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Comin M, Atallah E, Chincarini M, Mazzola SM, Canali E, Minero M, Cozzi B, Rossi E, Vignola G, Dalla Costa E. Events with Different Emotional Valence Affect the Eye's Lacrimal Caruncle Temperature Changes in Sheep. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:50. [PMID: 38200782 PMCID: PMC10778003 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Infrared thermography (IRT) has been recently applied to measure lacrimal caruncle temperature non-invasively since this region is related to the sympathetic response, and it seems a promising technique that is able to infer negative emotions in sheep (e.g., fear). However, the scientific literature so far is limited in understanding whether a caruncle's temperature changes also in response to positive emotional states in sheep. Through classical conditioning, we aimed to assess how a positive or a negative event affects the physiological (lacrimal caruncle temperature measured with IRT and cortisol levels) and behavioral responses of sheep (ear position). Fourteen ewes from the same flock were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: positive (n = 7) and negative (n = 7). Each group was then trained through classical conditioning to associate a neutral auditory (ring bell) stimulus to an oncoming event: for the positive group, the presence of a food reward (maize grains), while for the negative one, the opening of an umbrella. After three weeks of training, before (at rest) and after (post-treatment), lacrimal caruncle temperature was non-invasively measured via IRT, and saliva samples were gently collected to measure cortisol levels. During treatment, sheep behavior was videorecorded and then analyzed using a focal animal sampling technique. At rest, the eye's lacrimal caruncle temperature was similar in both groups, while post-treatment, a significant increase was shown only in the negative group (t-test; p = 0.017). In the anticipation phase, sheep in the positive group kept their ears forward longer compared to those in the negative one (Mann-Whitney; p < 0.014), 8.3 ± 2.1 s and 5.2 ± 4.2 s, respectively. The behavioral response observed reflects a learnt association between a neutral stimulus and events with different emotional valence. Cortisol concentration slightly increased in both groups post-treatment. Our results confirm that IRT is a non-invasive technique that can be useful when applied to assess how positive and negative events may affect the physiological response in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Comin
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.C.); (E.A.); (S.M.M.); (E.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Elie Atallah
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.C.); (E.A.); (S.M.M.); (E.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Matteo Chincarini
- Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.); (G.V.)
| | - Silvia Michela Mazzola
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.C.); (E.A.); (S.M.M.); (E.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Elisabetta Canali
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.C.); (E.A.); (S.M.M.); (E.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Michela Minero
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.C.); (E.A.); (S.M.M.); (E.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Bruno Cozzi
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Emanuela Rossi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise G. Caporale, 64100 Teramo, Italy;
| | - Giorgio Vignola
- Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.C.); (G.V.)
| | - Emanuela Dalla Costa
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (M.C.); (E.A.); (S.M.M.); (E.C.); (M.M.)
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Buckham-Sporer K, Earley B, Marti S. Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3393. [PMID: 37958148 PMCID: PMC10649969 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Transport conditions have the potential to alter the physiological responses of animals to the psychological or physical stress of transport. Transportation may introduce multiple physical and psychological stressors to unweaned calves and adult cattle, including noise, overcrowding, food and water deprivation, extreme temperatures, commingling with unfamiliar animals, handling by unfamiliar humans, and being placed in a novel environment upon arrival. Apart from these factors, the type of road and even driving skill may affect the welfare of animals. One of the concerns regarding cattle transport is that the handling and marketing of animals prior to a journey may lengthen the period of feed withdrawal. Furthermore, feed withdrawal can impact animal welfare through hunger and metabolic stress. Transportation is also associated with a decrease in animal performance as well as an increase in the incidence of bovine respiratory disease. It is well established that the transportation of cattle is a stressor that causes a quantifiable response; however, excessive stress during transport resulting in physiological or pathological changes can be reduced with best management practices. The objective of this review was to analyse the available scientific literature pertaining to the transport by road of cattle, including unweaned calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Buckham-Sporer
- Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (AGRIC), Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93 Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Bernadette Earley
- Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (AGRIC), Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93 Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Sonia Marti
- Ruminant Production Program, IRTA, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon, 08140 Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
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Rodríguez-González D, Guerrero Legarreta I, Chay-Canul A, Hernández-Avalos I, Napolitano F, García-Herrera R, Pereira AMF, Domínguez-Oliva A, Casas-Alvarado A, Reyes-Sotelo B, Mota-Rojas D. Thermal Balance in Male Water Buffaloes Transported by Long and Short Journeys. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3274. [PMID: 37893998 PMCID: PMC10603650 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Transport is a stressor that can cause physiological and metabolic imbalances in livestock, resulting in stress-induced hyperthermia. In water buffaloes, studies regarding the thermal state of animals during mobilization are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the thermal response of 1516 water buffaloes using infrared thermography (IRT) during 15 short trips (783 animals, 60,291 records, average duration = 50.33 min ± 5.48 min) and 14 long trips (733 animals, 56,441 records, average duration = 13.31 h ± 47.32 min). The surface temperature was assessed in 11 regions (periocular, lacrimal caruncle, nasal, lower eyelid, auricular, frontal-parietal, pelvic limb, torso, abdominal, lumbar, and thoracic) during seven phases from pasture to post-transport. It was found that the surface temperature of the periocular, lacrimal caruncle, nasal, auricular, frontal-parietal, pelvic limb, torso, abdominal, lumbar, and thoracic regions was significantly higher during SJs (+3 °C) when compared to LJs (p < 0.0001). In particular, the frontal-parietal region had a significant increase of 10 °C during the post-transport phase (p < 0.0001) in both groups, recording the highest temperatures during this phase. Likewise, a strong positive significant correlation between the different regions was found (r = 0.90, p < 0.0001). It is worth mentioning that the herding, loading, pre-, and post-transport phases were the ones where the greatest thermal response was recorded, possibly due to the influence of human interaction. Finally, a strong positive correlation (r above 0.9, p > 0.001) between the periocular, lacrimal caruncle, pinna, and pelvic limb was found. According to the results, SJ could be considered a stressful event that hinders thermal generation, contrarily to LJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rodríguez-González
- Master in Science Program [Maestría en Ciencias Agropecuarias], Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Isabel Guerrero Legarreta
- Department of Biotechnology: Food Science, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa Campus (UAM-I), Mexico City 09340, Mexico
| | - Alfonso Chay-Canul
- División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86040, Mexico
| | - Ismael Hernández-Avalos
- Department of Biological Science, FESC, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuautitlán 04510, Mexico
| | - Fabio Napolitano
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Ricardo García-Herrera
- División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86040, Mexico
| | - Alfredo M. F. Pereira
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior, and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture (DPAA), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior, and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture (DPAA), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Brenda Reyes-Sotelo
- Neurophysiology, Behavior, and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture (DPAA), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior, and Animal Welfare Assessment, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture (DPAA), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
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