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Zanusso F, Contiero B, Normando S, Gottardo F, De Benedictis GM. Qualitative behavioral assessment of dogs with acute pain. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305925. [PMID: 38905274 PMCID: PMC11192414 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Free Choice Profiling (FCP) methodology allows observers to qualitatively assess animal behavior using their own vocabulary. This study aims to investigate the ability of 3 different observer groups to recognize pain-related emotions in 20 dogs using FCP methodology, and to compare FCP data with the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale-Short Form (GCPS- SF) scores. The observer groups consisted of 10 dog owners, 10 veterinary students and 10 veterinarians. Ten healthy ("healthy") dogs and 10 dogs showing clinical signs of pain ("pain") were filmed, and the resulting 20 footages were shown to observers who were blind to the pain-related nature of the study. All observers described and scored animals' emotional expression using FCP; then, students and veterinarians scored all dogs using GCPS- SF. FCP data were analyzed using Generalized Procrustes Analysis (GPA). Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ) was used to determine the correlation among observer groups' FCP scores of the first two FCP dimensions (DIM1 and DIM2), and to compare GCPS-SF scores with FCP scores for the students and veterinarian observer groups. Each observer group reached a significant (p < 0.001) good consensus profile. "Healthy" dogs were mainly described as "quiet" and "lively", while the majority of "pain" dogs were considered "in pain" and "suffering". The correlation among FCP scores was high between owners' DIM1 and students' DIM1 (ρ = -0.86), owners' DIM2 and students' DIM2 (ρ = 0.72) and students' DIM2 and vets' DIM1 (ρ = 0.70). The correlation between GCPS-SF scores and FCP scores was high for students' DIM2 (ρ = 0.77) and for veterinarians' DIM1 (ρ = 0.92). Qualitative methods such as FCP could be used in association with semi-quantitative methods to evaluate the effect of pain on animal emotional expression. Observers' cultural background and personal experience did not substantially affect qualitative behavioral assessment in dogs with acute somatic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Zanusso
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Barbara Contiero
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Simona Normando
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Flaviana Gottardo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
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Baumgartner K, Hüttner T, Clegg ILK, Hartmann MG, Garcia-Párraga D, Manteca X, Mercera B, Monreal-Pawlowsky T, Pilenga C, Ternes K, Tallo-Parra O, Vaicekauskaite R, Fersen LV, Yon L, Delfour F. Dolphin-WET-Development of a Welfare Evaluation Tool for Bottlenose Dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus) under Human Care. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:701. [PMID: 38473086 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050701] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Ensuring high standards of animal welfare is not only an ethical duty for zoos and aquariums, but it is also essential to achieve their conservation, education, and research goals. While for some species, animal welfare assessment frameworks are already in place, little has been done for marine animals under human care. Responding to this demand, the welfare committee of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) set up a group of experts on welfare science, cetacean biology, and zoo animal medicine across Europe. Their objective was to develop a comprehensive tool to evaluate the welfare of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), named Dolphin-WET. The tool encompasses 49 indicators that were either validated through peer review or management-based expertise. The first of its kind, the Dolphin-WET is a species-specific welfare assessment tool that provides a holistic approach to evaluating dolphin welfare. Inspired by Mellor's Five Domains Model and the Welfare Quality®, its hierarchical structure allows for detailed assessments from overall welfare down to specific indicators. Through combining 37 animal-based and 12 resource-based indicators that are evaluated based on a two- or three-level scoring, the protocol offers a detailed evaluation of individual dolphins. This approach allows for regular internal monitoring and targeted welfare management, enabling caretakers to address specific welfare concerns effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Baumgartner
- Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Lab, Nuremberg Zoo, 90480 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Tim Hüttner
- Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Lab, Nuremberg Zoo, 90480 Nuremberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Xavier Manteca
- Animal Welfare Education Centre (AWEC), Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Oriol Tallo-Parra
- Animal Welfare Education Centre (AWEC), Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Lorenzo von Fersen
- Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Lab, Nuremberg Zoo, 90480 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Lisa Yon
- Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Fabienne Delfour
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 31076 Toulouse, France
- Animaux et Compagnies, 31500 Toulouse, France
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Ibach S, Chou JY, Battini M, Parsons TD. A systematic approach to defining and verifying descriptors used in the Qualitative Behavioural Assessment of sows. Anim Welf 2024; 33:e8. [PMID: 38487787 PMCID: PMC10936250 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2024.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is a welfare evaluation tool that uses a holistic approach to capturing an animal's emotional state. Lists of QBA descriptors validated to assess pig welfare exist, but their definitions are often not described in peer-reviewed literature and the processes used to develop definitions are lacking. The objective of this study is to detail a systematic approach to creating clear definitions for a pre-existing fixed list of QBA descriptors and test their application. A fixed list of 20 descriptors from the EU Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for pigs was modified, and ten pig experts were recruited to assist with defining these descriptors in a focus group-style discussion. Half of the experts involved in creating descriptor definitions partook in a subsequent step, where the newly developed definitions were tested by implementing QBA on a video library of post-weaned sows selected to capture the breadth of sow behaviour. Experts displayed excellent agreement in identifying a PCA dimension interpreted as the valence of descriptors and good agreement for another reflecting arousal. Inter-observer reliability was also measured for each descriptor. Only two descriptors exhibited less than moderate agreement between experts whereas half of the descriptors evoked substantial agreement or better. These findings support our process to delineate clear definitions for a fixed list of QBA descriptors in pigs. This study is the first of its kind detailing the in-depth process of creating and verifying descriptor definitions for future use in sow welfare assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ibach
- Swine Teaching and Research Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA
| | - Jen-Yun Chou
- Pig Development Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Ireland
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Monica Battini
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences – Production, Landscape, Agroenergy. University of Milan, Via G. Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Thomas D Parsons
- Swine Teaching and Research Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA
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Wiese TR, Rey Planellas S, Betancor M, Haskell M, Jarvis S, Davie A, Wemelsfelder F, Turnbull JF. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment as a welfare indicator for farmed Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar) in response to a stressful challenge. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1260090. [PMID: 37841467 PMCID: PMC10569038 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1260090] [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: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare assessments have struggled to investigate the emotional states of animals while focusing solely on available empirical evidence. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) may provide insights into an animal's subjective experiences without compromising scientific rigor. Rather than assessing explicit, physical behaviours (i.e., what animals are doing, such as swimming or feeding), QBA describes and quantifies the overall expressive manner in which animals execute those behaviours (i.e., how relaxed or agitated they appear). While QBA has been successfully applied to scientific welfare assessments in a variety of species, its application within aquaculture remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to assess QBA's effectiveness in capturing changes in the emotional behaviour of Atlantic salmon following exposure to a stressful challenge. Nine tanks of juvenile Atlantic salmon were video-recorded every morning for 15 min over a 7-day period, in the middle of which a stressful challenge (intrusive sampling) was conducted on the salmon. The resultant 1-min, 63 video clips were then semi-randomised to avoid predictability and treatment bias for QBA scorers. Twelve salmon-industry professionals generated a list of 16 qualitative descriptors (e.g., relaxed, agitated, stressed) after viewing unrelated video-recordings depicting varying expressive characteristics of salmon in different contexts. A different group of 5 observers, with varied experience of salmon farming, subsequently scored the 16 descriptors for each clip using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Principal Components Analysis (correlation matrix, no rotation) was used to identify perceived patterns of expressive characteristics across the video-clips, which revealed 4 dimensions explaining 74.5% of the variation between clips. PC1, ranging from 'relaxed/content/positive active' to 'unsettled/stressed/spooked/skittish' explained the highest percentage of variation (37%). QBA scores for video-clips on PC1, PC2, and PC4 achieved good inter- and intra-observer reliability. Linear Mixed Effects Models, controlled for observer variation in PC1 scores, showed a significant difference between PC1 scores before and after sampling (p = 0.03), with salmon being perceived as more stressed afterwards. PC1 scores also correlated positively with darting behaviours (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). These results are the first to report QBA's sensitivity to changes in expressive characteristics of salmon following a putatively stressful challenge, demonstrating QBA's potential as a welfare indicator within aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Monica Betancor
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Marie Haskell
- Scotland’s Rural College SRUC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Jarvis
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - James F. Turnbull
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
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Heritier C, Riemer S, Gaschler R. The Power Is in the Word-Do Laypeople Interpret Descriptors of Dog Emotional States Correctly? Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3009. [PMID: 37835615 PMCID: PMC10571880 DOI: 10.3390/ani13193009] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A basic understanding of dog behaviour and emotion is relevant not only for professionals, such as veterinary personnel or dog trainers, but also for dog owners and for people with little contact with dogs. Information about dog behaviour and emotions is mostly conveyed verbally. This study explores whether definitions of dog behaviour and emotion are understood in such a way that they can be allocated to a descriptor (i.e., a label such as "fearful"), even by people with low background knowledge. If people can match descriptors to definitions, this suggests that the definitions are distinct enough and elicit mental representations of behaviour that can fit the label. Good agreement on the definitions is a prerequisite for the validity of the descriptors used; however, no study to date has tested this. A sample of 236 adults was asked to match descriptors of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) for veterinary and shelter situations to their correct definitions, e.g., the descriptor "fearful" to its definition "dog may try to flee, hide or freeze; ears back". Matching was substantially above chance; nonetheless, the mean proportion of correct responses was only 50% (SD ± 16.6%) for the veterinary QBA set and 33% (SD ± 14.3%) for the shelter QBA set. Performance in the matching task was positively correlated with measures of experience with dogs. Taken together, the results suggest that descriptor-definition pairs used to describe dog behaviour need to be clearly defined to avoid misinterpretations when teaching laypeople how to interpret canine behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Heritier
- Department of Psychology, FernUniversität Hagen, Universitätsstraße 47, 58097 Hagen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Riemer
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Robert Gaschler
- Department of Psychology, FernUniversität Hagen, Universitätsstraße 47, 58097 Hagen, Germany
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Application of QBA to Assess the Emotional State of Horses during the Loading Phase of Transport. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243588. [PMID: 36552507 PMCID: PMC9774137 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243588] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify feasible indicators to evaluate animals' emotional states as a parameter to assess animal welfare, the present study aimed at investigating the accuracy of free choice profiling (FCP) and fixed list (FL) approach of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) in horses during the loading phase of transport. A total of 13 stakeholders were trained to score 2 different sets of videos of mixed breed horses loaded for road transport, using both FCP and FL, in 2 sessions. Generalized Procustes Analysis (GPA) consensus profile explained a higher percentage of variation (80.8%) than the mean of 1000 randomized profiles (41.2 ± 1.6%; p = 0.001) for the FCP method, showing an excellent inter-observer agreement. GPA identified two main factors, explaining 65.1% and 3.7% of the total variation. Factor 1 ranging from 'anxious/ to 'calm/relaxed', described the valence of the horses' emotional states. Factor 2, ranging from 'bright' to 'assessing/withdrawn', described the arousal. As for FL, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) first and second components (PC1 and PC2, respectively), explaining on average 59.8% and 12.6% of the data variability, had significant agreement between observers. PC1 ranges from relaxed/confident to anxious/frightened, while PC2 from alert/inquisitive to calm. Our study highlighted the need for the use of descriptors specifically selected, throughout a prior FCP process for the situation we want to evaluate to get a good QBA accuracy level.
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Travnik IC, Machado DS, Sant'Anna AC. Do you see the same cat that I see? Inter- and intra-observer reliability for Qualitative Behaviour Assessment as temperament indicator in domestic cats. Anim Welf 2022. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.31.3.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is used to assess animals' emotional expressions and its potential for serving as an indicator of temperament has been explored. This method is open to assessors' interpretation and it is therefore necessary to evaluate the observers' reliability
for different species and contexts. We aimed to assess the intra- and inter-observer reliability of QBA as an indicator of cat (Felis catus) temperament. The QBA was applied by 19 observers with divergent profiles of contact with cats (cat owners vs non-owners) and experience in behavioural
assessment (experienced vs inexperienced). Forty-two, 12-min videos were assessed, composed of footage of four behavioural tests: unfamiliar person, novel object, conspecific reaction, and food offering tests. By using Principal Component Analysis, we found three principal components (PC)
that were considered the main dimensions of cat temperament. According to Kendall's coefficient of concordance, intra-observer reliability was high to very high in PC1 (0.80–0.90) and moderate to high in PC2 and PC3 (0.50–0.82). Inter-observer reliability for the 19 observers was
high in PC1 (0.71) and low in PC2 and PC3 (0.21–0.29). The individual concordances with the gold observer (defined based on greater experience with the QBA) ranged from moderate to high. We concluded that QBA could be a reliable tool to assess cat temperament, given the high values of
intra- and inter-observer reliabilities in PC1, which is the dimension that most explains the behavioural variations in the cats' temperament. The same did not occur for PC2 and PC3, showing that reliability varied among the different dimensions and observers.
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Affiliation(s)
- IC Travnik
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comportamento e Biologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36.036-330, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - DS Machado
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comportamento e Biologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36.036-330, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - AC Sant'Anna
- Núcleo de Estudos em Etologia e Bem-estar Animal, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36.036-330, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Development of a fixed list of terms for qualitative behavioural assessment of brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Sanctuaries. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Keeling LJ, Winckler C, Hintze S, Forkman B. Towards a Positive Welfare Protocol for Cattle: A Critical Review of Indicators and Suggestion of How We Might Proceed. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2021.753080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Current animal welfare protocols focus on demonstrating the absence (or at least low levels) of indicators of poor welfare, potentially creating a mismatch between what is expected by society (an assurance of good animal welfare) and what is actually being delivered (an assurance of the absence of welfare problems). This paper explores how far we have come, and what work still needs to be done, if we are to develop a protocol for use on commercial dairy farms where the aim is to demonstrate the presence of positive welfare. Following conceptual considerations around a perceived “ideal” protocol, we propose that a future protocol should be constructed (i) of animal-based measures, (ii) of indicators of affective state, and (iii) be structured according to indicators of short-term emotion, medium-term moods and long-term cumulative assessment of negative and positive experiences of an animal's life until now (in contrast to the current focus on indicators that represent different domains/criteria of welfare). These three conditions imposed the overall structure within which we selected our indicators. The paper includes a critical review of the literature on potential indicators of positive affective states in cattle. Based on evidence about the validity and reliability of the different indicators, we select ear position, play, allogrooming, brush use and QBA as candidate indicators that we suggest could form a prototype positive welfare protocol. We emphasise that this prototype protocol has not been tested in practice and so it is perhaps not the protocol itself that is the main outcome of this paper, but the process of trying to develop it. In a final section of this paper, we reflect on some of the lessons learnt from this exercise and speculate on future perspectives. For example, while we consider we have moved towards a prototype positive welfare protocol for short-term affective states, future research energy should be directed towards valid indicators for the medium and long-term.
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Battini M, Renna M, Giammarino M, Battaglini L, Mattiello S. Feasibility and Reliability of the AWIN Welfare Assessment Protocol for Dairy Goats in Semi-extensive Farming Conditions. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:731927. [PMID: 34746279 PMCID: PMC8566805 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.731927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to test the feasibility and reliability of the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) protocol for welfare assessment of dairy goats when applied to semi-extensive farming conditions. We recruited 13 farms located in the NW Italian Alps where three assessors individually and independently applied a modified version of the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for goats integrated with some indicators derived from the AWIN welfare assessment protocol for sheep. The applied protocol consisted of nine individual-level (body condition score, hair coat condition, abscesses, overgrown claws, udder asymmetry, fecal soiling, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, and improper disbudding) and seven group-level (severe lameness, Qualitative Behavior Assessment-QBA, thermal stress, oblivion, Familiar Human Approach Test-FHAT, synchrony at grazing, synchrony at resting) animal-based indicators. On most farms, the level of welfare was good. Many of the considered welfare problems (overgrown claws, fecal soiling, discharges, and thermal stress) were never recorded. However, oblivion, severe lameness, hair coat condition and abscesses were detected on some farms, with percentages ranging from 5 to 35%. The mean percentage of animals with normal body condition was 67.9 ± 5.7. The level of synchronization during resting was on average low (14.3 ± 7.2%). The application of the whole protocol required more than 4 h/farm and 3 min/goat. The inter-observer reliability varied from excellent (udder asymmetry, overgrown claws, discharges, synchrony at resting, use of shelter) to acceptable (abscesses, fecal soiling, and oblivion), but insufficient for hair coat condition, improper disbudding, synchrony at grazing, QBA. Differences in background of the assessors and feasibility constraints (i.e., use of binoculars in unfenced pastures, individual-level assessment conducted during the morning milking in narrow and dark pens, difficulties when using the scan and instantaneous sampling method due to the high number of animals that moved at the same time) can affect the reliability of data collection. Extensive training seems necessary for properly scoring animals when applying the QBA, whereas the FHAT to evaluate the Human-Animal Relationship of goats at pasture seems promising but needs to be validated. Indicators that evaluate the synchrony of activities require to be validated to identify the best moment to perform the observations during the day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Battini
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences-Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Renna
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Mauro Giammarino
- Department of Prevention, ASL TO3, Veterinary Service, Turin, Italy
| | - Luca Battaglini
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Silvana Mattiello
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences-Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Jarvis S, Ellis MA, Turnbull JF, Rey Planellas S, Wemelsfelder F. Qualitative Behavioral Assessment in Juvenile Farmed Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar): Potential for On-Farm Welfare Assessment. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:702783. [PMID: 34557541 PMCID: PMC8453064 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.702783] [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: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing scientific and legislative consensus that fish are sentient, and therefore have the capacity to experience pain and suffering. The assessment of the welfare of farmed fish is challenging due to the aquatic environment and the number of animals housed together. However, with increasing global production and intensification of aquaculture comes greater impetus for developing effective tools which are suitable for the aquatic environment to assess the emotional experience and welfare of farmed fish. This study therefore aimed to investigate the use of Qualitative Behavioral Assessment (QBA), originally developed for terrestrial farmed animals, in farmed salmon and evaluate its potential for use as a welfare monitoring tool. QBA is a “whole animal” approach based on the description and quantification of the expressive qualities of an animal's dynamic style of behaving, using descriptors such as relaxed, agitated, lethargic, or confident. A list of 20 qualitative descriptors was generated by fish farmers after viewing video-footage showing behavior expressions representative of the full repertoire of salmon in this context. A separate, non-experienced group of 10 observers subsequently watched 25 video clips of farmed salmon, and scored the 20 descriptors for each clip using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). To assess intra-observer reliability each observer viewed the same 25 video clips twice, in two sessions 10 days apart, with the second clip set presented in a different order. The observers were unaware that the two sets of video clips were identical. Data were analyzed using Principal Component (PC) Analysis (correlation matrix, no rotation), revealing four dimensions that together explained 79% of the variation between video clips, with PC1 (Tense/anxious/skittish—Calm/mellow/relaxed) explaining the greatest percentage of variation (56%). PC1 was the only dimension to show acceptable inter- and intra-observer reliability, and mean PC1 scores correlated significantly to durations of slow and erratic physical movements measured for the same 25 video clips. Further refinements to the methodology may be necessary, but this study is the first to provide evidence for the potential of Qualitative Behavioral Assessment to serve as a time-efficient welfare assessment tool for juvenile salmon under farmed conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Jarvis
- The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Maureen A Ellis
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - James F Turnbull
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Rey Planellas
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Francoise Wemelsfelder
- Animal and Veterinary Sciences, SRUC (Scotland's Rural College), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Conducting Behavioural Research in the Zoo: A Guide to Ten Important Methods, Concepts and Theories. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg2030031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioural research in zoos is commonplace and is used in the diagnosis and treatment of potential husbandry and management challenges. Robust methods that allow valid data collection and analysis constitute an evidence-based approach to animal care. Understanding behaviour is essential to improving animal management, and behavioural research is therefore popular, with a wide choice of behavioural methodologies and theories available. This review outlines ten methodological approaches, concepts or theories essential to zoo science that are based around behavioural observation. This list is not exhaustive but aims to define and describe key areas of consideration when planning and implementing a zoo-based behavioural project. We discuss the application of well-established methods (the construction of ethograms, use of time–activity patterns and measurement of space/enclosure use) as well as evaluating newer or less-widely applied analytical techniques, such as behavioural diversity indices, social networks analysis and Qualitative Behavioural Assessment. We also consider the importance of fundamental research methods, the application of pure science to understand and interpret zoo animal behaviour (with a review of a Tinbergian approach) and consideration of meta-analyses. The integration of observational techniques into experiments that aim to identify the cause and effect of behavioural performance is then explored, and we examine the assimilation of behavioural methods used in studies of environmental enrichment. By systematically studying animal behaviour, we can attempt to understand the welfare of individual animals in captivity, and here we present an example of our reviewed approaches to this area of zoo science. Combining multiple methodologies can lead to a greater understanding of behaviour and welfare, creating robust research, progressing husbandry and advancing conservation strategies. Collaborations between zoological collections and academic researchers (e.g., in Higher Education Institutions) can further refine and enhance the validity of research and husbandry practice alike.
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Slow-growing broilers are healthier and express more behavioural indicators of positive welfare. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15151. [PMID: 32938994 PMCID: PMC7494998 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72198-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Broiler chicken welfare is under increasing scrutiny due to welfare concerns regarding growth rate and stocking density. This farm-based study explored broiler welfare in four conditions representing commercial systems varying in breed and planned maximum stocking density: (1) Breed A, 30 kg/m2; (2) Breed B, 30 kg/m2; (3) Breed B, 34 kg/m2; (4) Breed C, 34 kg/m2. Breeds A and B were ‘slow-growing’ breeds (< 50 g/day), and Breed C was a widely used ‘fast-growing’ breed. Indicators of negative welfare, behavioural indicators of positive welfare and environmental outcomes were assessed. Clear differences between conditions were detected. Birds in Condition 4 experienced the poorest health (highest mortality and post-mortem inspection rejections, poorest walking ability, most hock burn and pododermatitis) and litter quality. These birds also displayed lower levels of behaviours indicative of positive welfare (enrichment bale occupation, qualitative ‘happy/active’ scores, play, ground-scratching) than birds in Conditions 1–3. These findings provide farm-based evidence that significant welfare improvement can be achieved by utilising slow-growing breeds. There are suggested welfare benefits of a slightly lower planned maximum stocking density for Breed B and further health benefits of the slowest-growing breed, although these interventions do not offer the same magnitude of welfare improvement as moving away from fast-growing broilers.
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Vindevoghel TV, Fleming PA, Hyndman TH, Musk GC, Laurence M, Collins T. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment of Bos indicus cattle after surgical castration. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Miller DW, Fleming PA, Barnes AL, Wickham SL, Collins T, Stockman CA. Behavioural assessment of the habituation of feral rangeland goats to an intensive farming system. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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16
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Inter- and intra-observer reliability of different methods for recording temperament in beef and dairy calves. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Application of Free Choice Profiling to assess the emotional state of dogs housed in shelter environments. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Veterinary and Equine Science Students' Interpretation of Horse Behaviour. Animals (Basel) 2017; 7:ani7080063. [PMID: 28809810 PMCID: PMC5575575 DOI: 10.3390/ani7080063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple summary We assessed first-year veterinary science and veterinary technology and undergraduate equine science students interpretation of expressive horse behaviours. Previous experience with horses appeared to influence the students’ perception of the horses’ behaviour. Qualitative assessments of horse behaviour may be a useful tool for assessing students’ knowledge of horse behaviour. Abstract Many veterinary and undergraduate equine science students have little previous horse handling experience and a poor understanding of horse behaviour; yet horses are one of the most unsafe animals with which veterinary students must work. It is essential for veterinary and equine students to learn how to interpret horse behaviour in order to understand demeanour and levels of arousal, and to optimise their own safety and the horses’ welfare. The study utilised a qualitative research approach to investigate veterinary science and veterinary technology and undergraduate equine science students’ interpretation of expressive behaviours shown by horses. The students (N = 127) were shown six short video clips and asked to select the most applicable terms, from a pre-determined list, to describe the behavioural expression of each individual horse. A wide variation of terms were selected by students and in some situations of distress, or situations that may be dangerous or lead to compromised welfare, apparently contradictory terms were also selected (happy or playful) by students with less experience with horses. Future studies should consider the use of Qualitative Behavioural Analysis (QBA) and free-choice profiling to investigate the range of terms used by students to describe the expressive demeanour and arousal levels of horses.
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Robinson LM, Altschul DM, Wallace EK, Úbeda Y, Llorente M, Machanda Z, Slocombe KE, Leach MC, Waran NK, Weiss A. Chimpanzees with positive welfare are happier, extraverted, and emotionally stable. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Clarke T, Pluske JR, Collins T, Miller DW, Fleming PA. A quantitative and qualitative approach to the assessment of behaviour of sows upon mixing into group pens with or without a partition. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.1071/an15132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The behaviour of intensively managed sows is influenced by the design of their housing, with the physical structure of the pen affecting how sows spend their time. The first hour after unfamiliar sows are mixed into group housing is considered important in terms of their welfare due to high levels of aggression as they develop a hierarchy and investigate their new surroundings and pen-mates. This study compared the behaviour of sows on a commercial piggery at the point of mixing into 20 group pens (n = 15–18 sows each group), where half the group pens had a concrete partition (a short wall, 2 m long and 1.6 m high) running through the middle of the pen, and half did not have the partition. We predicted that the partition would improve the expression of behaviours during the first hour after mixing. Sows were filmed for 70 min post-mixing and the footage was analysed using quantitative behavioural profile for eight behavioural categories (i.e. time budgets). We found no significant differences in the incidence of aggression, but found less investigative behaviour for sows in pens with the partition; these sows also lay down sooner compared with sows in no-partition pens, and stopped eating/searching for food sooner. The difference between pen designs was most evident at 50–60 min post-mixing, and therefore we compared the behavioural expression of the sows using qualitative behavioural assessment for this time point. There was significant inter-observer reliability among the 17 observers, with 60.02% (P < 0.001) of the variation in their scoring using the Free Choice Profiling methodology explained by the consensus profile. Sows in partition pens were scored as more ‘calm/relaxed’ compared with sows in no-partition pens, which were scored as more ‘aggressive/tense’. There were also significant correlations between the time budgets and behavioural expression scores, with groups of animals described as more ‘aggressive/tense’ also showing more walking, aggression, and avoidance, but less lying. The sows described as more ‘sleepy/bored’ showed more lying and sitting. This study shows that even a subtle difference in housing design (in this case, retention of a concrete partition) can make a significant positive difference to the demeanour and activity patterns of sows. Identifying housing designs that have positive welfare outcomes can inform pen design and construction, and is particularly relevant where housing is being converted (e.g. from single pens to group housing) and decisions must be made around whether or not to keep existing structures.
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