. W., O'Connell, N. E., Welsh, M. D., Barley, J., Meade, K. G. & Ferris, C. P., Sep 2016, In: Journal of Dairy Science. 99, 9, p. 7102-7122 21 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Silage 100%
  • Poaceae 71%
  • grass silage 67%
  • Postpartum Period 54%
  • Fertility 53%
  11 Citations (Scopus)

• Play behaviour, fear responses and activity levels in commercial broiler chickens provided with preferred environmental enrichments

  Baxter, M., Bailie, C. L. & O'Connell, N., 22 May 2018, (Early online date) In: Animal.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • play activities 100%
  • environmental enrichment 95%
  • fearfulness 80%
  • broiler chickens 58%
  • perches (animal housing) 25%
  20 Citations (Scopus)

  264 Downloads (Pure)

• Pig producer perspectives on the use of meat inspection as an animal health and welfare diagnostic tool in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

  Devitt, C., Boyle, L., Teixeira, D. L., O'Connell, N. E., Hawe, M. & Hanlon, A., 09 Feb 2016, In: Irish Veterinary Journal. 69, 9 p., 2.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • Animal Welfare 100%
  • meat inspection 97%
  • Northern Ireland 92%
  • Ireland 78%
  • Meat 75%
  10 Citations (Scopus)

  183 Downloads (Pure)

• Perch design preferences of commercial broiler chickens reared in windowed houses

  Bailie, C. & O'Connell, N., 2016, p. 397.

  Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review

• Nutritonal status of adult ewes during early and mid-pregnancy. 1. Effects of plane of nutrition on ewe reproduction and offspring performance to weaning

  Munoz, C., Carson, A., Mccoy, M. A., Dawson, L., O'Connell, N. & Gordon, A. W., Jan 2008, In: Animal. 2, 1, p. 52-63 12 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • feeding level 100%
  • ewes 79%
  • weaning 76%
  • pregnancy 64%
  • energy requirements 14%
  16 Citations (Scopus)

• Nutritional status of adult ewes during early and mid-pregnancy. 2. Effects of supplementation with selenised yeast on ewe reproduction and offspring performance to weaning

  Munoz, C., Carson, A., Mccoy, M. A., Dawson, L., O'Connell, N. & Gordon, A. W., Jan 2008, In: Animal. 2, 1, p. 64-72 9 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • ewes 90%
  • weaning 87%
  • pregnancy 73%
  • yeasts 65%
  • selenium 48%
  10 Citations (Scopus)

• Lipid content and fatty acid composition of the digital cushion of bulls offered different amounts of linseed

  Baird, L. G., Dawson, L. E. R., Young, I. S. & O'Connell, N., Jul 2010, In: Journal of Animal Science . 88, 7, p. 2403-2409 7 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  File

  • Flax 100%
  • linseed 78%
  • bulls 61%
  • Fatty Acids 57%
  • fatty acid composition 52%
  7 Citations (Scopus)

  220 Downloads (Pure)

• Investigating optimal levels of platform perch provision for windowed broiler housing

  Baxter, M., Richmond, A., Lavery, U. & O'Connell, N., 10 Feb 2020, (Early online date) In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 104967.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • Perches 100%
  • perch 69%
  • broiler chickens 48%
  • Birds 16%
  • birds 9%
  4 Citations (Scopus)

  97 Downloads (Pure)

• Intestinal microbiota profiles associated with low and high residual feed intake in chickens across two geographical locations

  Siegerstetter, S-C., Schmitz-Esser, S., Magowan, E., Wetzels, S. U., Zebeli, Q., Lawlor, P., O'Connell, N. & Metzler-Zebeli, B., 15 Nov 2017, In: PLoS ONE. 12, 11, p. 1-23

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • Geographical Locations 100%
  • intestinal microorganisms 87%
  • feed intake 72%
  • chickens 60%
  • feces 38%
  45 Citations (Scopus)

  285 Downloads (Pure)

• Influence of social status on the welfare of sows in static and dynamic groups

  O'Connell, N., Beattie, V. E. & Moss, B. W., 2003, In: Animal Welfare. 12, 2, p. 239-249 11 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • sows 100%
  • White 86%
  • Animals 51%
  • aggression 47%
  • animals 42%
  50 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of social status on the welfare of growing pigs housed in barren and enriched environments

  O'Connell, N., Beattie, V. E. & Moss, B. W., Nov 2004, In: Animal Welfare. 13, 4, p. 425-431 7 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Swine 100%
  • Food 89%
  • swine 81%
  • Environment 71%
  • environmental enrichment 48%
  25 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of replacement rate on the welfare of sows introduced to a large dynamic group

  O'Connell, N., Beattie, V. E. & Moss, B. W., 12 Jan 2004, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 85, 1-2, p. 43-56 14 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • sows 100%
  • Animals 51%
  • animals 42%
  • Aggression 42%
  • aggression 37%
  17 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of regrouping strategy on performance, behaviour and carcass parameters in pigs

  O'Connell, N., Beattie, V. & Watt, D., Nov 2005, In: Livestock Production Science. 97, 2-3, p. 107-115 9 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Swine 100%
  • swine 81%
  • Weights and Measures 80%
  • Weaning 16%
  • aggression 14%
  23 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of post-calving regrouping strategy on welfare and performance parameters in dairy heifers

  O'Connell, N., Wicks, H., Carson, A. & Mccoy, M. A., 01 Dec 2008, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 114, 3-4, p. 319-329 11 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Hoof and Claw 100%
  • dairy heifers 94%
  • Lactation 79%
  • calving 70%
  • heifers 69%
  11 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of natural light and straw bales on activity levels and leg health in commercial broiler chickens

  Bailie, C., Ball, E. & O'Connell, N., Apr 2013, In: Animal. 7, p. 618 626 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• Influence of individual predisposition, maternal experience and lactation environment on the responses of pigs to weaning at two different ages

  O'Connell, N., Beattie, V. E., Sneddon, I., Breuer, K., Mercer, J. T., Rance, K. A., Sutcliffe, M. E. M. & Edwards, S. A., Mar 2005, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 90, 3-4, p. 219-232 14 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Lactation 100%
  • Weaning 98%
  • weaning 80%
  • lactation 75%
  • Swine 72%
  23 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of group size during the post-weaning period on the performance and behaviour of pigs

  O'Connell, N., Beattie, V. E. & Weatherup, R. N., Mar 2004, In: Livestock Production Science. 86, 1-3, p. 225-232 8 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Weaning 100%
  • group size 99%
  • weaning 81%
  • Swine 73%
  • swine 59%
  21 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of feeder type on the performance and behaviour of weaned pigs

  O'Connell, N., Beattie, V. E. & Weatherup, R. N., 2002, In: Livestock Production Science. 74, 1, p. 13-17 5 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • food conversion 100%
  • Weaning 89%
  • weaning 73%
  • Swine 65%
  • Food 58%
  20 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of environmental enrichment on welfare-related behavioural and physiological parameters in growing pigs

  Beattie, V. E., O'Connell, N., Kilpatrick, D. J. & Moss, B. W., Jun 2000, In: Animal Science. 70, 3, p. 443-450 8 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • environmental enrichment 100%
  • swine 47%
  • social behavior 24%
  • aggression 22%
  • slaughter 22%
  94 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of environmental enrichment on the behaviour, performance and meat quality of domestic pigs

  Beattie, V. E., O'Connell, N. & Moss, B., Jul 2000, In: Livestock Production Science. 65, 1-2, p. 71-79 9 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • environmental enrichment 100%
  • Sus scrofa 99%
  • Meat 81%
  • meat quality 74%
  • swine 47%
  219 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of environmental enrichment on aggressive behaviour and dominance relationships in growing pigs

  O'Connell, N., 1999, In: Animal Welfare. 8, 3, p. 269-279 11 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  64 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of bedding substrates on lying and rising behaviour in dairy heifers

  McBride, J. & O'Connell, N. E., 12 Apr 2021, (Early online date) In: Advances in Animal Biosciences. 1, 1, p. 98

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• Influence of access to straw provided in racks on the welfare of sows in large dynamic groups

  Stewart, C. L., O'Connell, N. & Boyle, L., Aug 2008, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 112, 3-4, p. 235-247 13 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • sows 100%
  • straw 91%
  • Mastication 77%
  • Exploratory Behavior 42%
  • mastication 28%
  22 Citations (Scopus)

• Influence of access to grass silage on the welfare of sows introduced to a large dynamic group

  O'Connell, N., Oct 2007, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 107, 1-2, p. 45-57 13 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Silage 100%
  • Poaceae 71%
  • grass silage 67%
  • sows 55%
  • Mastication 16%
  4 Citations (Scopus)

• Immunological effects of altering the concentrate inclusion level in a grass silage-based diet for early lactation Holstein Friesian cows

  Little, M. W., Wylie, A. R. G., O'Connell, N. E., Welsh, M. D., Grelet, C., Bell, M. J., Gordon, A. & Ferris, C. P., 01 Apr 2019, In: Animal. 13, 4, p. 799-809

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • grass silage 100%
  • early lactation 94%
  • Holstein 71%
  • concentrates 68%
  • cows 59%
  2 Citations (Scopus)

• Identifying physiological measures of lifetime welfare status in pigs: Exploring the usefulness of Haptoglobin, C- Reactive Protein and hair cortisol sampled at the time of slaughter

  Carroll, G. A., Boyle, L., Hanlon, A., Palmer, M., Collins, L., Griffin, K., Armstrong, D. & O'Connell, N., 02 Mar 2018, In: Irish Veterinary Journal. 71, 8, p. 1-10

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  • C-reactive protein 100%
  • Haptoglobins 92%
  • haptoglobins 89%
  • Hair 72%
  • hairs 68%
  9 Citations (Scopus)

  213 Downloads (Pure)

• Housing the fattening pig

  O'Connell, N., 2008, The Welfare of Pigs. Marchant-Forde, J. (ed.). The Netherlands: Springer, p. 189-210

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed)

• Heritability of clinical tail-biting and its relation to performance traits.

  Breuer, K., Sutcliffe, M. E. M., Mercer, J. T., Rance, K. A., O'Connell, N., Sneddon, I. & Edwards, S. A., Sep 2005, In: Livestock Production Science. 93, 1, p. 87-94 8 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  70 Citations (Scopus)