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Torres Borda L, Roth P, Lumetzberger J, Auer U, Jenner F. Proximity tracking using ultra-wideband technology for equine social behaviour research. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9971. [PMID: 38693325 PMCID: PMC11063072 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60805-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Sociopositive interactions with conspecifics are essential for equine welfare and quality of life. This study aimed to validate the use of wearable ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to quantify the spatial relationships and dynamics of social behaviour in horses by continuous (1/s) measurement of interindividual distances. After testing the UWB devices' spatiotemporal accuracy in a static environment, the UWB measurement validity, feasibility and utility under dynamic field conditions was assessed in a group of 8 horses. Comparison of the proximity measurements with video surveillance data established the measurement accuracy and validity (r = 0.83, p < 0.0001) of the UWB technology. The utility for social behaviour research was demonstrated by the excellent accordance of affiliative relationships (preferred partners) identified using UWB with video observations. The horses remained a median of 5.82 m (95% CI 5.13-6.41 m) apart from each other and spent 20% (median, 95% CI 14-26%) of their time in a distance ≤ 3 m to their preferred partner. The proximity measurements and corresponding speed calculation allowed the identification of affiliative versus agonistic approaches based on differences in the approach speed and the distance and duration of the resulting proximity. Affiliative approaches were statistically significantly slower (median: 1.57 km/h, 95% CI 1.26-1.92 km/h, p = 0.0394) and resulted in greater proximity (median: 36.75 cm, 95% CI 19.5-62 cm, p = 0.0003) to the approached horse than agonistic approaches (median: 3.04 km/h, 95% CI 2.16-3.74 km/h, median proximity: 243 cm, 95% CI 130-319 cm), which caused an immediate retreat of the approached horse at a significantly greater speed (median: 3.77 km/h, 95% CI 3.52-5.85 km/h, p < 0.0001) than the approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Torres Borda
- Equine Surgery Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Roth
- Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jennifer Lumetzberger
- Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Auer
- Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Intensive Care Medicine Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florien Jenner
- Equine Surgery Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
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Torres Borda L, Kelemen Z, Auer U, Jenner F. Video Ethogram of Equine Social Behaviour. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1179. [PMID: 38672327 PMCID: PMC11047489 DOI: 10.3390/ani14081179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Equine social behaviour studies face challenges stemming from the absence of a comprehensive ethogram with unequivocal standardised definitions and the resulting limits to data comparison across studies. To address these constraints, this ethogram offers researchers a standardised framework, defining thirty-seven distinct equine social behaviours supplemented by video examples for enhanced clarity. These definitions amalgamate insights from existing ethograms and are fine-tuned through meticulous video observations, encompassing contextual cues such as distinguishing between aggressive and playful circling based on ear position and facial expressions and communicative nuances to provide a detailed representation of equine social behaviours. Video recordings complement the standardised definitions by capturing the dynamic flow and sequence of social interactions. By providing a dynamic and detailed representation, videos allow researchers to observe the temporal aspects of behaviour, including the sequence, duration, and rhythm of interactions. These detailed data are crucial for interpreting social behaviours and unravelling the complexities of equine societies. Standardized and video-illustrated definitions of equine social behaviour facilitate clear and consistent communication between researchers, enabling cross-study comparisons regarding the impact of husbandry practices and health conditions on equine social behaviour, which, in turn, can facilitate the assessment and optimisation of management practices and equine welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Torres Borda
- Equine Surgery Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (L.T.B.); (Z.K.)
| | - Zsofia Kelemen
- Equine Surgery Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (L.T.B.); (Z.K.)
| | - Ulrike Auer
- Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Intensive Care Medicine Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Florien Jenner
- Equine Surgery Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (L.T.B.); (Z.K.)
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3
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Guyonnet AE, Whishaw IQ. Adaptive forgetting of place/object memory for dung in the domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus): Memory for a day. Behav Processes 2024; 217:105025. [PMID: 38522797 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2024.105025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus) makes dung deposits to form "stud-piles" and compulsively examines dung droppings, suggesting that dung contains species-relevant information. The present study investigates horses' use of location (place), odor (object) and memory for dung sniff encounters. Horses were video recorded in 2 indoor and 4 outdoor riding arenas as they were taken at different time intervals to experimenter-determined objects or dung deposits that they could sniff. Frame-by-frame video analysis measured approaches, sniff duration, nostril use, ear position and blinking associated with dung investigation. Horses approached and sniffed dung-deposits for longer duration than non-dung objects in all test locations. They made head movements across the extent of dung-deposits when sniffing, showed no nostril or ear preference directed to the target, and blinked as they disengage from sniffing. Reduced approach probability and sniff duration showed that they displayed good place/object memory for dung previously visited at similar and different locations on the same day but poor memory for dung visited on a previous day. Adaptive forgetting of object/place memory for dung after a previous day's dung visit may optimizes risk assessment, including the possibility of premature interruption of foraging by conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Em Guyonnet
- Canadian Centre of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Ian Q Whishaw
- Canadian Centre of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.
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4
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Bini de Lima AC, Sebastião da Fé VC, Palermo Hernandes MS, Oliveira dos Santos VM. Olfactory Stimulation as Environmental Enrichment for Domestic Horses-A Review. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3180. [PMID: 37893904 PMCID: PMC10603683 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Horses constantly face several challenges inherent to the domestic environment, and it is common for the expression of their natural behavior to be drastically limited. Environmental enrichment has been suggested as an alternative to improve the captive situation of domestic horses. Among the recently proposed enrichment strategies, olfactory stimulation has emerged as a method for improving several aspects related to animal behavior. Olfaction is a sensory modality that plays a significant role in the expression of equine behavior, and in recent years, studies have shown that olfactory stimulation can influence the physiological and behavioral parameters of horses. This review provides current information on the anatomical particularities of the equine olfactory system, presents the physiological mechanisms involved in the odor detection process, and demonstrates how stress can interfere with this process. Finally, the use of olfactory stimulation as an environmental enrichment for domestic horses (Equus ferus caballus) is explored. The need for new studies that answer pertinent questions related to this topic is discussed throughout the manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Caroline Bini de Lima
- Nucleus of Studies in Ambience, Bioclimatology, Welfare and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil; (V.C.S.d.F.); (M.S.P.H.); (V.M.O.d.S.)
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5
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Torres Borda L, Auer U, Jenner F. Equine Social Behaviour: Love, War and Tolerance. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091473. [PMID: 37174510 PMCID: PMC10177386 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sociality is an ethological need of horses that remained unchanged by domestication. Accordingly, it is essential to include horses' social behavioural requirements and the opportunity to establish stable affiliative bonds in equine management systems and welfare assessment. Thus, this systematic review aims to provide an up-to-date analysis of equine intraspecific social ethograms. A literature review yielded 27 papers that met the inclusion criteria by studying adult (≥2 years) equine social behaviour with conspecifics using a well-defined ethogram. Social interactions were observed in 851 horses: 320 (semi-)feral free-ranging, 62 enclosed (semi-)feral and 469 domesticated, living in groups averaging 9.1 (mean +/- 6.8 s.d., range: 2-33) horses. The ethograms detailed in these 27 studies included a total of 40 (mean: 12.8/paper, range: 2-23) social behaviours, of which 60% (24/40) were agonistic, 30% (12/40) affiliative, 7.5% (3/40) investigative and 2.5% (1/40) neutral. The 27 publications included 67.7% agonistic and only 26% affiliative, 5.1% investigative and 1.2% neutral social behaviours in their methodology, thus focusing predominantly on socio-negative interactions. The strong emphasis on agonistic behaviours in equine ethology starkly contrasts with the rare occurrence of agonistic behaviours in stable horse groups and the well-established importance of affiliative interactions for equine welfare. The nuanced and complex equine social behaviour requires refinement of the ethogram with a greater focus on affiliative, ambivalent and indifferent interactions and the role of social tolerance in equine social networks to advance equine welfare assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Torres Borda
- Equine Surgery Unit, University Equine Hospital, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Auer
- Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Intensive Care Medicine Unit, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Florien Jenner
- Equine Surgery Unit, University Equine Hospital, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
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6
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Horses discriminate human body odors between fear and joy contexts in a habituation-discrimination protocol. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3285. [PMID: 36841856 PMCID: PMC9968287 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30119-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals are widely believed to sense human emotions through smell. Chemoreception is the most primitive and ubiquitous sense, and brain regions responsible for processing smells are among the oldest structures in mammalian evolution. Thus, chemosignals might be involved in interspecies communication. The communication of emotions is essential for social interactions, but very few studies have clearly shown that animals can sense human emotions through smell. We used a habituation-discrimination protocol to test whether horses can discriminate between human odors produced while feeling fear vs. joy. Horses were presented with sweat odors of humans who reported feeling fear or joy while watching a horror movie or a comedy, respectively. A first odor was presented twice in successive trials (habituation), and then, the same odor and a novel odor were presented simultaneously (discrimination). The two odors were from the same human in the fear or joy condition; the experimenter and the observer were blinded to the condition. Horses sniffed the novel odor longer than the repeated odor, indicating they discriminated between human odors produced in fear and joy contexts. Moreover, differences in habituation speed and asymmetric nostril use according to odor suggest differences in the emotional processing of the two odors.
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7
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Harvey AM, Ramp D, Mellor DJ. Review of the Foundational Knowledge Required for Assessing Horse Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:3385. [PMID: 36496906 PMCID: PMC9736110 DOI: 10.3390/ani12233385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
A detailed understanding of what is usual for a species under optimal conditions is critical for identifying and interpreting different features of body function that have known impacts on animal welfare and its assessment. When applying the Five Domains Model to assess animal welfare, the key starting point is therefore to acquire extensive species-specific knowledge relevant to each of the four physical/functional Domains of the Model. These Domains, 1 to 4, address areas where objective information is evaluated and collated. They are: (1) Nutrition; (2) Physical environment; (3) Health; and (4) Behavioural interactions. It is on the basis of this detailed knowledge that cautious inferences can then be made about welfare-relevant mental experiences animals may have, aligned with Domain 5, Mental State. However, this review is focused entirely on the first four Domains in order to provide a novel holistic framework to collate the multidisciplinary knowledge of horses required for undertaking comprehensive welfare assessments. Thus, inferring the potential mental experiences aligned with Domain 5, the final step in model-based welfare assessments, is not considered here. Finally, providing extensive information on free-roaming horses enables a better understanding of the impacts of human interventions on the welfare of horses in both free-roaming and domestic situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M. Harvey
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - David J. Mellor
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
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8
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Lansade L, Lévy F, Parias C, Reigner F, Górecka-Bruzda A. Weaned horses, especially females, still prefer their dam after five months of separation. Animal 2022; 16:100636. [DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
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9
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Pluháček J, Tučková V, Šárová R, King SRB. Why wait to mark? Possible reasons behind latency from olfactory exploration to overmarking in four African equid species. Anim Cogn 2022; 25:1443-1452. [PMID: 35554766 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-022-01625-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Whereas most studies on overmarking in mammals analysed the rate of overmarking, that those investigate time between exploration of an olfactory stimulus and the response to it remain less common, with inconsistent results. We examined the latency in time between elimination by the sender and sniffing by the receiver, and from sniffing and overmarking, in four captive African equid species to explore differences among species, and among age and sex classes. We investigated these latency time periods in light of three potential hypotheses explaining overmarking behaviour in equids: social bonds, group cohesion, and intrasexual competition. Analysing 1684 events of sniffing and 719 of overmarking among 130 individuals, we found that (i) the time from elimination to overmarking was shorter among female friends and in parent-offspring dyads, proving support to the social bond hypothesis; (ii) intraspecific differences in time periods do not reflect the social organisation of species, thus not supporting the group cohesion hypothesis; (iii) males were more attracted to elimination of conspecifics than females, and female's eliminations were inspected longer, in line with the sexual competition hypothesis and/or reproductive behaviour. In addition, we found that the younger foals came to sniff eliminations faster than older ones, and in larger groups foals devoted longer time to sniffing the elimination before overmarking. We concluded that examination of the elimination could be driven by motivations other than the decision to overmark. Whereas overmarking serves to express bonds to a familiar individual, the latency of overmarking reflects more reproductive interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Pluháček
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Přátelství 815, Uhříněves, 10400, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Ostrava Zoo, Michálkovická 2081/197, 71000, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
- Departement of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 71000, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
| | - Vladimíra Tučková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radka Šárová
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Přátelství 815, Uhříněves, 10400, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sarah R B King
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1499, Fort Collins, USA
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10
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Buzek A, Serwańska-Leja K, Zaworska-Zakrzewska A, Kasprowicz-Potocka M. The Shape of the Nasal Cavity and Adaptations to Sniffing in the Dog ( Canis familiaris) Compared to Other Domesticated Mammals: A Review Article. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:517. [PMID: 35203225 PMCID: PMC8868339 DOI: 10.3390/ani12040517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs are a good starting point for the description and anatomical analysis of turbinates of the nose. This work aimed at summing up the state of knowledge on the shape of the nasal cavity and airflow in these domestic animals and dealt with the brachycephalic syndrome (BOAS) and anatomical changes in the initial airway area in dogs with a short and widened skull. As a result of artificial selection and breeding concepts, the dog population grew very quickly. Modern dog breeds are characterized by a great variety of their anatomical shape. Craniological changes also had a significant impact on the structure and physiology of the respiratory system in mammals. The shape of the nasal cavity is particularly distinctive in dogs. Numerous studies have established that dogs and their olfactory ability are of great importance in searching for lost people, detecting explosives or drugs as well as signaling disease in the human body. The manuscript describes the structure of the initial part of the respiratory system, including the nasal turbinates, and compares representatives of various animal species. It provides information on the anatomy of brachycephalic dogs and BOAS. The studies suggest that further characterization and studies of nasal turbinates and their hypertrophy are important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Buzek
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 33, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (A.B.); (A.Z.-Z.); (M.K.-P.)
| | - Katarzyna Serwańska-Leja
- Department of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71c, 60-625 Poznań, Poland
| | - Anita Zaworska-Zakrzewska
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 33, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (A.B.); (A.Z.-Z.); (M.K.-P.)
| | - Małgorzata Kasprowicz-Potocka
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 33, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (A.B.); (A.Z.-Z.); (M.K.-P.)
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A Preliminary Investigation of Interspecific Chemosensory Communication of Emotions: Can Humans ( Homo sapiens) Recognise Fear- and Non-Fear Body Odour from Horses ( Equus ferus caballus). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123499. [PMID: 34944275 PMCID: PMC8697966 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Thus far, little attention has been paid to interspecific odour communication of emotions, and no studies have examined whether humans are able to recognise animal emotions from body odour. Thus, the aim of the present study was to address this question. Body odour samples were collected from 16 two-year-old thoroughbred horses in fear and non-fear situations, respectively. The horse odour samples were then assessed by 73 human odour raters. We found that humans, as a group, were able to correctly assign whether horse odour samples were collected under a fear- or a non-fear condition, respectively. An open question remains, which is whether humans could simply distinguish between little versus much sweat and between high intensity versus low intensity or were able to recognise horses’ fear and non-fear emotions. To conclude, the present results indicate that olfaction might contribute to the human recognition of horse emotions. However, these results should be addressed with caution in light of the study’s limitations and only viewed as exploratory for future studies. Abstract Mammalian body odour conveys cues about an individual’s emotional state that can be recognised by conspecifics. Thus far, little attention has been paid to interspecific odour communication of emotions, and no studies have examined whether humans are able to recognise animal emotions from body odour. Thus, the aim of the present study was to address this question. Body odour samples were collected from 16 two-year-old thoroughbred horses in fear and non-fear situations, respectively. The horse odour samples were then assessed by 73 human odour raters. We found that humans, as a group, were able to correctly assign whether horse odour samples were collected under a fear- or a non-fear condition, respectively. Furthermore, they perceived the body odour of horses collected under the fear condition as more intense, compared with the non-fear condition. An open question remains, which is whether humans could simply distinguish between little versus much sweat and between high intensity versus low intensity or were able to recognise horses’ fear and non-fear emotions. These results appear to fit the notion that the ability to recognise emotions in other species may present an advantage to both the sender and the receiver of emotional cues, particularly in the interaction between humans and domesticated animals. To conclude, the present results indicate that olfaction might contribute to the human recognition of horse emotions. However, these results should be addressed with caution in light of the study’s limitations and only viewed as exploratory for future studies.
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12
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Luz MP, Maia CM, Filho JNPP. Preliminary findings in the rolling behavior of Mules (Equus caballus x Equus asinus). J Vet Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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13
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Whishaw IQ, Burke CJ. Memory for surface objects in an arena by the horse (Equus ferus caballus) under saddle: Evidence for dual process theory of spatial representation. Behav Processes 2021; 189:104442. [PMID: 34116138 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Place memory, the ability to remember locations, is a feature of many animal species. This episodic-like memory is displayed in the foraging behavior of animals and has been studied in many different kinds of laboratory spatial tasks. A horse stallion, Equus ferus caballus, will create "dung-heaps or stud-piles" by defecation in the same place suggesting that the behavior is central to spatial behavior but to date there has been little investigation of horse olfactory/spatial behavior. The present study describes investigatory behavior of horses for objects on the surface of a riding arena. Horses under saddle approached objects on the arena surface that included small pieces of straw, fur, and paper and larger objects including clumps of debris and were especially interested in dung droppings left by other horses. Once an object was investigated by sniffing, it was usually not approached again during that outing but could be approached anew on the following day. Dung investigatory behavior and place memory were confirmed in a number of structured tests in which test-retest intervals were varied. The results are discussed in relation to the dual process theory that proposes that spatial representations central to adaptive behavior require both allocentric Cartesian spatial information and egocentric episodic-like information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Q Whishaw
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada.
| | - Candace J Burke
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Canada
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14
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Ragonese G, Baragli P, Mariti C, Gazzano A, Lanatà A, Ferlazzo A, Fazio E, Cravana C. Interspecific two-dimensional visual discrimination of faces in horses (Equus caballus). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247310. [PMID: 33606816 PMCID: PMC7894942 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In social animals, recognizing conspecifics and distinguishing them from other animal species is certainly important. We hypothesize, as demonstrated in other species of ungulates, that horses are able to discriminate between the faces of conspecifics and the faces of other domestic species (cattle, sheep, donkeys and pigs). Our hypothesis was tested by studying inter-and intra-specific visual discrimination abilities in horses through a two-way instrumental conditioning task (discrimination and reversal learning), using two-dimensional images of faces as discriminative stimuli and food as a positive reward. Our results indicate that 8 out of 10 horses were able to distinguish between two-dimensional images of the faces of horses and images showing the faces of other species. A similar performance was obtained in the reversal task. The horses’ ability to learn by discrimination is therefore comparable to other ungulates. Horses also showed the ability to learn a reversal task. However, these results were obtained regardless of the images the tested horses were exposed to. We therefore conclude that horses can discriminate between two dimensional images of conspecifics and two dimensional images of different species, however in our study, they were not able to make further subcategories within each of the two categories. Despite the fact that two dimensional images of animals could be treated differently from two dimensional images of non-social stimuli, our results beg the question as to whether a two-dimensional image can replace the real animal in cognitive tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Ragonese
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Paolo Baragli
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Research Center “E. Piaggio”, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Chiara Mariti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Angelo Gazzano
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Lanatà
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Adriana Ferlazzo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Esterina Fazio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Cristina Cravana
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Rørvang MV, Nielsen BL, McLean AN. Sensory Abilities of Horses and Their Importance for Equitation Science. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:633. [PMID: 33033724 PMCID: PMC7509108 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vision, hearing, olfaction, taste, and touch comprise the sensory modalities of most vertebrates. With these senses, the animal receives information about its environment. How this information is organized, interpreted, and experienced is known as perception. The study of the sensory abilities of animals and their implications for behavior is central not only to ethology but also to animal welfare. Sensory ability, perception, and behavior are closely linked. Horses and humans share the five most common sensory modalities, however, their ranges and capacities differ, so that horses are unlikely to perceive their surroundings in a similar manner to humans. Understanding equine perceptual abilities and their differences is important when horses and human interact, as these abilities are pivotal for the response of the horse to any changes in its surroundings. This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the sensory abilities of horses. The information is discussed within an evolutionary context and also includes a practical perspective, outlining potential ways to mitigate risks of injuries and enhance positive horse-human interactions. The equine sensory apparatus includes panoramic visual capacities with acuities similar to those of red-green color-blind humans as well as aural abilities that, in some respects exceed human hearing and a highly developed sense of smell, all of which influence how horses react in various situations. Equine sensitivity to touch has been studied surprisingly sparingly despite tactile stimulation being the major interface of horse training. We discuss the potential use of sensory enrichment/positive sensory stimulation to improve the welfare of horses in various situations e.g. using odors, touch or sound to enrich the environment or to appease horses. In addition, equine perception is affected by factors such as breed, individuality, age, and in some cases even color, emphasizing that different horses may need different types of management. Understanding the sensory abilities of horses is central to the emerging discipline of equitation science, which comprises the gamut of horse-human interactions. Therefore, sensory abilities continue to warrant scientific focus, with more research to enable us to understand different horses and their various needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vilain Rørvang
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Biosystems and Technology, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Birte L Nielsen
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR Modélisation Systémique Appliquée aux Ruminants, Paris, France
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Sabiniewicz A, Tarnowska K, Świątek R, Sorokowski P, Laska M. Olfactory-based interspecific recognition of human emotions: Horses (Equus ferus caballus) can recognize fear and happiness body odour from humans (Homo sapiens). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Guarneros M, Sánchez-García O, Martínez-Gómez M, Arteaga L. The underexplored role of chemical communication in the domestic horse, Equus caballus. J Vet Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2020.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Pluháček J, Tučková V, Šárová R, King SRB. Effect of social organisation on interspecific differences in overmarking behaviour of foals in African equids. Anim Cogn 2019; 23:131-140. [DOI: 10.1007/s10071-019-01323-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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19
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Overmarking behaviour of zebra males: no scent masking, but a group cohesion function across three species. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2744-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Nawroth C, Langbein J, Coulon M, Gabor V, Oesterwind S, Benz-Schwarzburg J, von Borell E. Farm Animal Cognition-Linking Behavior, Welfare and Ethics. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:24. [PMID: 30838218 PMCID: PMC6383588 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Farm animal welfare is a major concern for society and food production. To more accurately evaluate animal farming in general and to avoid exposing farm animals to poor welfare situations, it is necessary to understand not only their behavioral but also their cognitive needs and capacities. Thus, general knowledge of how farm animals perceive and interact with their environment is of major importance for a range of stakeholders, from citizens to politicians to cognitive ethologists to philosophers. This review aims to outline the current state of farm animal cognition research and focuses on ungulate livestock species, such as cattle, horses, pigs and small ruminants, and reflects upon a defined set of cognitive capacities (physical cognition: categorization, numerical ability, object permanence, reasoning, tool use; social cognition: individual discrimination and recognition, communication with humans, social learning, attribution of attention, prosociality, fairness). We identify a lack of information on certain aspects of physico-cognitive capacities in most farm animal species, such as numerosity discrimination and object permanence. This leads to further questions on how livestock comprehend their physical environment and understand causal relationships. Increasing our knowledge in this area will facilitate efforts to adjust husbandry systems and enrichment items to meet the needs and preferences of farm animals. Research in the socio-cognitive domain indicates that ungulate livestock possess sophisticated mental capacities, such as the discrimination between, and recognition of, conspecifics as well as human handlers using multiple modalities. Livestock also react to very subtle behavioral cues of conspecifics and humans. These socio-cognitive capacities can impact human-animal interactions during management practices and introduce ethical considerations on how to treat livestock in general. We emphasize the importance of gaining a better understanding of how livestock species interact with their physical and social environments, as this information can improve housing and management conditions and can be used to evaluate the use and treatment of animals during production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Nawroth
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
- Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Agroscope Tänikon, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jan Langbein
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | | | - Vivian Gabor
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Susann Oesterwind
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Judith Benz-Schwarzburg
- Unit for Ethics and Human-Animal Studies, Messerli Research Institute, Vetmeduni Vienna, University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eberhard von Borell
- Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
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Abstract
The great increase in the study of dog cognition in the current century has yielded insights into canine cognition in a variety of domains. In this review, we seek to place our enhanced understanding of canine cognition into context. We argue that in order to assess dog cognition, we need to regard dogs from three different perspectives: phylogenetically, as carnivoran and specifically a canid; ecologically, as social, cursorial hunters; and anthropogenically, as a domestic animal. A principled understanding of canine cognition should therefore involve comparing dogs' cognition with that of other carnivorans, other social hunters, and other domestic animals. This paper contrasts dog cognition with what is known about cognition in species that fit into these three categories, with a particular emphasis on wolves, cats, spotted hyenas, chimpanzees, dolphins, horses, and pigeons. We cover sensory cognition, physical cognition, spatial cognition, social cognition, and self-awareness. Although the comparisons are incomplete, because of the limited range of studies of some of the other relevant species, we conclude that dog cognition is influenced by the membership of all three of these groups, and taking all three groups into account, dog cognition does not look exceptional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen E G Lea
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Washington Singer Laboratories, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK.
| | - Britta Osthaus
- School of Psychology, Politics and Sociology, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK
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Deshpande K, Furton KG, Mills DEK. The Equine Volatilome: Volatile Organic Compounds as Discriminatory Markers. J Equine Vet Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2017.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Jeannerat E, Marti E, Berney C, Janett F, Bollwein H, Sieme H, Burger D, Wedekind C. Stallion semen quality depends on major histocompatibility complex matching to teaser mare. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:1025-1035. [PMID: 29334412 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has repeatedly been found to influence mate choice of vertebrates, with MHC-dissimilar mates typically being preferred over MHC-similar mates. We used horses (Equus caballus) to test whether MHC matching also affects male investment into ejaculates after short exposure to a female. Semen characteristics varied much among stallions. Controlling for this variance with a full-factorial within-subject experimental design, we found that a short exposure to an MHC-dissimilar mare enhanced male plasma testosterone and led to ejaculates with elevated sperm numbers as compared to exposure to an MHC-similar mare. Sperm velocity seemed not affected by the treatment. Overall genetic similarity between stallions and mares (determined from polymorphic microsatellites on 20 different chromosomes) played no significant role here. The MHC type of the teaser mare also affected characteristics of cold-stored sperm after 24 and 48 hr. As expected from ejaculate economics, sperm viability was elevated after exposure to an MHC-dissimilar mare. However, oxidative stress and the percentage of sperm with a high DNA fragmentation were mostly increased after exposure to an MHC-dissimilar mare, depending also on whether the teaser mare was in oestrous or not. We conclude that males can quickly adjust ejaculate quality relative to a female's MHC, and that this male reaction to the social environment can also affect important characteristics of cold-stored semen.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Jeannerat
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, Agroscope and University of Berne, Avenches, Switzerland
| | - E Marti
- Department of Clinical Research, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - C Berney
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - F Janett
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - H Bollwein
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - H Sieme
- Unit for Reproductive Medicine - Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - D Burger
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, Agroscope and University of Berne, Avenches, Switzerland
| | - C Wedekind
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Jezierski T, Jaworski Z, Sobczyńska M, Ensminger J, Górecka-Bruzda A. Do olfactory behaviour and marking responses of Konik polski stallions to faeces from conspecifics of either sex differ? Behav Processes 2017; 155:38-42. [PMID: 28962880 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess whether adult stallions differentiate their olfactory and marking behaviour towards the excreta of their potential male rivals and mares. Four Konik polski stallions were individually exposed simultaneously to their own and each others' faeces as well as faeces of mares in oestrus vs. dioestrus. Five series of 30min observation sessions were conducted in a round pen each on two consecutive days from March to July, totaling in 5h observation per stallion. Stallions sniffed and displayed flehmen reaction towards mares' faeces significantly longer (P<0.01) than towards stallions' faeces. No significant differences were found in marking by defecations upon stallions' vs. mares' faeces. The stallions urinated exclusively on mares' faeces. Sniffing, flehmen, defecations and urinations performed towards faeces of mares in oestrus vs. dioestrus did not differ significantly. The results showed that stallions differentiate their olfactory behaviour towards excreta of conspecifics of different sex but perhaps not towards faeces of females in different reproductive status. This for the first time establishes that stallions exhibit different marking behaviour upon stallions' vs. mares' faeces. It is hypothesized that marking of other stallions' faeces by defecation may advertise presence of the stallion, whereas marking of mares' faeces by urination may serve to mask the presence of a mare to prevent potential rivals from locating the mare in an area where mares' faeces are found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadeusz Jezierski
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Animal Behaviour, Jastrzębiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland.
| | - Zbigniew Jaworski
- University of Warmia and Mazury, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, Department of Horse Breeding and Riding, Prawocheńskiego 2, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Magdalena Sobczyńska
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Animal Behaviour, Jastrzębiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
| | | | - Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Animal Behaviour, Jastrzębiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
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Kader A, Liu X, Dong K, Song S, Pan J, Yang M, Chen X, He X, Jiang L, Ma Y. Identification of copy number variations in three Chinese horse breeds using 70K single nucleotide polymorphism BeadChip array. Anim Genet 2016; 47:560-9. [PMID: 27440410 DOI: 10.1111/age.12451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Copy number variation (CNV), an essential form of genetic variation, has been increasingly recognized as one promising genetic marker in the analysis of animal genomes. Here, we used the Equine 70K single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping array for the genome-wide detection of CNVs in 96 horses from three diverse Chinese breeds: Debao pony (DB), Mongolian horse (MG) and Yili horse (YL). A total of 287 CNVs were determined and merged into 122 CNV regions (CNVRs) ranging from 199 bp to 2344 kb in size and distributed in a heterogeneous manner on chromosomes. These CNVRs were integrated with seven existing reports to generate a composite genome-wide dataset of 1558 equine CNVRs, revealing 69 (56.6%) novel CNVRs. The majority (69.7%) of the 122 CNVRs overlapped with 438 genes, whereas 30.3% were located in intergenic regions. Most of these genes were associated with common CNVRs, which were shared by divergent horse breeds. As many as 60, 42 and 91 genes overlapping with the breed-specific ss were identified in DB, MG and YL respectively. Among these genes, FGF11, SPEM1, PPARG, CIDEB, HIVEP1 and GALR may have potential relevance to breed-specific traits. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the equine genome and facilitating association studies of economically important traits with equine CNVRs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adiljan Kader
- The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100193, China.,Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 83000, China
| | - Xuexue Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Kunzhe Dong
- The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100193, China.,United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
| | - Shen Song
- The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100193, China.,Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Jianfei Pan
- The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Min Yang
- The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xiaofei Chen
- The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xiaohong He
- The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Yuehui Ma
- The Key Laboratory for Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture of China, Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), No 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Haidian, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Informed horses are influential in group movements, but they may avoid leading. Anim Cogn 2015; 19:451-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s10071-015-0945-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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27
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Krueger K, Schneider G, Flauger B, Heinze J. Context-dependent third-party intervention in agonistic encounters of male Przewalski horses. Behav Processes 2015; 121:54-62. [PMID: 26478251 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2015.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Revised: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
One mechanism to resolve conflict among group members is third party intervention, for which several functions, such as kin protection, alliance formation, and the promotion of group cohesion have been proposed. Still, empirical research on the function of intervention behaviour is rare. We studied 40 cases of intervention behaviour in a field study on 13 semi-wild bachelor horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in (a) standard social situations, and (b) when new horses joined the group (i.e. introductions). Only interventions in agonistic encounters were analysed. Eight of 13 animals directed intervention behaviour toward threatening animal in agonistic encounters of group members. One stallion was particularly active. The stallions did not intervene to support former group mates or kin and interventions were not reciprocated. In introduction situations and in standard social situations, the interveners supported animals which were lower in rank, but targeted, threatening animals of comparable social rank. After introductions, stallions received more affiliative behaviour from animals they supported and thus appeared to intervene for alliance formation. In standard social situations, interveners did not receive more affiliative behaviour from animals they supported and may primarily have intervened to promote group cohesion and to reduce social disruption within the group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstanze Krueger
- University of Regensburg, Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Gudrun Schneider
- Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute & Museum, Johann-Sebastian-Bach Str. 11/12, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Birgit Flauger
- University of Regensburg, Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Heinze
- University of Regensburg, Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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Abstract
Despite numerous descriptive accounts of scent marking in marsupials, rigorous experimentation is rare, and relatively little evidence exists to show that conspecifics use chemical signals to distinguish between individuals or different social groups. In this study a series of olfactory discrimination tests sought to determine whether: (1) male koala sternal scent gland secretions are individually distinctive; and (2) male koalas can differentiate between the scent of familiar and unfamiliar individuals. In the first experiment a habituation-discrimination trial demonstrated that male koalas discriminate between the scent gland secretions of different unfamiliar individuals. In a second experiment male koalas spent significantly more time investigating scent from unfamiliar males than familiar males, supporting the hypothesis that they differentiate between conspecifics based on their familiarity. Taken together these results suggest that male koalas are able to discriminate the identity and familiarity of conspecifics using chemical cues, and provide a platform for further studies investigating the functional role of olfactory communication in this species.
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Siniscalchi M, Padalino B, Aubé L, Quaranta A. Right-nostril use during sniffing at arousing stimuli produces higher cardiac activity in jumper horses. Laterality 2015; 20:483-500. [PMID: 25635853 DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2015.1005629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Lateralization in horses, Equus caballus, has been reported at both motor and sensory levels. Here we investigated left- and right-nostril use in 12 jumper horses freely sniffing different emotive stimuli. Results revealed that during sniffing at adrenaline and oestrus mare urine stimuli, horses showed a clear right-nostril bias while just a tendency in the use of the right nostril was observed during sniffing of other odours (food, cotton swab and repellent). Sniffing at adrenaline and urine odours was also accompanied by increasing cardiac activity and behavioural reactivity strengthening the role of the right hemisphere in the analysis of intense emotion and sexual behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Siniscalchi
- a Department of Veterinary Medicine , University of Bari "Aldo Moro" , Bari , Italy
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Park C, Ahn M, Kim J, Kim S, Moon C, Shin T. Histological and lectin histochemical studies on the olfactory mucosae of the Korean roe deer, Capreolus pygargus. Tissue Cell 2014; 47:221-7. [PMID: 25480445 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The morphological features of the olfactory mucosae of Korean roe deer, Capreolus pygargus, were histologically studied using the ethmoid turbinates containing the olfactory mucosae from six roe deer (male, 2-3 years old). The ethmoid turbinates were embedded in paraffin, and histochemically evaluated in terms of the mucosal characteristics. Lectin histochemistry was performed to investigate the carbohydrate-binding specificity on the olfactory mucosa. Lectins, including Triticum vulgaris wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-I), and soybean agglutinin (SBA) were used for the N-acetylglucosamine, fucose and N-acetylgalactosamine carbohydrate groups, respectively. Histologically, the olfactory mucosa, positioned mainly in the caudal roof of the nasal cavity, consisted of the olfactory epithelium and the lamina propria. The olfactory epithelium consisted of protein gene product (PGP) 9.5-positive olfactory receptor cells, galectin-3-positive supporting cells and basal cells. Bowman's glands in the lamina propria were stained by both the periodic acid Schiff reagent and alcian blue (pH 2.5). Two types of lectin, WGA and SBA, were labeled in free border, receptor cells, supporting cells and Bowman's glands, with the exception of basal cells, while UEA-I was labeled in free border, supporting cells and Bowman's glands, but not in receptor cells and basal cells, suggesting that carbohydrate terminals on the olfactory mucosae of roe deer vary depending on cell type. This is the first morphological study of the olfactory mucosa of the Korean roe deer to evaluate carbohydrate terminals in the olfactory mucosae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changnam Park
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Meejung Ahn
- School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongtae Kim
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungjoon Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Changjong Moon
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Medical Institute, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea.
| | - Taekyun Shin
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea.
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Cinková I, Policht R. Discrimination of familiarity and sex from chemical cues in the dung by wild southern white rhinoceros. Anim Cogn 2014; 18:385-92. [PMID: 25273823 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-014-0810-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Revised: 09/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Communication in rhinos is primarily mediated by the vocal and olfactory signals as they have relatively poor eyesight. White rhinos are the most social of all the rhinoceros species, they defecate at common dungheaps and the adult bulls use dung and urine to mark their territory. Chemical communication may therefore be particularly important in the social interactions of white rhinos, and its knowledge could be very helpful in their management and conservation. However, no studies have investigated up until now the olfactory discrimination in any rhinoceros species in the wild. We have experimentally studied the reactions of the wild southern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) to the dung of familiar and unfamiliar adult females and adult territorial males. We registered the number of sniffing events, the duration of sniffing and the latency of the vigilance posture from the onset of sniffing. The dung of unfamiliar rhinos was sniffed longer than that of familiar rhinos. The rhinos showed a shorter latency of vigilance posture to the familiar dung of males than that of females. For unfamiliar dung, they displayed a shorter latency of vigilance posture to female than male dung. Our results indicate that the rhinos are able to discriminate the familiarity and sex of conspecifics from the smell of their dung. Olfactory cues could therefore play an important role in the social relationships and spatial organization of the southern white rhinoceros.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Cinková
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 50, 771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic,
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Chojnacki RM, Vas J, Andersen IL. The effects of prenatal stocking densities on the fear responses and sociality of goat (Capra hircus) kids. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94253. [PMID: 24710177 PMCID: PMC3978004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress (stress experienced by a pregnant mother) and its effects on offspring have been comprehensively studied but relatively little research has been done on how prenatal social stress affects farm animals such as goats. Here, we use the operational description of ‘stress’ as “physical or perceived threats to homeostasis.” The aim of this study was to investigate the prenatal effects of different herd densities on the fear responses and sociality of goat kids. Pregnant Norwegian dairy goats were exposed to high, medium or low prenatal animal density treatments throughout gestation (1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 m2 per animal, respectively). One kid per litter was subjected to two behavioral tests at 5 weeks of age. The ‘social test’ was applied to assess the fear responses, sociality and social recognition skills when presented with a familiar and unfamiliar kid and the ‘separation test’ assessed the behavioral coping skills when isolated. The results indicate goat kids from the highest prenatal density of 1.0 m2 were more fearful than the kids from the lower prenatal densities (i.e. made more escape attempts (separation test: P < 0.001) and vocalizations (social test: P < 0.001; separation test: P < 0.001). This effect was more pronounced in females than males in the high density (vocalizations; social test: P < 0.001; separation test: P = 0.001) and females were generally more social than males. However, goat kids did not differentiate between a familiar and an unfamiliar kid at 5 weeks of age and sociality was not affected by the prenatal density treatment. We conclude that high animal densities during pregnancy in goats produce offspring that have a higher level of fear, particularly in females. Behavioral changes in offspring that occur as an effect of prenatal stress are of high importance as many of the females are recruited to the breeding stock of dairy goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M. Chojnacki
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Judit Vas
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Inger Lise Andersen
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
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Péron F, Ward R, Burman O. Horses (Equus caballus) discriminate body odour cues from conspecifics. Anim Cogn 2013; 17:1007-11. [DOI: 10.1007/s10071-013-0717-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 11/25/2013] [Accepted: 11/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Bautze V, Schwack W, Breer H, Strotmann J. Identification of a Natural Source for the OR37B Ligand. Chem Senses 2013; 39:27-38. [DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjt051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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The effects of age, rank and neophobia on social learning in horses. Anim Cogn 2013; 17:645-55. [DOI: 10.1007/s10071-013-0696-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Revised: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Briefer Freymond S, Briefer EF, Von Niederhäusern R, Bachmann I. Pattern of social interactions after group integration: a possibility to keep stallions in group. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54688. [PMID: 23382940 PMCID: PMC3559779 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2012] [Accepted: 12/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Horses are often kept in individual stables, rather than in outdoor groups, despite such housing system fulfilling many of their welfare needs, such as the access to social partners. Keeping domestic stallions in outdoor groups would mimic bachelor bands that are found in the wild. Unfortunately, the high level of aggression that unfamiliar stallions display when they first encounter each other discourages owners from keeping them in groups. However, this level of aggression is likely to be particularly important only during group integration, when the dominance hierarchy is being established, whereas relatively low aggression rates have been observed among stable feral bachelor bands. We investigated the possibility of housing breeding stallions owned by the Swiss National Stud in groups on a large pasture (5 stallions in 2009 and 8 stallions in 2010). We studied the pattern of agonistic, ritual and affiliative interactions after group integration (17–23 days), and the factors influencing these interactions (time after group integration, dominance rank, age or experience of group housing). We found that stallions displayed generally more ritual than agonistic and than affiliative interactions. The frequency of agonistic and ritual interactions decreased quickly within the first three to four days. The frequency of affiliative interactions increased slowly with time before decreasing after 9–14 days. A stable hierarchy could be measured after 2–3 months. The highest-ranking males had less ritual interactions than the lowest-ranking. Males had also less agonistic, ritual and affiliative interactions if they had already been housed in a group the previous year. Therefore, we found that breeding stallions could be housed together on a large pasture, because the frequency of agonistic interactions decreased quickly and remained at a minimal level from the fourth day following group integration. This housing system could potentially increase horse welfare and reduce labour associated with horse management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Briefer Freymond
- Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux Research Station ALP-Haras, Swiss National Stud Farm SNSTF, Les Longs Prés, Avenches, Switzerland.
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Keil NM, Imfeld-Mueller S, Aschwanden J, Wechsler B. Are head cues necessary for goats (Capra hircus) in recognising group members? Anim Cogn 2012; 15:913-21. [PMID: 22644114 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-012-0518-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2012] [Revised: 05/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated whether goats can distinguish a member of their own group from one belonging to a different group even when the head of the goat in question cannot be seen. In the experiment, a total of 45 adult female goats (walkers) were trained to walk along a passageway at the end of which they learnt to expect food (trial run). Walking down this corridor, they passed another adult female goat (stimulus goat) whose trunk and hind legs alone were visible. Using 19 individuals, ten pairs of stimulus goats consisting of one goat from the walker's group and one from a different group were matched in terms of body size, constitution, colour and coat length. In addition, the stimulus goat from the same group as the walker had to be higher ranking than the latter to avoid being attacked. The walkers completed two, four or six trial runs depending on the number of pairs suitable for a given walker. The walker's exploratory behaviour (observing and sniffing at the stimulus goat) was recorded. Data from 109 trial runs were analysed using generalised linear mixed-effects models with crossed random effects. On average, the walker spent a total of 8.7 s exploring the stimulus goat visually and olfactorily if the latter was from a different group and only about half as long (4.2 s) if it was from her own group. In particular, the time a walker spent observing a stimulus goat whilst approaching the latter was significantly longer if the stimulus goat belonged to a different group than to her own (2.5 s as opposed to 1.4 s). Moreover, a stimulus goat from a different group was sniffed at significantly longer (4.6 s) than one from the same group (1.9 s). Results suggest that goats can easily discriminate between members of their own group and those of a different group even when the latter's heads are hidden. Olfactory and visual cues are probably important for identifying group members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina M Keil
- Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, Centre for Proper Housing of Ruminants and Pigs, Agroscope Reckenholz-Taenikon Research Station ART, 8356, Ettenhausen, Switzerland.
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Lampe JF, Andre J. Cross-modal recognition of human individuals in domestic horses (Equus caballus). Anim Cogn 2012; 15:623-30. [PMID: 22526687 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-012-0490-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2011] [Revised: 03/19/2012] [Accepted: 03/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study has shown that domestic horses are capable of cross-modal recognition of familiar humans. It was demonstrated that horses are able to discriminate between the voices of a familiar and an unfamiliar human without seeing or smelling them at the same moment. Conversely, they were able to discriminate the same persons when only exposed to their visual and olfactory cues, without being stimulated by their voices. A cross-modal expectancy violation setup was employed; subjects were exposed both to trials with incongruent auditory and visual/olfactory identity cues and trials with congruent cues. It was found that subjects responded more quickly, longer and more often in incongruent trials, exhibiting heightened interest in unmatched cues of identity. This suggests that the equine brain is able to integrate multisensory identity cues from a familiar human into a person representation that allows the brain, when deprived of one or two senses, to maintain recognition of this person.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Frances Lampe
- College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK.
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