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Hohlbaum K, Andresen N, Mieske P, Kahnau P, Lang B, Diederich K, Palme R, Mundhenk L, Sprekeler H, Hellwich O, Thöne-Reineke C, Lewejohann L. Lockbox enrichment facilitates manipulative and cognitive activities for mice. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2024; 4:108. [PMID: 39257918 PMCID: PMC11384198 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.17624.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Due to the lack of complexity and variety of stimuli, conventional housing conditions of laboratory mice do not allow these animals to fully express their behavioral repertoire, including manipulative and cognitive activities. Therefore, we designed mechanical puzzles, so-called lockboxes, for mice that can be provided in their home cages. We investigated the impact of the lockbox enrichment on their phenotype and affective state when compared to conventional housing (CH) and super-environmental enrichment (SEE). Methods Young adult female C57BL/6JCrl mice were examined before and after 2-month exposure to the different types of enrichment in a phenotyping test battery, including tests for trait and state anxiety-related behavior, calorimetric measurements, body weight measurements, the analysis of stress hormone metabolite concentrations, and sequential problem-solving abilities with a novel lockbox. At the end of the study, adrenal gland weights were determined and pathohistological evaluation was performed. For all continuous variables, the relative variability was calculated. Results While the different types of enrichment affected trait anxiety-related behavior, neither state anxiety-related behavior nor physiological variables (i.e., bodyweight, resting metabolic rate, stress hormone metabolite concentrations, adrenal gland weights) were influenced. LE improved sequential problem-solving (i.e., solving novel lockboxes) when compared to SEE. Regardless of the housing condition, the relative variability increased in most variables over time, although the coefficient of variation decreased for some variables, especially in animals with access to LE. There was no evidence of toxicopathological effects associated with the material from which the lockboxes were made. Conclusions All lockboxes are available as open-source tool. LE revealed beneficial effects on the affective state of laboratory mice and their performance in solving novel lockboxes. Neither relevant phenotype of the mice nor reproducibility of the data were compromised by LE, similar to SEE. The lockboxes may also be used as novel approach for assessing cognition in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Hohlbaum
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, 12277, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, 10587, Germany
| | - Niek Andresen
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, 10587, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, 14163, Germany
- Computer Vision and Remote Sensing, Technische Universitat Berlin, Berlin, 10587, Germany
| | - Paul Mieske
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, 12277, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, 10587, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, 14163, Germany
| | - Pia Kahnau
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, 12277, Germany
| | - Benjamin Lang
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, 10587, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, 14163, Germany
| | - Kai Diederich
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, 12277, Germany
| | - Rupert Palme
- Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Austria
| | - Lars Mundhenk
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, 14163, Germany
| | - Henning Sprekeler
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, 10587, Germany
- Modeling of Cognitive Processes, Technische Universitat Berlin, Berlin, 10587, Germany
| | - Olaf Hellwich
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, 10587, Germany
- Computer Vision and Remote Sensing, Technische Universitat Berlin, Berlin, 10587, Germany
| | - Christa Thöne-Reineke
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, 10587, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, 14163, Germany
| | - Lars Lewejohann
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, 12277, Germany
- Science of Intelligence, Research Cluster of Excellence, Berlin, 10587, Germany
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitat Berlin, Berlin, 14163, Germany
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2
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Nagel R, Pohle K, Jordán L, Tuponja I, Stainfield C, Toscani C, Fox-Clarke C, Costantini D, Czirják GÁ, Forcada J, Hoffman JI. Life-history stage influences immune investment and oxidative stress in response to environmental heterogeneity in Antarctic fur seals. Commun Biol 2024; 7:788. [PMID: 38951600 PMCID: PMC11217341 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06499-6] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune defenses are crucial for survival but costly to develop and maintain. Increased immune investment is therefore hypothesized to trade-off with other life-history traits. Here, we examined innate and adaptive immune responses to environmental heterogeneity in wild Antarctic fur seals. In a fully crossed, repeated measures design, we sampled 100 pups and their mothers from colonies of contrasting density during seasons of contrasting food availability. Biometric and cortisol data as well as blood for the analysis of 13 immune and oxidative status markers were collected at two key life-history stages. We show that immune responses of pups are more responsive than adults to variation in food availability, but not population density, and are modulated by cortisol and condition. Immune investment is associated with different oxidative status markers in pups and mothers. Our results suggest that early life stages show greater sensitivity to extrinsic and intrinsic effectors, and that immunity may be a strong target for natural selection even in low-pathogen environments such as Antarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Nagel
- Department of Evolutionary Population Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany.
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany.
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TH, UK.
| | - Katja Pohle
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lilla Jordán
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Iva Tuponja
- Department of Evolutionary Population Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Claire Stainfield
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET, UK
- Scotland's Rural College, Craibstone Estate, Ferguson Building, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, UK
| | - Camille Toscani
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET, UK
| | - Cameron Fox-Clarke
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET, UK
| | - David Costantini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jaume Forcada
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET, UK
| | - Joseph I Hoffman
- Department of Evolutionary Population Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 OET, UK
- Center for Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
- Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment, Bielefeld University and University of Münster, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
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3
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Gräschke L. Globetrotting Horses: Welfare Discourses and Disciplinary Power in the Transportation of Horses by Air. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1862. [PMID: 38997974 PMCID: PMC11240486 DOI: 10.3390/ani14131862] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Every year, many horses are transported by air. Alongside sport horses traveling to tournaments worldwide, mainly breeding horses, such as shuttle stallions and broodmares, thoroughbreds traded at auctions, and leisure horses are transported by air. Research in veterinary science has highlighted welfare concerns during air transportation. Equine welfare is constituted in the language and discourse evolving from social, political, and ethical views about the treatment of horses. Consequently, this study targets power in creating equine welfare by analyzing the welfare discourses, transportation practices that generate welfare, and their impact on horses and humans in the transportation of horses by air. In detail, this research uses a Foucauldian discourse analysis to examine how welfare discourses and linked transportation practices constitute horses and humans using disciplinary power. The empirical material consists of 81 newspaper articles about horse transportation by air, five video clips, and four interviews with representatives of horse transport agencies that have set standards for the transportation of horses by air. The analysis discovers four different welfare discourses and various practices that guide the carrying of horses by air. The discourses have created inactive horses and human professionals in the business of horse transportation by air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Gräschke
- Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, University of Eastern Finland, 80100 Joensuu, Finland
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4
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Woodrum Setser MM, Neave HW, Costa JHC. Individuality of calves: Linking personality traits to feeding and activity daily patterns measured by precision livestock technology. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:3235-3251. [PMID: 38135049 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24257] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Animal personality has established connections with animal performance, resilience, and welfare which are related to stable behavioral patterns. Precision livestock technologies introduce the opportunity to measure these behavior patterns automatically and noninvasively. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to determine if personality traits in dairy calves measured via standardized personality assessments were associated with activity measured via a commercially available accelerometer. Secondary aims of this study were to investigate if personality traits were associated with feeding behaviors measured via an automatic feeding system (AFS) and with average daily gain (ADG). We characterized personality traits of Holstein calves (n = 49) utilizing standardized personality (novel environment, novel person, novel object, and startle) tests. Behaviors from these tests were summarized and 3 factors were extracted from a principal component analysis to represent calf personality traits: fearful, active, and explorative. Factor scores were regressed against behaviors from the accelerometer and AFS and with ADG. We found that calves that were more active were associated with taking more steps in the home environment, consuming more calf starter, and with reaching the benchmark of 1 kg of starter consumed in a day at a younger age. The trait active was also associated with greater ADG throughout the study. In addition, calves that were more explorative in the personality tests were associated with less starter consumed and lower ADG specifically during the weaning period. The findings of this research contribute to the existing literature by further establishing the links between personality traits and the daily behavioral patterns and performance of young calves. This study suggests the potential for using precision technology to assess and characterize personality traits, thereby enhancing their practical applicability on farms. Future research should focus on evaluating how personality traits, as measured through standardized assessments and precision technologies, correlate with deviations in behavior observed in dairy calves during stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Woodrum Setser
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546
| | - H W Neave
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - J H C Costa
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546; Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405.
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5
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Ruet A, Lemarchand J, Briant C, Arnould C, Lansade L. A field approach to observing changes in behavioural welfare indicators over 2 years in stabled horses. Animal 2024; 18:101120. [PMID: 38520772 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101120] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In stabled horses, several behaviours are considered to be important indicators of the state of welfare at the individual level: stereotypies, aggressive behaviours towards humans and the "withdrawn", alert, sternal, lateral and observation postures. Until now, these behaviours have been extensively studied in relation to different horse management practices. However, little is known about their changes or consistency over time. This study aimed to investigate differences in the expression of these behaviours assessed on 44 stabled horses during an initial 3-month period and then again on the same individuals 2 years later. Out of the six behaviours studied, two showed significant differences between the 2 years with medium effect sizes: the levels of aggressiveness towards humans increased (Wilcoxon signed-rank test: V = 65, P = 0.005) and those of recumbent rest during the day decreased (V = 416, P < 0.001) over time. The results also suggested limited evidence of major changes over time in the expression of stereotypies, the "withdrawn", alert and observation postures. However, the principal component analyses carried out on all the behaviours showed that alert and observation postures may slightly decrease over time for some individuals. Regarding stereotypies and the "withdrawn" posture, the results mainly suggested a change at the individual level in the expression of these behaviours over time. This study provided new insights into the dynamic nature of several behaviours when the horses' living conditions are not fundamentally altered and raised hypotheses about the state of welfare of stabled individuals over a 2-year period.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ruet
- INRAE, CNRS, University of Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
| | - J Lemarchand
- INRAE, CNRS, University of Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - C Briant
- INRAE, CNRS, University of Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - C Arnould
- INRAE, CNRS, University of Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - L Lansade
- INRAE, CNRS, University of Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
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6
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Babington S, Tilbrook AJ, Maloney SK, Fernandes JN, Crowley TM, Ding L, Fox AH, Zhang S, Kho EA, Cozzolino D, Mahony TJ, Blache D. Finding biomarkers of experience in animals. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2024; 15:28. [PMID: 38374201 PMCID: PMC10877933 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00989-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
At a time when there is a growing public interest in animal welfare, it is critical to have objective means to assess the way that an animal experiences a situation. Objectivity is critical to ensure appropriate animal welfare outcomes. Existing behavioural, physiological, and neurobiological indicators that are used to assess animal welfare can verify the absence of extremely negative outcomes. But welfare is more than an absence of negative outcomes and an appropriate indicator should reflect the full spectrum of experience of an animal, from negative to positive. In this review, we draw from the knowledge of human biomedical science to propose a list of candidate biological markers (biomarkers) that should reflect the experiential state of non-human animals. The proposed biomarkers can be classified on their main function as endocrine, oxidative stress, non-coding molecular, and thermobiological markers. We also discuss practical challenges that must be addressed before any of these biomarkers can become useful to assess the experience of an animal in real-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Babington
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Alan J Tilbrook
- Centre for Animal Science, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia
| | - Shane K Maloney
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jill N Fernandes
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia
| | - Tamsyn M Crowley
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3217, Australia
- Poultry Hub Australia, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia
| | - Luoyang Ding
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Archa H Fox
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Song Zhang
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Elise A Kho
- Centre for Animal Science, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Daniel Cozzolino
- Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Timothy J Mahony
- Centre for Animal Science, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Dominique Blache
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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7
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Holt RV, Skånberg L, Keeling LJ, Estevez I, Newberry RC. Resource choice during ontogeny enhances both the short- and longer-term welfare of laying hen pullets. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3360. [PMID: 38336837 PMCID: PMC10858183 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53039-7] [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: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
We hypothesised that resource choice during early life contributes to both current and longer-term beneficial effects on animal welfare. We investigated this hypothesis in a longitudinal cross-over experiment with laying hen pullets (Gallus gallus domesticus) reared in pens with one or four litter and perch types, respectively (n = 8 pens/treatment, all providing ample and identical litter and perch space). After 4 weeks (chick period), half the pens were modified to provide the opposite treatment (juvenile period). After 11 more weeks, all groups were moved to novel, identical laying pens (adult period; Week 16-27). In support of our hypothesis, the opportunity to choose between multiple litter and perch variants was associated with higher levels of positively-valenced behaviours, including play as chicks and dustbathing as juveniles and adults, and lower levels of negatively-valenced behaviours, including feather pecking as chicks and juveniles and aggressive pecking as adults. Resource choice in the juvenile period also led to better juvenile and adult plumage condition, and greater growth as adults. We conclude that the opportunity to choose among different litter and perch types, instead of having only one type of each, had both short- and longer-term positive effects on the birds' affective states and physical condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regine Victoria Holt
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
| | - Lena Skånberg
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Linda J Keeling
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Inma Estevez
- Department of Animal Production, NEIKER, Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Arkaute, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Ruth C Newberry
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
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8
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Iqbal MW, Draganova I, Morel PCH, Morris ST. Associations of Grazing and Rumination Behaviours with Performance Parameters in Spring-Calving Dairy Cows in a Pasture-Based Grazing System. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3831. [PMID: 38136868 PMCID: PMC10740424 DOI: 10.3390/ani13243831] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship of the length of time spent grazing and ruminating with the performance parameters of spring-calved grazing dairy cows (n = 162) over the lactation period for three lactation seasons (n = 54 per season). The cows were Holstein Friesian (HFR), Jersey (JE), and a crossbreed of Holstein Friesian/Jersey (KiwiCross), with 18 cows from each breed. The cows were either in their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th lactation year, and had different breeding worth (BW) index values (103 < BW > 151). The cows were managed through a rotational grazing scheme with once-a-day milking in the morning at 05:00 h. The cows were mainly fed on grazed pastures consisting of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), red clover (Trifolium pretense), and white clover (Trifolium repens), and received additional feeds on various days in the summer and autumn seasons. This study used an automated AfiCollar device to continuously record the grazing time and rumination time (min/h) of the individual cows throughout the lactation period (~270 days) for three consecutive years (Year-1, Year-2, and Year-3). The milk yield, milk fat, milk protein, milk solids, liveweight, and body condition score data of the individual animals for the study years were provided by the farm. PROC CORR was used in SAS to determine the correlation coefficients (r) between the behaviour and production parameters. A general linear model fitted with breed × lactation year, individual cows, seasons, feed within the season, grazing time, rumination time, as well as their interactions, was assessed to test the differences in milk yield, milk fat, milk protein, milk solids, liveweight, and body condition score. The type I sum of squares values were used to quantify the magnitude of variance explained by each of the study factors and their interactions in the study variables. Grazing time exhibited positive associations with MY (r = 0.34), MF (r = 0.43), MP (r = 0.22), MS (r = 0.39), LW (r = -0.47), and BCS (r = -0.24) throughout the study years. Rumination time was associated with MY (r = 0.64), MF (r = 0.57), MP (r = 0.52), and MS (r = 0.57) in all study years, while there were no effects of rumination time on LW (r = 0.26) and BCS (r = -0.26). Grazing time explained up to 0.32%, 0.49%, 0.17%, 0.31%, 0.2%, and 0.02%, and rumination time explained up to 0.39%, 6.73%, 4.63%, 6.53%, 0.44%, and 0.17% of the variance in MY, MF, MP, MS, LW, and BCS, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Wasim Iqbal
- School of Agriculture and Environment, College of Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand; (I.D.); (P.C.H.M.); (S.T.M.)
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9
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Nogues E, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MAG. Graduate Student Literature Review: Sociability, fearfulness, and coping style-Impacts on individual variation in the social behavior of dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:9568-9575. [PMID: 37678797 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23553] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Dairy cattle typically live in groups, but individuals within these groups vary in their social behavior. An improved understanding of factors affecting the expression of social behavior may help refine management practices on farms to better accommodate the needs of all individuals within the herd. In this paper, we review (1) some examples of how social behavior is expressed in cattle, (2) commonly assessed personality traits in this species (i.e., sociability and fearfulness) as well as coping style, and (3) how these can affect the expression of social behavior of dairy cattle and in turn their welfare. We also identify understudied social behaviors that personality might influence (social learning, social stress, and social buffering of negative emotions), and that could inform how to improve the welfare of intensively housed dairy cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Nogues
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4.
| | - Daniel M Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Marina A G von Keyserlingk
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
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10
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Occhiuto F, Vázquez-Diosdado JA, King AJ, Kaler J. Evidence of personality-dependent plasticity in dairy calf movement behaviours derived from automated data collection. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18243. [PMID: 37880268 PMCID: PMC10600154 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44957-z] [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: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual consistency in behaviour, known as animal personality, and behavioural plasticity in response to environmental changes are important factors shaping individual behaviour. Correlations between them, called personality-dependent plasticity, indicate that personality can affect individual reactions to the environment. In farm animals this could impact the response to management changes or stressors but has not yet been investigated. Here we use ultra-wideband location sensors to measure personality and plasticity in the movement of 90 dairy calves for up to 56 days starting in small pair-housing enclosures, and subsequently moved to larger social housings. For the first time calves were shown to differ in personality and plasticity of movement when changing housing. There were significant correlations between personality and plasticity for distance travelled (0.57), meaning that individuals that travelled the furthest in the pair housing increased their movement more in the social groups, and for residence time (- 0.65) as those that stayed in the same area more decreased more with the change in housing, demonstrating personality-dependent plasticity. Additionally, calves conformed to their pen-mate's behaviour in pairs, but this did not continue in the groups. Therefore, personality, plasticity and social effects impact how farm animals respond to changes and can inform management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Occhiuto
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK.
| | - Jorge A Vázquez-Diosdado
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Andrew J King
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Singleton Park Campus, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Jasmeet Kaler
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK.
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11
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Brasier JE, Schwanke AJ, DeVries TJ. Effects of dairy cows' personality traits on their adaptation to an automated milking system following parturition. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:7191-7202. [PMID: 37210355 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-23176] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine how dairy cow personality traits affect their adaptation to an automated milking system (AMS) upon parturition, as well as whether these personality traits are consistent across the transition from gestation to lactation. Sixty Holstein dairy cows (19 primiparous and 41 multiparous) were assessed for personality traits using a combined arena test conducted at 24 d before parturition and 24 d after first introduction to an AMS, which occurred ∼3 d after parturition. The combined arena test comprised 3 parts: a novel arena test, a novel object test, and a novel human test. Principal component analysis of the behaviors recorded during the personality assessment revealed 3 factors interpreted as personality traits (75% cumulative variance) in the pre-calving test, interpreted as explore, active, and bold. The post-calving test revealed 2 factors (78% cumulative variance), interpreted as active and explore. Data from d 1 to 7 after introduction to the AMS were summarized by cow and associated with the pre-calving factors, and data from d 21 to 27 after introduction to the AMS were summarized by cow and associated with the post-calving factors. The active trait had a moderate positive correlation between the pre- and post-calving tests, whereas exploration had a weak positive correlation between tests. Cows that scored high for activeness in the pre-calving test tended to have fewer fetching events and a higher coefficient of variation of milk yield in the first 7 d after introduction to the AMS, whereas bolder cows tended to have higher milk yield during that period. In the post-calving test, more active cows tended to have more frequent milkings and voluntary visits per day, as well as a lower cumulative milk yield from d 21 to 27 after introduction to the AMS. Overall, these results indicate that personality traits of dairy cows are associated with adaptation and performance in an AMS, and that personality traits are consistent across the transition period. Specifically, cows that scored high for boldness and activeness adapted better to the AMS immediately after calving, whereas cows that scored low for activeness and high for boldness performed better in terms of milk yield and milking activity in early lactation. This study demonstrates that personality traits affect milking activity and milk yield of dairy cows milked with an AMS and, therefore, may be useful for selection of cows who might best adapt to and use an AMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Brasier
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - A J Schwanke
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - T J DeVries
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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12
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Evans L, Brooks GC, Anderson MG, Campbell AM, Jacobs L. Environmental Complexity and Reduced Stocking Density Promote Positive Behavioral Outcomes in Broiler Chickens. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2074. [PMID: 37443872 PMCID: PMC10339985 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132074] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective was to evaluate the impacts of a complex environment and stocking density on Ross 708 broiler chicken behaviors. Eight pens contained either high complexity (HC) or low complexity (LC) environments, and high (HD) or low (LD) density. Through focal-animal sampling, the frequency and duration of behaviors were recorded continuously for 5 min at two timepoints for one day in weeks 2, 4, and 7. Birds were active for 30% of the observed time, with birds showing more activity in HC compared with LC. Birds in HC pens spent more time preening and foraging than birds in LC pens, which was interpreted as a positive outcome. Dustbathing and play were not impacted by complexity, possibly due to the observation method. Birds were more frequently active at HD compared with LD, but did not spend more time being active, suggesting disturbances. Birds foraged, drank, and ate less frequently in HD compared with LD, presumably because birds had more difficulty accessing resources. Activity and active behaviors reduced as birds aged, while preening frequency increased, possibly due to frustration, but this was not confirmed. Perching was unaffected by age, showing a persistent motivation to perform the behavior. Our results indicate that a complex environment provides positive stimulation for foraging, locomotion, preening, and overall activity. Despite reduced activity, many benefits of the tested environmental complexity and low density persisted as birds aged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Evans
- Virginia Tech, School of Animal Sciences, 175 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (L.E.); (M.G.A.); (A.M.C.)
| | - George C. Brooks
- Virginia Tech, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, 310 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
| | - Mallory G. Anderson
- Virginia Tech, School of Animal Sciences, 175 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (L.E.); (M.G.A.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Andrew M. Campbell
- Virginia Tech, School of Animal Sciences, 175 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (L.E.); (M.G.A.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Leonie Jacobs
- Virginia Tech, School of Animal Sciences, 175 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (L.E.); (M.G.A.); (A.M.C.)
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13
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Montalcini CM, Petelle MB, Toscano MJ. Commercial laying hens exhibit long-term consistent individual differences and behavioural syndromes in spatial traits. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230043. [PMID: 37234496 PMCID: PMC10206461 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Past research has supported the importance of animal personalities for the productivity and welfare of farm animals. However, current assessments of personality traits are commonly conducted over short periods using standardized assays and may not reflect all important aspects of behaviours in commercial settings throughout the production period. This study aimed to evaluate consistent behavioural differences between 194 commercial laying hens within an aviary across most of the production period (eight months). We used five spatial behaviours related to various aspects of commercial hens' daily routine, including the sleeping, feeding, nesting, indoor movements and outdoor usage. All behaviours were repeatable over time and across contexts, with consistent differences between individuals explaining between 23% and 66% of the variation. These long-term consistencies revealed the potential applicability of the behaviours as personality traits of commercial hens. Moreover, we identified behavioural syndromes comprising all behaviours except the nesting-related behaviour, indicating two axes of spatial personalities that may be driven by different mechanisms. We discussed the significance of such individual differences in using personality traits to breed more resilient farm animals. Future research should evaluate associations of these behaviours with animal welfare and productivity to inform breeding efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille M. Montalcini
- ZTHZ, Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
- Graduate School of Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthew B. Petelle
- ZTHZ, Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | - Michael J. Toscano
- ZTHZ, Division of Animal Welfare, VPH Institute, University of Bern, 3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
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14
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Wilson A, Phillips CJC. Behaviour and welfare of African lion ( Panthera leo) cubs used in contact wildlife tourism. Anim Welf 2023; 32:e34. [PMID: 38487433 PMCID: PMC10936262 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2023.24] [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: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Lion (Panthera leo) cubs are used in wildlife interaction tourism but the effects on cub welfare are unknown. We assessed the behaviour of three cohorts of lion cubs, twelve animals in total, at three different interaction facilities, using continuous and scan-sampling methodologies for the entire duration of cub utilisation for human interactions. Cubs spent most time inactive (62%), particularly sleeping (38%), but also spent a substantial amount of time playing (13%) and being alert (12%). A generalised linear mixed model revealed that cub behaviour was similar in two facilities but different from cubs in the third. In these two similar facilities, as human interactions increased, the time spent resting, sleeping and playing with other cubs decreased, and alert behaviour, grooming of humans and flight responses increased. In the third facility, cubs had an abnormal activity budget, with high levels of inactivity (80%) accompanied by a lack of response to human interactions. We conclude that in some facilities normal cub behaviour cannot be achieved and may be compromised by a high frequency of human interactions, which therefore needs to be controlled to limit adverse effects on cub behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Wilson
- AW Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Clive JC Phillips
- CJCP Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kreutzwalki 1, Tartu 51014, Estonia and Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia
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15
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Erasmus LM, van Marle-Köster E, Masenge A, Ganswindt A. Exploring the effect of auditory stimuli on activity levels, milk yield and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in Holstein cows. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2023; 82:106767. [PMID: 36244193 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2022.106767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Health and welfare are inextricably linked within efficient and sustainable dairy production, and several potential risk factors may affect the well-being of dairy cows, including chronic stress. Although auditory stimuli could be used as a tool to decrease the potential stress that cows might experience, it is seldom applied to livestock production systems due to the perception that enrichment is an unnecessary expense. This study aimed to explore the effect of auditory stimuli as a form of enrichment in a Holstein herd by monitoring fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations (a non-invasive, stress-associated biomarker). Cow activity level and milk yield were also measured. Nine cows in their second and third lactation were divided into 3 groups, using a Latin Square experimental design, exposing each cow group to each of the 3 treatments, namely constant exposure (CE), limited exposure (LE), and no exposure (NE) to classical music. FGCMs were quantified using a group-specific enzyme immunoassay detecting 11,17-dioxoandrostanes. Compared to LE and NE animals, cows exposed to constant music had significantly lower fGCM concentrations (P = 0.012), as well as higher milk yields (P < 0.0001) and lowered activity levels during the morning (P = 0.005) and the evening activity period (P = 0.048). These findings indicate that auditory stimuli in the form of classical music may have a positive effect on the welfare of cows as well as milk yield, which hold economic benefits for the producer and potentially reduces the number of cows needed for profitable production.
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Affiliation(s)
- L-M Erasmus
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
| | - E van Marle-Köster
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - A Masenge
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - A Ganswindt
- Mammal Research Institute (MRI), Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
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16
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Marliani G, Vannucchi I, Kiumurgis I, Accorsi PA. Limitations of Spatial Judgment Bias Test Application in Horses ( Equus ferus caballus). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:3014. [PMID: 36359138 PMCID: PMC9654000 DOI: 10.3390/ani12213014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Affective states are of increasing interest in the assessment of animal welfare. This research aimed to evaluate the possible limitations in the application of a spatial judgment bias test (JBT) in horses, considering the influence of stress level, personality traits, and the possible bias due to the test structure itself. The distinction between two positions, one rewarded (Positive) and the other not (Negative), was learned by 10 horses and 4 ponies,. Then, the latency to reach three unrewarded ambiguous positions (Near Positive, Middle, Near Negative) was measured. Furthermore, the validated Equine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) was employed to assess personality traits. Fecal and hair cortisol levels were measured through radioimmunoassay (RIA), and the frequency of behavioral stress indicators was recorded. Results showed that horses that had the rewarded position (Positive) on the right approached Near Negative and Middle faster than those that had Positive on the left. Certain personality traits influenced the latency to reach Middle and Near Positive, but chronic stress did not seem to affect horses' judgment bias. This preliminary study highlighted several limitations in the employment of spatial JBT for the assessment of affective state in horses and that personality traits can partially influence the cognitive process. Further research is needed to refine the use of this test in horses, considering the peculiarities both of species and of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Marliani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy
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17
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Torgerson-White L, Sánchez-Suárez W. Looking beyond the Shoal: Fish Welfare as an Individual Attribute. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192592. [PMID: 36230333 PMCID: PMC9559274 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The fish farming industry is characterized by settings where large numbers of fishes are raised together at high stocking densities, effectively obliterating the individual. Given that animal welfare is an individual attribute that refers to how an animal experiences her world, it follows that ensuring good welfare for the different individuals is difficult in fish farms. In this paper we review evidence supporting the notion that fishes are individuals and fish welfare should thus also be considered at the individual level, examine the ways that animal welfare is assessed in fish farms, evaluate these practices in light of individualized terrestrial animal welfare assessment methods, and make recommendations regarding research that could lead to a better understanding of how to provide each individual fish with good welfare in captivity. Abstract Welfare is an individual attribute. In general, providing captive nonhuman animals with conditions conducive to good welfare is an idea more easily applied when dealing with few individuals. However, this becomes much harder—if not impossible—under farming conditions that may imply high numbers of animals living in large group sizes. Although this is a problem inherent to intensive animal farming, it is possibly best exemplified in fish farming, for these practices often rely on extremely high numbers. In this paper we review evidence supporting the notion that fishes are individuals and fish welfare should thus also be considered at the individual level, examine the current state of welfare assessment in the aquaculture industry, evaluate these practices in light of individualized terrestrial animal welfare assessment methods, and make recommendations regarding research that could lead to a better understanding of how to provide each individual fish with good welfare in captivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauri Torgerson-White
- Department of Research, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, NY 14891, USA
- Correspondence: (L.T.-W.); (W.S.-S.); Tel.: +1-248-835-4770 (L.T.-W.)
| | - Walter Sánchez-Suárez
- Department of Research, Mercy For Animals, Los Angeles, CA 90046, USA
- Correspondence: (L.T.-W.); (W.S.-S.); Tel.: +1-248-835-4770 (L.T.-W.)
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18
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Long M, Dürnberger C, Jenner F, Kelemen Z, Auer U, Grimm H. Quality of Life within Horse Welfare Assessment Tools: Informing Decisions for Chronically Ill and Geriatric Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:1822. [PMID: 35883370 PMCID: PMC9311870 DOI: 10.3390/ani12141822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Equine Quality of Life (QoL) is an important concern in decision making in veterinary medicine and is especially relevant for chronically ill or geriatric horses towards the end of their lives. To our knowledge, there is no currently available QoL assessment tool for chronically ill or geriatric horses that assesses equine QoL defined as the horse's evaluation of their life. However, tools exist to assess equine welfare in different contexts. Hence, the aims of this study were to analyse how equine welfare, QoL, well-being and happiness assessment tools label, define and operationalise the concepts and to discuss the tools' suitability to assess equine QoL in the context of end-of-life decisions for chronically ill or geriatric horses. Fourteen articles were found through a systematic literature search, describing ten equine welfare assessment tools and one approach to integrating equine QoL in veterinary practice that suggests QoL assessment parameters. We discuss that some welfare assessment tools have the potential to support the development of a QoL assessment tool informing decisions towards the end of horses' lives if they are adjusted to focus on the horses' experiences, to provide an integration into an overall QoL grade and are tailored to chronically ill or geriatric horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariessa Long
- Unit of Ethics and Human-Animal Studies, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (C.D.); (H.G.)
| | - Christian Dürnberger
- Unit of Ethics and Human-Animal Studies, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (C.D.); (H.G.)
| | - Florien Jenner
- Equine Surgery Unit, University Equine Hospital, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (F.J.); (Z.K.)
| | - Zsófia Kelemen
- Equine Surgery Unit, University Equine Hospital, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (F.J.); (Z.K.)
| | - 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;
| | - Herwig Grimm
- Unit of Ethics and Human-Animal Studies, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (C.D.); (H.G.)
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19
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Grigg EK, Liu S, Dempsey DG, Wong K, Bain M, Sollers JJ, Haddock R, Kogan LR, Barnhard JA, Tringali AA, Thigpen AP, Hart LA. Assessing the Relationship Between Emotional States of Dogs and Their Human Handlers, Using Simultaneous Behavioral and Cardiac Measures. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:897287. [PMID: 35898554 PMCID: PMC9310693 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.897287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Negative stress due to human handling has been reported for a number of domestic animals, including dogs. Many companion dogs display significant stress during routine care in the veterinary clinic, risking injury to staff and potentially compromising the quality of care that these dogs receive. On the other hand, positive interactions with humans can have a beneficial effect on dogs, particularly in stressful situations such as animal shelters. Research has shown that dogs can detect human emotions through visual, auditory, and chemical channels, and that dogs will exhibit emotional contagion, particularly with familiar humans. This study investigated relationships between emotional states of dogs and unfamiliar human handlers, using simultaneous measures of cardiac activity and behavior, during two sessions of three consecutive routine handling sets. Measures of cardiac activity included mean heart rate (HRmean), and two measures of heart rate variability (HRV): the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD); and the high frequency absolute power component of HRV, log transformed (HFlog). We also assessed human handlers' emotional state during handling sessions following an intervention designed to reduce stress, compared with sessions conducted on a different day and following a control activity. Polar H10 cardiac sensors were used to simultaneously record cardiac activity for both canine and human participants, and behavioral data were collected via digital video. The strongest influence on the dogs' stress levels in our study was found to be increasing familiarity with the setting and the handler; HRmean and SI decreased, and HRV (as RMSSD) increased, significantly from the first to the third handling set. Canine HRV (as HFlog) was also highest in set 3, although the difference was not statistically significant. There were no strong patterns found in the human cardiac data across handling set, session, or by pre-handling activity. We did not find consistent support for emotional contagion between the dogs and their handlers in this study, perhaps due to the brief time that the dogs spent with the handlers. Recommendations for application to dog handling, and limitations of our methods, are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma K. Grigg
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Emma K. Grigg
| | - Serene Liu
- Graduate Group in Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Kylee Wong
- Animal Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Melissa Bain
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - John J. Sollers
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Rani Haddock
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Lori R. Kogan
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Jennifer A. Barnhard
- Bergin University of Canine Studies, Penngrove, CA, United States
- Equine Medical Emergency, Critical Care and Neonatology Service, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Ashley A. Tringali
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Abigail P. Thigpen
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Lynette A. Hart
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Webber S, Cobb ML, Coe J. Welfare Through Competence: A Framework for Animal-Centric Technology Design. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:885973. [PMID: 35847650 PMCID: PMC9280685 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.885973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Digital technologies offer new ways to ensure that animals can lead a good life in managed settings. As interactive enrichment and smart environments appear in zoos, farms, shelters, kennels and vet facilities, it is essential that the design of such technologies be guided by clear, scientifically-grounded understandings of what animals need and want, to be successful in improving their wellbeing. The field of Animal-Computer Interaction proposes that this can be achieved by centering animals as stakeholders in technology design, but there remains a need for robust methods to support interdisciplinary teams in placing animals' interests at the heart of design projects. Responding to this gap, we present the Welfare through Competence framework, which is grounded in contemporary animal welfare science, established technology design practices and applied expertise in animal-centered design. The framework brings together the “Five Domains of Animal Welfare” model and the “Coe Individual Competence” model, and provides a structured approach to defining animal-centric objectives and refining them through the course of a design project. In this paper, we demonstrate how design teams can use this framework to promote positive animal welfare in a range of managed settings. These much-needed methodological advances contribute a new theoretical foundation to debates around the possibility of animal-centered design, and offer a practical agenda for creating technologies that support a good life for animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Webber
- Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Sarah Webber
| | - Mia L. Cobb
- Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jon Coe
- Jon Coe Design, Healesville, VIC, Australia
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21
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Vaz J, Bartley A, Hunt J. Personality matters: exploring the relationship between personality and stress physiology in captive African lions. BMC ZOOL 2022; 7:30. [PMID: 37170353 PMCID: PMC10127340 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-022-00126-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Considering animals as individuals and not as species is becoming increasingly essential to animal welfare management in captive settings. Recent studies on big cat personalities and coping strategies suggest personality can help big cats cope in their surroundings. Yet a large portion of the published literature focuses on understanding either the personality or stress physiology of big cats. Our research shows how integrating an improved understanding of the personality of big cats with stress physiology may enhance welfare, especially for endangered species like African lions. By using a wild cat personality checklist, this study compared the key personality dimensions of 22 African lions with its faecal glucocorticoids and assessed factors influencing their personality and stress physiology.
Results
We found two reliable personality dimensions for African lions (dominance and agreeableness) and identified key factors (sex, age and location) that may influence their personality. Further, on testing if these factors influenced the stress physiology through variations in glucocorticoid levels, there was no significant difference. However, there was a strong negative association between agreeableness and glucocorticoid levels. These results suggest that the behavioural traits loading positively and higher for agreeableness are associated with lower glucocorticoid stress levels, which may assist a lion to cope with stressors in its surroundings.
Conclusions
Our findings highlight this integrated approach of linking personality and stress physiology of big cats can be beneficial for caretakers. For example, during stressful veterinary procedures or in reintroduction programs, recognizing the personality of lions can help in designing or providing them with resources that will alleviate stress. Thus, there is a need for more interdisciplinary approaches that will contribute towards enhancing the individual and overall welfare of big cats.
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22
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Garai ME, Roos T, Eggeling T, Ganswindt A, Pretorius Y, Henley M. Developing welfare parameters for African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in fenced reserves in South Africa. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264931. [PMID: 35324916 PMCID: PMC8947097 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
South Africa has many fenced reserves harbouring small to medium sized populations of African elephant (Loxodonta africana), most of which have been translocated. Elephants on fenced reserves may be exposed to various management interventions and practices (translocation, hunting, darting, high tourism impact, contraception programs, disruption due to infrastructure maintenance, etc.). These factors may impact the welfare of elephants. Poor elephant welfare may have serious consequences such as increased inter- and intra-species aggression that could result in fatalities. This is the first study to attempt to define behavioural and physiological welfare parameters for free-ranging elephants on small to medium sized reserves. The eight study sites incorporated reserves with different social structure combinations, elephant life-histories, reserve sizes, habitat, management, and tourism intensity. Data collection consisted of behavioural observations (10-minute videos) as well as faecal samples. By incorporating both behavioural and physiological (faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentration) parameters, we aimed to investigate whether the two parameters showed similar trends. Five behavioural categories were identified (Arousal, Assessing, Ambivalent, Ambivalent/ Body care, and Frustrated behaviour), with various detailed behaviours demonstrated by the elephants that may indicate the influence of anthropogenic disturbance and possibly impact on animal welfare. The study showed significant differences between the selected detailed behaviours, behavioural categories and fGCM concentrations of elephants across the eight reserves. History seemed to be a decisive factor, as reserves with predominantly ex-captive elephants showed higher frequencies of certain behaviours as well as higher fGCM concentrations. Age, sex, reserve size and season were also found to contribute to our defined welfare indices and fGCM concentrations. This indicates that behavioural parameters, indicative of certain behavioural states, are valuable indicators of welfare, as supported by the physiological response of the elephants. The results also highlight the importance of taking multiple specified behaviours from a category into consideration when evaluating the welfare of elephants, to account for individual variation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tenisha Roos
- Elephant Reintegration Trust, Port Alfred, South Africa
| | | | - André Ganswindt
- Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Michelle Henley
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Environmental Research Unit, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
- Elephants Alive, Hoedspruit, Limpopo, South Africa
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Candelotto L, Grethen KJ, Montalcini CM, Toscano MJ, Gómez Y. Tracking performance in poultry is affected by data cleaning method and housing system. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Kaplan G. Casting the Net Widely for Change in Animal Welfare: The Plight of Birds in Zoos, Ex Situ Conservation, and Conservation Fieldwork. Animals (Basel) 2021; 12:ani12010031. [PMID: 35011137 PMCID: PMC8749551 DOI: 10.3390/ani12010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Animal welfare measures have been designed to improve the health and environmental conditions of animals living under human control, for whatever reason. Welfare regulations have evolved also in line with new research insights into the cognitive, affective, and physiological domain of birds, as this paper discusses. This paper casts a critical eye on areas that Animal Welfare regulations have not reached at all, have not gone far enough, or are not regulated or supervised. It identifies the plight of birds living in captivity or being studied in the field, which either by neglect, ignorance, or design are subject to practices and procedures that may not meet basic welfare standards. The paper discusses some profound contradictions in the way we think about birds and their plight in today’s world: marked for extinction on one hand and highly admired as pets on the other; damaging fieldwork on one hand and the aims of conservation on the other. It highlights some common and distressing examples of poor welfare in birds. It also offers some solutions involving simple legislative changes and ways to eliminate some unacceptably low ethical standards in the handling and management of birds. Abstract This paper discusses paradoxes in our relationship to and treatment of birds in captive and conservation contexts. The paper identifies modern and new challenges that arise from declining bird numbers worldwide. Such challenges have partly changed zoos into providers of insurance populations specifically for species at risk of extinction. They have also accelerated fieldwork projects, but by using advanced technological tools and in increasing numbers, contradictorily, they may cause serious harm to the very birds studied for conservation purposes. In practice, very few avian species have any notable protection or guarantee of good treatment. The paper first deals with shortcomings of identifying problematic avian behavior in captive birds. It then brings together specific cases of field studies and captive breeding for conservation in which major welfare deficits are identified. Indeed, the paper argues that avian welfare is now an urgent task. This is not just because of declining bird numbers but because of investment in new technologies in field studies that may have introduced additional stressors and put at risk bird survival. While the paper documents a substantial number of peer-reviewed papers criticizing practices counter to modern welfare standards, they have by and large not led to changes in some practices. Some solutions are suggested that could be readily implemented and, to my knowledge, have never been considered under a welfare model before.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisela Kaplan
- School of Science and Technology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
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25
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Wenker ML, van Reenen CG, de Oliveira D, McCrea K, Verwer CM, Bokkers EA. Calf-directed affiliative behaviour of dairy cows in two types of cow-calf contact systems. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Doelling CR, Cronin KA, Ross SR, Hopper LM. The relationship between personality, season, and wounding receipt in zoo-housed Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata): A multi-institutional study. Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23332. [PMID: 34549451 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
It is important to those managing Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) in captive settings to understand predictors of wounding. While studies have demonstrated that season (breeding or nonbreeding) and sex predict rates of wounding received by zoo-housed Japanese macaques, we investigated whether individual differences in personality ratings also might explain some of the observed interindividual variance in wounding. Such patterns were previously observed in rhesus macaques (M. mulatta), such that individuals rated higher on Anxiety and Confidence received greater wounding. Here, we collected wounding data over 24 months on 48 Japanese macaques from eight AZA-accredited zoos. Each macaque was also rated by keepers using a 26-item personality questionnaire. Principle components analysis of these ratings revealed four personality components: Openness, Friendliness, Dominance, and Anxiety/Reactivity. The model with the best fit revealed an interaction effect between season (breeding vs. nonbreeding) and the personality component Friendliness, such that individuals rated higher on Friendliness incurred fewer wounds in the nonbreeding season. The second-best model revealed both a main effect of the season as well as an interaction effect between season and Openness, such that macaques rated higher in Openness received more wounds in the nonbreeding season than those rated lower in Openness. Thus, as with rhesus macaques, personality mediated wounding receipt rate in Japanese macaques, although different personality components explained interindividual variance in wounding for these two species. These differences likely reflect species differences in behavior and personality structure, as well as the influence of differing management practices, highlighting the importance of species-specific approaches for captive primate care and welfare. This study provides further support for understanding primate personality to create individualized strategies for their care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina R Doelling
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Katherine A Cronin
- Animal Welfare Science Program, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Stephen R Ross
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lydia M Hopper
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Anzai H, Hirata M. Individual Monitoring of Behavior to Enhance Productivity and Welfare of Animals in Small-Scale Intensive Cattle Grazing Systems. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.694413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To enhance productivity and welfare of individual animals maintained as a group, management based on individual behavioral tendencies is essential, which requires individual monitoring of animal behavior. Several behavior monitoring systems are currently available to livestock producers. The data obtained from these systems are analyzed to detect significantly high or low frequencies or intensities of behavior associated with estrus, calving and poor health conditions based on thresholds or past trends of the monitored individual. However, because behavior under grazing is more complex and changeable than under confinement, behavioral symptoms are more difficult to detect, and on-farm monitoring of individual animal behavior has been less validated and utilized in grazing systems. Nevertheless, individual monitoring of all animals in a herd is more feasible and cost-effective in small-scale intensive grazing systems because these systems pursue high productivity at the individual level with smaller herd size than large-scale extensive systems. Individually tailored management to enhance productivity and welfare will be possible by focusing on inter-individual differences in behavior within a herd. Behavior of an individual can be analyzed and understood in more detail by comparing it with those of the herd mates. Higher or lower levels of specific activities than the other animals can be associated with health disorders, temporal changes in physiological states, or productivity- or welfare-related traits. More sensitive monitoring and detection of behavioral responses of individuals to changes in nutritional, physical and social environments will lead to more efficient and welfare-conscious management that better meets the needs of individuals.
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Harten L, Gonceer N, Handel M, Dash O, Fokidis HB, Yovel Y. Urban bat pups take after their mothers and are bolder and faster learners than rural pups. BMC Biol 2021; 19:190. [PMID: 34493290 PMCID: PMC8422611 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01131-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urbanization is rapidly changing our planet and animals that live in urban environments must quickly adjust their behavior. One of the most prevalent behavioral characteristics of urban dwelling animals is an increased level of risk-taking. Here, we aimed to reveal how urban fruitbats become risk-takers, and how they differ behaviorally from rural bats, studying both genetic and non-genetic factors that might play a role in the process. We assessed the personality of newborn pups from both rural and urban colonies before they acquired experience outdoors, examining risk-taking, exploration, and learning rates. RESULTS Urban pups exhibited significantly higher risk-taking levels, they were faster learners, but less exploratory than their rural counterparts. A cross-fostering experiment revealed that pups were more similar to their adoptive mothers, thus suggesting a non-genetic mechanism and pointing towards a maternal effect. We moreover found that lactating urban mothers have higher cortisol levels in their milk, which could potentially explain the transmission of some personality traits from mother to pup. CONCLUSIONS Young bats seem to acquire environment suitable traits via post-birth non-genetic maternal effects. We offer a potential mechanism for how urban pups can acquire urban-suitable behavioral traits through hormonal transfer from their mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Harten
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nesim Gonceer
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Michal Handel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Orit Dash
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - H Bobby Fokidis
- Department of Biology, Rollins College, P.O. Box 874601, Winter Park, Florida, 32708, USA
| | - Yossi Yovel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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MacLean EL, Fine A, Herzog H, Strauss E, Cobb ML. The New Era of Canine Science: Reshaping Our Relationships With Dogs. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:675782. [PMID: 34336972 PMCID: PMC8319998 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.675782] [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: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine science is rapidly maturing into an interdisciplinary and highly impactful field with great potential for both basic and translational research. The articles in this Frontiers Research Topic, Our Canine Connection: The History, Benefits and Future of Human-Dog Interactions, arise from two meetings sponsored by the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace Leadership Institute, which convened experts from diverse areas of canine science to assess the state of the field and challenges and opportunities for its future. In this final Perspective paper, we identify a set of overarching themes that will be critical for a productive and sustainable future in canine science. We explore the roles of dog welfare, science communication, and research funding, with an emphasis on developing approaches that benefit people and dogs, alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan L. MacLean
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Cognitive Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Aubrey Fine
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Harold Herzog
- Department of Psychology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, United States
| | - Eric Strauss
- Center for Urban Resilience, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Mia L. Cobb
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Small A, Fisher AD, Lee C, Colditz I. Analgesia for Sheep in Commercial Production: Where to Next? Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11041127. [PMID: 33920025 PMCID: PMC8070992 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Increasing societal and customer pressure to provide animals with ‘a life worth living’ continues to apply pressure on industry to alleviate pain associated with husbandry practices, injury and illness. Although a number of analgesic solutions are now available for sheep, providing some amelioration of the acute pain responses, this review has highlighted a number of potential areas for further research. Abstract Increasing societal and customer pressure to provide animals with ‘a life worth living’ continues to apply pressure on livestock production industries to alleviate pain associated with husbandry practices, injury and illness. Over the past 15–20 years, there has been considerable research effort to understand and develop mitigation strategies for painful husbandry procedures in sheep, leading to the successful launch of analgesic approaches specific to sheep in a number of countries. However, even with multi-modal approaches to analgesia, using both local anaesthetic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), pain is not obliterated, and the challenge of pain mitigation and phasing out of painful husbandry practices remains. It is timely to review and reflect on progress to date in order to strategically focus on the most important challenges, and the avenues which offer the greatest potential to be incorporated into industry practice in a process of continuous improvement. A structured, systematic literature search was carried out, incorporating peer-reviewed scientific literature in the period 2000–2019. An enormous volume of research is underway, testament to the fact that we have not solved the pain and analgesia challenge for any species, including our own. This review has highlighted a number of potential areas for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Small
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Locked Bag 1, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia; (C.L.); (I.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-6776-1435
| | - Andrew David Fisher
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Caroline Lee
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Locked Bag 1, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia; (C.L.); (I.C.)
| | - Ian Colditz
- CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Locked Bag 1, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia; (C.L.); (I.C.)
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Bannister CC, Thomson AJC, Cuculescu-Santana M. Can colored object enrichment reduce the escape behavior of captive freshwater turtles? Zoo Biol 2021; 40:160-168. [PMID: 33544907 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The effect of environmental enrichment on the behavior and welfare in captivity of reptiles and of freshwater turtles in particular, which are popular aquarium and pet species, is very little studied compared to other taxa. We carried out a small scale case-study on the effect of colored object enrichment, with and without fish scent, on the behavior of a group of 15 cooters (Pseudemys sp.) and sliders (Trachemys scripta ssp.) on display at a public aquarium. The new enrichment aimed to reduce the escape behavior (interaction with transparent boundaries) and increase exploration and random swimming. We used simultaneous recording of behavior at whole group level and for focal individually-marked turtles. The escape behavior decreased on days with new enrichment before feeding at whole group level and for the focal turtles overall, in spite of the relatively low interest in the colored objects. Fish-scented objects attracted significantly more interest. Random swimming, enrichment focus, aggression and submission increased significantly, and basking decreased significantly at whole group level before feeding, with smaller differences after feeding. There were large differences between individual turtles with respect to activity budgets and changes in behavior on days with new enrichment, with both increases and decreases seen in escape behavior, aggression, and levels of activity. Our outcomes suggested that introducing new colored objects with food scent may be beneficial for reducing escape behavior in captive freshwater turtles. However, careful monitoring of effects at individual level and much larger scale investigations, including postenrichment periods, are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum C Bannister
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Angus J C Thomson
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Gesto M, Zupa W, Alfonso S, Spedicato MT, Lembo G, Carbonara P. Using acoustic telemetry to assess behavioral responses to acute hypoxia and ammonia exposure in farmed rainbow trout of different competitive ability. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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DNA methylation variation in the brain of laying hens in relation to differential behavioral patterns. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2020; 35:100700. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2020.100700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Sachser N, Zimmermann TD, Hennessy MB, Kaiser S. Sensitive phases in the development of rodent social behavior. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2020; 36:63-70. [PMID: 34337112 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2020.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Here, we summarize recent advances on how environmental influences during sensitive phases alter the social behavioral phenotype of rodents later in life. Current studies support the view that the prenatal, early postnatal and adolescent periods of life can be regarded as sensitive phases. Environmental cues acting on the organism during these phases have a wide variety of effects on adult social behavior. One pattern that emerges across species and sensitive phases is that adversity tends to reduce social interactions and particularly affiliative social behavior. Concerning underlying mechanisms, various hormones can be involved; however, glucocorticoids frequently serve as the signal instigating plasticity. There is also increasing appreciation of non-endocrine mechanisms, specifically epigenetics and the microbiome. Concerning function, some evidence exists that sensitive phase outcomes adjust the individual's social phenotype to the nature of the social environment to be present during adulthood and breeding, though additional empirical support is still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Sachser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestr. 13, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Tobias D Zimmermann
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestr. 13, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Michael B Hennessy
- Department of Psychology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestr. 13, 48149 Münster, Germany
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Hamilton J, Fuller G, Allard S. Evaluation of the Impact of Behavioral Opportunities on Four Zoo-Housed Aardvarks ( Orycteropus afer). Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10081433. [PMID: 32824400 PMCID: PMC7460251 DOI: 10.3390/ani10081433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Evaluations of enrichment are critical to determine whether or not the goals of an enrichment program are being achieved. However, evaluations can be challenging if a species’ active period occurs outside of their caretakers’ normal schedule. Aardvarks are an understudied, nocturnal species, and our aim was to assess how they used their enrichment (nightly and throughout the study), if enrichment achieved the stated behavioral goals, and the subsequent effects of goal-achieving enrichment on the aardvarks’ welfare. Four aardvarks were given seven different enrichment items based on two behavioral goals, foraging and exploring, and were observed three times during the night. The aardvarks’ enrichment use was impacted based on the goal of the enrichment, with aardvarks using the enrichment aimed at promoting foraging behavior more when enrichment was first given compared to enrichment that promoted exploring. However, exploring enrichment was used more later in the night. The enrichment did appear to achieve the stated behavioral goals, and the aardvarks continued using the enrichment throughout the entire eight-week study. In addition, there were increased affiliative and decreased agonistic interactions with more enrichment use, linking the achievement of these goals to positive indicators of welfare. The data presented contribute to the current knowledge on goal-based enrichment and its impact on animal welfare. Abstract Evaluations of enrichment are critical to determine if an enrichment program is meeting stated goals. However, nocturnal species can present a challenge if their active periods do not align with caretakers’ schedules. To evaluate enrichment for four aardvarks housed with a natural light cycle, we provided seven different enrichment items aimed at fulfilling two behavioral goals: exploring and foraging. We wanted to understand how the aardvarks used enrichment, if enrichment promoted the defined goals, and how enrichment that achieves its goals affects welfare indicators, including rates of pacing and social behaviors, behavioral diversity, and fecal glucocorticoid metabolites. Twenty-minute observations from video were performed three times a night for a total of 224 observed hours. We found significant differences in how the aardvarks used items from the two enrichment goals throughout the night, with foraging enrichment used more than exploring at first and exploring enrichment used more later. We found that items promoted their defined goals, and aardvarks showed no evidence of habituation throughout the eight-week study. The impact on selected welfare indicators provided evidence of potentially positive changes, including increased affiliative and decreased agonistic interactions accompanying increases in goal behaviors. These results contribute to the current knowledge available on the impact of goal-directed behavioral opportunities on zoo animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Hamilton
- Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics, Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI 48067, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-248-336-5798
| | - Grace Fuller
- Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics, Detroit Zoological Society, Royal Oak, MI 48067, USA;
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Campbell DLM, Dyall TR, Downing JA, Cohen-Barnhouse AM, Lee C. Rearing Enrichments Affected Ranging Behavior in Free-Range Laying Hens. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:446. [PMID: 32923462 PMCID: PMC7457029 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Within Australia, free-range systems are prevalent, but pullets destined for range access are reared indoors. This mismatch between rearing and layer housing may hinder adaptation to the free-range environment. Rearing enrichments could enhance pullet development. A total of 1,386 Hy-Line Brown® chicks were reared inside an experimental facility across 16 weeks with 3 enrichment treatments including (1) a control group with standard floor-housing, (2) a novelty group providing novel objects that changed weekly (“novelty” hens), and (3) a structural group with custom-designed H-shaped structures including opaque sides (“structural” hens). At 16 weeks of age, all pullets were leg-banded with microchips and moved to an experimental free-range system with 9 identical pens (n = 3/rearing treatment). From 25 to 64 weeks, individual hen daily ranging behavior was tracked via radio-frequency identification technology and grouped into 6 age periods per rearing treatment. Video footage was used to count the number of hens at different distances on the range for the first 14 days of access, and eggs were assessed for albumen corticosterone concentrations 4 days prior to (n = 450) and 1 week after first range access (n = 450). Across most age periods, the structural hens spent the most time ranging (P ≤ 0.01), the novelty hens showed the fewest number of visits to the range (P < 0.0001), and both enriched hen groups had the longest maximum visit durations (P ≤ 0.02). Range use increased with age across all treatments with only 3% of hens never going outside. All hens were initially slow to use the range area with fewer novelty hens venturing farther onto the range (P ≤ 0.03). The structural hens had higher albumen corticosterone concentrations and variance (both P ≤ 0.004) prior to range access. All hens showed an increase in albumen corticosterone following the first week of range access resulting in no differences between rearing treatments in means (P = 0.92) and variance (P = 0.63). Different enrichments have differing impacts on ranging behavior, but further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of effects, with differences in brain lateralization a potential hypothesis to be tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana L M Campbell
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Tim R Dyall
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeff A Downing
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew M Cohen-Barnhouse
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Armidale, NSW, Australia.,School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Caroline Lee
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Armidale, NSW, Australia
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Müller C, Caspers BA, Gadau J, Kaiser S. The Power of Infochemicals in Mediating Individualized Niches. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:981-989. [PMID: 32723498 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Infochemicals, including hormones, pheromones, and allelochemicals, play a central role in mediating information and shaping interactions within and between individuals. Due to their high plasticity, infochemicals are predestined mediators in facilitating individualized niches of organisms. Only recently it has become clear that individual differences are essential to understand how and why individuals realize a tiny subset of the species' niche. Moreover, individual differences have a central role in both ecological adjustment and evolutionary adaptation in a rapidly changing world. Here we highlight that infochemicals act as key signals or cues and empower the realization of the individualized niche through three proposed processes: niche choice, niche conformance, and niche construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Müller
- Chemical Ecology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Barbara A Caspers
- Behavioral Ecology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jürgen Gadau
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstraße 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestr. 13, 48149 Münster, Germany
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Rault JL, Hintze S, Camerlink I, Yee JR. Positive Welfare and the Like: Distinct Views and a Proposed Framework. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:370. [PMID: 32714949 PMCID: PMC7343720 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive welfare and related terms such as good welfare, happiness, and a good life are increasingly used in the animal welfare science literature. Overall, they highlight the welfare benefits of providing animals opportunities for positive experiences, beyond the alleviation of suffering. However, the various terms remain loosely defined and are sometimes used interchangeably, resulting in discrepancy. In this perspective article, we lay out the terms and concepts used in the literature. We identify two distinct views: "hedonic positive welfare," arising from likes and wants and their positive outcomes on welfare; and "positive welfare balance," as an overall positive welfare state based on positive experiences outweighing negative ones. Eudaimonia, satisfaction with one's life, may emerge as a third view. We propose a framework that is applicable across the different views. The "Vienna Framework" outlines different facets: frequency, duration, arousal, context, previous experience, individual differences, sense of agency, and long-term benefit. The framework aims to encourage researchers to consider the relevance of these facets for their own research, to indicate how the facets are affected by different interventions (e.g., greater sense of agency in enriched compared to non-enriched animals), or to compare different topics with respect to the different facets (e.g., high arousal of play behavior and low arousal of social affiliation). We encourage researchers to carefully consider and clearly state how their work falls along these views and facets, conceptually, and operationally. This should prevent dilution of the meaning of positive welfare and thereby preserve its potential to improve the welfare of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Loup Rault
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sara Hintze
- Division of Livestock Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Camerlink
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jason Richard Yee
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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Repeatability analysis improves the reliability of behavioral data. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230900. [PMID: 32240211 PMCID: PMC7117744 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Reliability of data has become a major concern in the course of the reproducibility crisis. Especially when studying animal behavior, confounding factors such as novelty of the test apparatus can lead to a wide variability of data which may mask treatment effects and consequently lead to misinterpretation. Habituation to the test situation is a common practice to circumvent novelty induced increases in variance and to improve the reliability of the respective measurements. However, there is a lack of published empirical knowledge regarding reasonable habituation procedures and a method validation seems to be overdue. This study aimed at setting up a simple strategy to increase reliability of behavioral data measured in a familiar test apparatus. Therefore, exemplary data from mice tested in an Open Field (OF) arena were used to elucidate the potential of habituation and how reliability of measures can be confirmed by means of a repeatability analysis using the software R. On seven consecutive days, male C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ and 129S1/SvImJ mice were tested in an OF arena once daily and individual mouse behavior was recorded. A repeatability analysis was conducted with regard to repeated trials of habituation. Our data analysis revealed that monitoring animal behavior during habituation is important to determine when individual differences of the measurements are stable. Repeatability values from distance travelled and average activity increased over the habituation period, revealing that around 60% of the variance of the data can be explained by individual differences between mice. The first day of habituation was significantly different from the following 6 days. A three-day habituation period appeared to be sufficient in this study. Overall, these results emphasize the importance of habituation and in depth analysis of habituation data to define the correct starting point of the experiment for improving the reliability and reproducibility of experimental data.
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Haaker J, Maren S, Andreatta M, Merz CJ, Richter J, Richter SH, Meir Drexler S, Lange MD, Jüngling K, Nees F, Seidenbecher T, Fullana MA, Wotjak CT, Lonsdorf TB. Making translation work: Harmonizing cross-species methodology in the behavioural neuroscience of Pavlovian fear conditioning. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:329-345. [PMID: 31521698 PMCID: PMC7822629 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Translational neuroscience bridges insights from specific mechanisms in rodents to complex functions in humans and is key to advance our general understanding of central nervous function. A prime example of translational research is the study of cross-species mechanisms that underlie responding to learned threats, by employing Pavlovian fear conditioning protocols in rodents and humans. Hitherto, evidence for (and critique of) these cross-species comparisons in fear conditioning research was based on theoretical viewpoints. Here, we provide a perspective to substantiate these theoretical concepts with empirical considerations of cross-species methodology. This meta-research perspective is expected to foster cross-species comparability and reproducibility to ultimately facilitate successful transfer of results from basic science into clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Haaker
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Stephen Maren
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Marta Andreatta
- Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christian J Merz
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Germany
| | - Jan Richter
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology/Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - S Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Shira Meir Drexler
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Germany
| | - Maren D Lange
- Institute of Physiology I, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kay Jüngling
- Institute of Physiology I, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Frauke Nees
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Miquel A Fullana
- Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clinic, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carsten T Wotjak
- Neuronal Plasticity Research Group, Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804, Munich, Germany
| | - Tina B Lonsdorf
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Fernández-Lázaro G, Latorre R, Alonso-García E, Barja Núñez I. Nonhuman primate welfare: Can there be a relationship between personality, lateralization and physiological indicators? Behav Processes 2019; 166:103897. [PMID: 31271769 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2019.103897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Measuring personality is being used to improved nonhuman primate welfare. To expand its use, it is important to identify traits that are shared between species and that measures are reliable, easy to use and less time consuming. Combining personality and other indicators strong validation of the results can be obtained. In the present study, we sought to determine if there is a link between physiological stress response (fecal cortisol metabolites), personality (ratings made by animal keepers and reaction to novel objects) and lateralization of the brain (hand preferences) on eight species of nonhuman primates: Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix geoffroyi, Cebuella Pygmaea, Saguinus imperator, Saguinus oedipus, Leontopithecus rosalia, Pithecia pithecia and Nycticebus pygmaeus. Personality assessments achieved good levels of interrater reliability and revealed three components of personality in our sample: fearfulness, activeness and aggressiveness. More exploratory individuals were more active, aggressive and showed higher cortisol metabolite levels. Right-handed subjects inspected novel objects sooner and the strength of the lateralization was linked with individual stress and the aggressiveness component. Our results highlight that there is a relation between personality, lateralization and physiological indicators in nonhuman primates, but although some aspects can be generalized across species and/or sexes others are species/sex dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Fernández-Lázaro
- Friends of Thoreau Program, Instituto Franklin, Universidad de Alcalá, Trinidad 1, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Roberto Latorre
- Grupo de Neurocomputación Biológica, Departamento de Ingeniería Informática, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Alonso-García
- Friends of Thoreau Program, Instituto Franklin, Universidad de Alcalá, Trinidad 1, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Barja Núñez
- Departamento de Biología, Unidad de Zoología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/Darwin 2, Campus Universitario de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/ Darwin 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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