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Esattore B, Bartošová H, Bartošová J. The good, the bad, the comfortable: a review of welfare practices and indicators based on the five domains model in farmed deer. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2024:1-15. [PMID: 39037408 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2024.2381461] [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: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Increasing consumer interest in game meat has globally expanded wild animal farming, with deer being a prominent non-traditional species farmed in numerous countries. Consequently, methods for assessing the welfare of captive animals have been developed over the last few decades, and despite its limitations, the Five Domains Model has become one of the most popular practical tools for welfare assessment. Our review focuses on welfare indicators in farmed red and fallow deer, the primary deer species in European farms. Among 57 studies, the majority emphasized deer health and nutrition, neglecting aspects like behavior and mental state. Notably, a significant portion explored human-animal interactions, especially in deer transportation. Summarizing literature for each domain, we propose reliable physical, behavioral, and physiological welfare indicators for farmed red and fallow deer. This comprehensive approach addresses current research gaps and contributes to enhancing the overall well-being of farmed deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Esattore
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Bartošová
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Bartošová
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic
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2
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Steeneveld W, van den Borne BHP, Kok A, Rodenburg TB, Hogeveen H. Quantifying multiple burdens of dairy cattle production diseases and reproductive inefficiency: current knowledge and proposed metrics. J Dairy Sci 2024:S0022-0302(24)01014-2. [PMID: 39033919 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24538] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The economic burden of diseases and reproductive inefficiency in dairy cattle is evident and has been quantified. Dairy diseases and reproductive inefficiency are however associated with other issues as well, including animal welfare, environmental pressure, and public health risks. Quantifying these other issues is becoming important to help farmers making decisions. Quantification of the non-economic burdens of diseases and reproductive inefficiency is rare and lacks an overview of approaches and metrics. The first aim of this paper is to provide trends for associating diseases and reproductive inefficiency with economic and non-economic burdens of disease. The second aim is to provide a review of approaches and metrics used to quantify the non-economic burdens of disease and reproductive inefficiency. For the economic burden of diseases and reproductive performance, only an overview of the approaches used to quantify the burden is provided. The final aim is to propose approaches and metrics for future quantification of non-economic burdens caused by individual diseases. A literature search was conducted in Web of Science to identify scientific articles on mastitis, lameness, metabolic disorders and reproductive inefficiency in dairy cows. The search was restricted to articles published between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2022 and resulted in 7,565 articles. The total number of articles that mentioned the economic, animal welfare, public health, and environmental burden was 1,253, 428, 291, and 77, respectively. An increase in the percentage of articles mentioning the economic, animal welfare, and public health burden is observed between 2010 and 2022. Despite the 2,049 articles that mentioned one of the burdens, the results showed that approximately 10% of the articles quantified one or more of these burdens. The economic burden of diseases and reproductive inefficiency has been quantified in 154 articles and very few articles quantified the non-economic burdens (9 articles for environment, 29 articles for public health and 2 articles for animal welfare). Eleven articles were identified that quantified multiple burdens, and in all these studies the economic burden was combined with a non-economic burden through a modeling approach (mainly simulation). We propose to link the non-economic burdens to biological simulation models, and thus develop bio-burden simulation models. Well-established approaches and metrics can be used to quantify economic, environmental, and public health burdens. For the economic impact, costs per cow per year can be assessed. A life cycle assessment can be performed for environmental impact and the public health impact can be assessed by a defined daily dose for antimicrobial use and disability-adjusted life years for zoonotic diseases. Regarding animal welfare, approaches and metrics to quantify the welfare impact of a diseased animal are not well established. For animal welfare, we propose a welfare-adjusted life years approach. The mentioned approaches and metrics are a proposal, and it is up to the scientific community to use them or, based on empirics and research experience, propose changes so that we will end up with robust approaches and metrics that enable us to compare research results and provide more evidence for animal health decision makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Steeneveld
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - B H P van den Borne
- Business Economics Group, Department of Social Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - A Kok
- Wageningen Economic Research, Wageningen University and Research, Pr. Beatrixlaan 582 - 528, 2595 BM Den Haag, the Netherlands
| | - T B Rodenburg
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - H Hogeveen
- Business Economics Group, Department of Social Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Ssuna P, Crump A, Siegmund K. Animal Welfare Guidelines for International Development Organisations in the Global South. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2012. [PMID: 38998122 PMCID: PMC11240469 DOI: 10.3390/ani14132012] [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: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
International development organisations have improved billions of human lives in the Global South. However, in both their projects and advice to governments, most of these organisations neglect animal welfare. This blindspot matters. Poor welfare standards risk the organisation's reputation, particularly with donors; they reduce livestock lifespans and productivity, harming recipients; and they cause animals unnecessary pain and suffering. Here, we set out animal welfare guidelines for international development organisations. They were developed through extensive stakeholder engagement with organisations, donors, and recipients, especially in Africa. To comprehensively cover animal welfare, the guidelines encompass governance structure within the organisation, staff training, standard operating procedures, water, food, housing, social isolation, enrichment, drainage and waste disposal, disease, invasive procedures, transport, slaughter, breeds, record-keeping, and monitoring and evaluation of success. We urge international development organisations to adopt and institutionalise these guidelines, so they promote good animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Ssuna
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, Animal Welfare Competence Center for Africa (AWeCCA), Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
| | - Andrew Crump
- Animal Welfare Science and Ethics, Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, UK
- Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science, London School of Economics and Political Science, London WC2A 2AE, UK
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Mattiello S, Celozzi S, Soli FM, Battini M. Exploring positive welfare measures: preliminary findings from a prototype protocol in loose housing dairy cattle farms. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1368363. [PMID: 38993280 PMCID: PMC11238295 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1368363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Following the increasing interest about the development of indicators of positive welfare and affective state in farm animals, the aim of this research is to present some preliminary results on the application of a prototype protocol based exclusively on positive welfare measures and to suggest potential benefits that can promote positive welfare. Methods The protocol was applied in 20 loose housing dairy cattle farms (6 on deep litter with straw, 14 in cubicles) and included only indicators of positive welfare and emotional states: feeding and resting synchronization, rumination during resting, comfortable lying postures, no visible eye white, relaxed ear postures, percentage of cow contacts with humans in the Avoidance Distance test. Potential benefits in terms of housing, feeding and management were then related to these variables (Mann-Whitney U test). Qualitative Behavior Assessment (QBA) was also carried out and analyzed by Principal Component Analysis to explore the effect of factors that were not evenly distributed in our sample (number of feed distributions, access to pasture, presence of paddock or environmental enrichments, automatic milking systems). Results When hay was included in the diet, higher feeding synchronization (93.7 ± 1.6 vs. 52.2 ± 4.7%; p < 0.01), percentage of cows with relaxed ear postures (35.8 ± 5.4 vs. 15.5 ± 2.1%; p < 0.01) and percentage of cows with no visible eye white (55.9 ± 17.0 vs. 36.6 ± 4.1%; n.s.) were recorded. A higher level of feeding synchronization was observed also when the feeding places/cow ratio was > 1 (72.1 ± 9.9 vs. 53.8 ± 5.8%), although differences were not significant (p = 0.14). Deep litter had a more positive effect than cubicles on comfort at resting, with a significantly higher percentage of ruminating cows (65.8 ± 10.2 vs. 34.2 ± 3.7%; p < 0.01), a higher percentage of cows with no visible eye white (55.6 ± 9.9 vs. 33.1 ± 3.7%; p < 0.05) and a higher percentage of cows in a more comfortable posture, with stretched legs (14.3 ± 5.1 vs. 5.6 ± 1.6%; p = 0.09). QBA highlighted the most positive emotional state in the only farm that allowed access to pasture. Conclusions This study represents a first attempt to apply a protocol for on-farm welfare evaluation based exclusively on the use of positive welfare indicators and provides suggestions on possible benefits (e.g., deep litter, feeding places/cow ratio > 1, hay in the diet and access to pasture) to enhance dairy cattle welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Mattiello
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Celozzi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Manila Soli
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Battini
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Zieliński D, Nawłatyna P, Wójcik Z, Sobieszek B, Słaby A, Nolewajka M, Kapustka J. Assessment of Animal Welfare at an Exotic Animal Fair in Poland: A Focus on the Quality of Exhibition Containers for Reptiles and Amphibians. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1872. [PMID: 38997984 PMCID: PMC11240396 DOI: 10.3390/ani14131872] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Given the growing number of events involving exotic animals, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of the animals involved. This study aims to evaluate the quality of animal presentation at a selected fair in Poland and assess the level of animal welfare evident in the exhibition boxes, contributing to the ongoing dialogue on this important issue. The evaluators used a five-point Likert scale and a Yes/No system to analyze the living conditions during the fair, including the size of containers, presence of substrate, and environmental enrichment. They also assessed the occurrence of visual abnormal postures and behaviors to gauge the overall level of welfare. To ensure the reliability and consistency of the data and minimize potential bias, each evaluator repeated the rating process three times, with a three-week interval between each session. An average value was then calculated for each aspect. A total of 818 animals were present at the fair, with 688 being reptiles (84.11%) and 130 being amphibians (15.89%). This study revealed that the provision of substrate scored higher for reptiles compared to amphibians, while the size of containers for amphibians received higher ratings than those for reptiles. Visual abnormalities in posture and behavior were more common in reptiles than in amphibians. Display containers for snakes received the lowest ratings and showed more visual abnormalities in posture and behavior, raising concerns about their welfare. Despite the presence of environmental enrichment, the overall level of animal welfare was assessed as being medium/low. Pearson's correlation coefficient indicated good reliability among the evaluators during the assessment process, with most assessments showing values > 0.8. Despite existing regulations for exhibitors, neglect remains prevalent. These findings highlight the potential negative impact of animal exposure at fairs on animal welfare. Display containers were often inadequately sized for the animals, particularly for snakes, chameleons, monitor lizards, and salamanders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian Zieliński
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Piotr Nawłatyna
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
- Student Research Club of Animal Behavior and Welfare: Terraristics Section, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Zofia Wójcik
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
- Student Research Club of Animal Behavior and Welfare: Terraristics Section, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Barbara Sobieszek
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
- Student Research Club of Animal Behavior and Welfare: Terraristics Section, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Arkadiusz Słaby
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
- Student Research Club of Animal Behavior and Welfare: Terraristics Section, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Martyna Nolewajka
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
- Student Research Club of Animal Behavior and Welfare: Terraristics Section, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kapustka
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka St. 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
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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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7
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Oh S, Lee S. Fish Welfare-Related Issues and Their Relevance in Land-Based Olive Flounder ( Paralichthys olivaceus) Farms in Korea. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1693. [PMID: 38891740 PMCID: PMC11171225 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111693] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Korean aquaculture has expanded considerably in recent decades; however, this growth has often prioritized quantity over fish welfare. Therefore, we analyzed the aquaculture practices of olive flounder, the predominant species in Korean consumption and production, within the framework of fish welfare. We conducted extensive interviews and surveys across olive flounder farms in Jeju-do and Wando to examine prevalent issues impacting fish welfare in aquaculture. These issues include stressors, mass mortality events, and disease outbreaks, all of which strain the welfare of farmed fish. Moreover, our survey revealed farmers' varying perceptions of fish welfare, highlighting the necessity for a cohesive approach. Accordingly, we propose recommendations to enhance fish welfare and establish a more sustainable aquaculture model in Korea. Ensuring fish welfare in aquaculture operations requires a comprehensive approach that considers the physiological and behavioral needs of fish throughout the farming lifecycle. By prioritizing fish welfare, Korean aquaculture can strengthen its growth while maintaining ethical standards and ensuring the well-being of farmed fish. This welfare-centric approach is crucial for the long-term sustainability and resilience of the Korean aquaculture industry. By addressing welfare concerns and promoting responsible practices, Korean aquaculture can foster an ethically sound and sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoyeon Oh
- Fisheries Policy Research Department, The Korean Maritime Institute Busan, Busan 49111, Republic of Korea;
| | - Seunghyung Lee
- Major of Aquaculture and Applied Life Sciences, Division of Fisheries Life Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
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Colditz IG, Campbell DLM, Ingham AB, Lee C. Review: Environmental enrichment builds functional capacity and improves resilience as an aspect of positive welfare in production animals. Animal 2024; 18:101173. [PMID: 38761442 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101173] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The success of the animal in coping with challenges, and in harnessing opportunities to thrive, is central to its welfare. Functional capacity describes the capacity of molecules, cells, organs, body systems, the whole animal, and its community to buffer against the impacts of environmental perturbations. This buffering capacity determines the ability of the animal to maintain or regain functions in the face of environmental perturbations, which is recognised as resilience. The accuracy of physiological regulation and the maintenance of homeostatic balance underwrite the dynamic stability of outcomes such as biorhythms, feed intake, growth, milk yield, and egg production justifying their assessment as indicators of resilience. This narrative review examines the influence of environmental enrichments, especially during developmental stages in young animals, in building functional capacity and in its subsequent expression as resilience. Experience of enriched environments can build skills and competencies across multiple functional domains including but not limited to behaviour, immunity, and metabolism thereby increasing functional capacity and facilitating resilience within the context of challenges such as husbandry practices, social change, and infection. A quantitative method for measuring the distributed property of functional capacity may improve its assessment. Methods for analysing embedded energy (emergy) in ecosystems may have utility for this goal. We suggest functional capacity provides the common thread that links environmental enrichments with an ability to express resilience and may provide a novel and useful framework for measuring and reporting resilience. We conclude that the development of functional capacity and its subsequent expression as resilience is an aspect of positive animal welfare. The emergence of resilience from system dynamics highlights a need to shift from the study of physical and mental states to the study of physical and mental dynamics to describe the positive dimension of animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- I G Colditz
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
| | - D L M Campbell
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - A B Ingham
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, St. Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - C Lee
- Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
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Mezzetti M, Passamonti MM, Dall’Asta M, Bertoni G, Trevisi E, Ajmone Marsan P. Emerging Parameters Justifying a Revised Quality Concept for Cow Milk. Foods 2024; 13:1650. [PMID: 38890886 PMCID: PMC11171858 DOI: 10.3390/foods13111650] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Milk has become a staple food product globally. Traditionally, milk quality assessment has been primarily focused on hygiene and composition to ensure its safety for consumption and processing. However, in recent years, the concept of milk quality has expanded to encompass a broader range of factors. Consumers now also consider animal welfare, environmental impact, and the presence of additional beneficial components in milk when assessing its quality. This shifting consumer demand has led to increased attention on the overall production and sourcing practices of milk. Reflecting on this trend, this review critically explores such novel quality parameters, offering insights into how such practices meet the modern consumer's holistic expectations. The multifaceted aspects of milk quality are examined, revealing the intertwined relationship between milk safety, compositional integrity, and the additional health benefits provided by milk's bioactive properties. By embracing sustainable farming practices, dairy farmers and processors are encouraged not only to fulfill but to anticipate consumer standards for premium milk quality. This comprehensive approach to milk quality underscores the necessity of adapting dairy production to address the evolving nutritional landscape and consumption patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Mezzetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Matilde Maria Passamonti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Margherita Dall’Asta
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Giuseppe Bertoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Erminio Trevisi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
- Romeo and Enrica Invernizzi Research Center for Sustainable Dairy Production of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (CREI), 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Paolo Ajmone Marsan
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
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10
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Brunt MW, Haley DB, LeBlanc SJ, Kelton DF. Attitudes and professional values of veterinarians and veterinary students towards positive welfare states for dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2024:S0022-0302(24)00799-9. [PMID: 38762112 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24394] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Research that involves agricultural animal welfare has typically aimed to improve welfare by decreasing disease, distress, and pain. Positive welfare does not necessarily occur with the absence of suffering but in combination with opportunities for behaviors or affective states desired by animals. Our objectives were to describe Canadian bovine veterinarians' and veterinary students' attitudes, professional normative values, and perceived ability to promote positive welfare for dairy cows, and to explore participants' provided rationale. With an online cross-sectional survey, Canadian veterinary practitioners (n = 78) and veterinary students (n = 148) were asked, on a 7-point Likert scale, about their attitudes, perceived professional normative values, and perceived ability of veterinarians to promote positive welfare for dairy cows. We used an applied thematic analysis approach within the qualitative description methodology to analyze participants' open-ended text responses. Quantitatively, participants had very favorable attitudes (mean ± SE; 6.3 ± 0.04) and perceived favorable values (5.7 ± 0.06) in the veterinary community toward positive welfare opportunities for dairy cows. Three themes were identified to explain the professional normative values: influences from within the veterinary profession, influences from outside the veterinary profession, and personal views of participants. Participants were confident that veterinarians could suggest positive welfare opportunities for dairy cows (6.1 ± 0.06) but were uncertain that the decision to suggest these opportunities to producers was within a veterinarian's control (4.3 ± 0.11) and were not confident that implementation of positive welfare opportunities was under a veterinarian's control (2.1 ± 0.07). Three themes were identified to explain the barriers to veterinarians promoting positive welfare opportunities for dairy cows: not practical to implement, resistance to change, and concern for the animal. Participants stated that many positive welfare opportunities were impractical or expensive to implement. We conclude that positive attitudes and positive professional values exist in the veterinary community toward positive welfare for dairy cows but that much uncertainty exists regarding a veterinarian's ability to influence change to current practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- M W Brunt
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Dairy at Guelph, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - D B Haley
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Dairy at Guelph, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - S J LeBlanc
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Dairy at Guelph, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - D F Kelton
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Dairy at Guelph, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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11
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Golfidis A, Kriengwatana BP, Mounir M, Norton T. An Interactive Feeder to Induce and Assess Emotions from Vocalisations of Chickens. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1386. [PMID: 38731390 PMCID: PMC11083406 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091386] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the emotional states of animals is a long-standing research endeavour that has clear applications in animal welfare. Vocalisations are emerging as a promising way to assess both positive and negative emotional states. However, the vocal expression of emotions in birds is a relatively unexplored research area. The goal of this study was to develop an interactive feeding system that would elicit positive and negative emotional states, and collect recordings of the vocal expression of these emotions without human interference. In this paper, the mechatronic design and development of the feeder is described. Design choices were motivated by the desire for the hens to voluntarily interact with the feeder and experience the different stimuli that were designed to induce (1) positive low-arousal, (2) positive high-arousal, (3) negative low-arousal, and (4) negative high-arousal states. The results showed that hens were motivated to engage with the feeder despite the risk of receiving negative stimuli and that this motivation was sustained for at least 1 week. The potential of using the interactive feeder to analyse chicken vocalisations related to emotional valence and arousal is being explored, offering a novel proof of concept in animal welfare research. Preliminary findings suggest that hens vocalised in response to all four stimulus types, with the number of vocalisations, but not the probability of vocalising, distinguishing between low- and high-arousal states. Thus, the proposed animal-computer interaction design has potential to be used as an enrichment device and for future experiments on vocal emotions in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Buddhamas Pralle Kriengwatana
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU LEUVEN), Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (A.G.); (M.M.)
| | | | - Tomas Norton
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU LEUVEN), Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; (A.G.); (M.M.)
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12
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Revilla-Ruiz A, Carulla P, Fernandez-Novo A, de Mercado E, Pérez-Navarro A, Patrón-Collantes R, Sebastián F, Pérez-Garnelo SS, González-Martín JV, Estellés F, Villagrá A, Astiz S. Effect of Milk-Feeding Frequency and Calcium Gluconate Supplementation on Growth, Health, and Reproductive and Metabolic Features of Holstein Heifers at a Rearing Farm. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1336. [PMID: 38731339 PMCID: PMC11083690 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091336] [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: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
We compared the effects of milk-feeding in 288 Holstein calves (72 per group) which were fed twice (2F) or thrice (3F) daily, with or without the addition of hydrogenated fat-embedded calcium gluconate (G) supplemented in the starter food and in the daily diet up to the age of 9 months, on the calves' metabolism, growth, health, and reproductive efficiency up to first pregnancy. The calves received 6 L of milk replacer (130 g/L) and had ad libitum access to water and textured calf starter with or without gluconate. Gluconate supplementation promoted a "catch-up" in growth in supplemented calves compared to their counterparts that did not receive gluconate. Gluconate appeared to reduce animal metabolic stress during key events, such as weaning and transfer into open-door pens, reducing fructosamine (352.61 vs. 303.06 in 3FG and 3F, respectively; p = 0.028) and urea (3F revealed the highest values compared with the other three groups: 19.06 for 3F vs. 13.9 (2F), 13.7 (2FG), and 14.3 (3FG), respectively, p = 0.002) from weaning onwards. The feeding of dairy calves with milk replacer three rather than two times per day tended to be associated with better health from weaning to 4 months old; parameters such as ultrasound lung score and calf health score improved over time (p < 0.001). Thrice-daily feeding with milk replacer tended to reduce the number of artificial inseminations per pregnancy in heifers by 0.2 points (p = 0.092). We confirmed significant correlations between early health and growth parameters and reproductive efficiency and a positive correlation between body weight and average daily weight gain and the thickness of the back fat layer in young heifers (r = 0.245; p < 0.0001; r = 0.214; p < 0.0001 respectively). Our study was conducted on a commercial farm with reasonably effective animal management, so baseline welfare was likely satisfactory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Revilla-Ruiz
- Medicine and Surgery Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Avda. Pta. de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.R.-R.); (J.V.G.-M.)
| | - Patricia Carulla
- Institute of Animal Science and Technology, Valencia Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (P.C.); (F.E.)
- Cowvet SL, País Valenciano Avenue 6, 46117 Betera-Valencia, Spain; (A.P.-N.); (F.S.)
| | - Aitor Fernandez-Novo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, C/Tajo s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odon, Spain; (A.F.-N.); (R.P.-C.)
| | - Eduardo de Mercado
- Animal Reproduction Department, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INIA-CSIC), Avda. Pta. Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.d.M.); (S.S.P.-G.)
| | | | - Raquel Patrón-Collantes
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, C/Tajo s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odon, Spain; (A.F.-N.); (R.P.-C.)
| | - Francisco Sebastián
- Cowvet SL, País Valenciano Avenue 6, 46117 Betera-Valencia, Spain; (A.P.-N.); (F.S.)
| | - Sonia S. Pérez-Garnelo
- Animal Reproduction Department, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INIA-CSIC), Avda. Pta. Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.d.M.); (S.S.P.-G.)
| | - Juan V. González-Martín
- Medicine and Surgery Department, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Avda. Pta. de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.R.-R.); (J.V.G.-M.)
| | - Fernando Estellés
- Institute of Animal Science and Technology, Valencia Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain; (P.C.); (F.E.)
| | - Arantxa Villagrá
- Centro de Tecnología Animal-Institut Valencià d’Investigacions Agràries (CITA-IVIA), Polígono La Esperanza 100, 12400 Segorbe, Spain;
| | - Susana Astiz
- Animal Reproduction Department, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INIA-CSIC), Avda. Pta. Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.d.M.); (S.S.P.-G.)
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13
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Maurício LS, Leme DP, Hötzel MJ. The Easiest Becomes the Rule: Beliefs, Knowledge and Attitudes of Equine Practitioners and Enthusiasts Regarding Horse Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1282. [PMID: 38731286 PMCID: PMC11083815 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091282] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Inadequate management conditions can impair the welfare of captive-bred horses. Understanding individuals' viewpoints and the factors influencing their decisions about adopting or avoiding certain practices may provide insights into their motivations and decision-making processes. This is particularly relevant in the equestrian community, where equine practitioners and enthusiasts often engage in harmful practices. We explored the beliefs, knowledge, and attitudes of equine practitioners and enthusiasts about horse welfare and the barriers that prevent them from employing better management practices that are essential to promoting horses' welfare. The study consisted of in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted in person with 31 individuals directly involved in the equestrian environment in Brazil. Responses were analyzed through thematic analysis with a data-driven deductive approach. Participants' beliefs, knowledge and attitudes to horse welfare were divided into three themes. The first theme, "Let the horse be a horse", captured participants' perceptions about how physical and mental aspects related to the nature and welfare of horses. The second theme, "Everyone does it like that", includes the social norms that influence decisions about the practices that impact on the welfare of the horses. The third theme, "Beyond utopia: how and why horses are managed the way they are", covered barriers that participants perceived as impediments to the use of best practices for the welfare of horses. While participants demonstrated awareness of welfare issues and acknowledged factors that negatively impact horses, there was a notable discrepancy between this knowledge and the implementation of improved management practices. This could be explained by several perceived barriers to implementing management practices that could enhance horse welfare, including lack of financial resources, limited physical space, shortage of qualified labor, time constraints, inadequate tools, and insufficient knowledge. Additionally, we identified deeply rooted social norms within the equestrian community and culturally established practices that limit approaches to horse welfare. Participants underscored the influence of these norms and different interpretations of "letting the horse be a horse" based on the horse's value and purpose. Concerning low-value horses, the primary justifications for stall housing and concentrated feeding were linked to elevated costs involved in spatial demands and labor; in contrast, for high-value horses used in performance and aesthetics, the arguments shifted to potential benefits to the horses' well-being. From an ethical perspective, ideally, individuals should refrain from owning horses if they cannot ensure the animals' welfare. Additionally, if the equestrian community neglects public attitudes towards animal welfare, it risks eroding its social license.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maria José Hötzel
- Laboratory of Applied Ethology and Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science and Rural Development, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88034-001, SC, Brazil; (L.S.M.); or (D.P.L.)
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14
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Ferreira Siano G, Fonseca de Oliveira CS, de Sousa FG, Beier SL, da Costa-Val AP. Knowledge and perception about the welfare and mistreatment of dogs in Brazil. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302317. [PMID: 38640135 PMCID: PMC11029625 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare encompasses the overall well-being of an animal, spanning both its physical and mental health, assessable through potential measurements. It stands in contrast to mistreatment, which involves actions, direct or indirect, that endanger an animal's well-being. This study sought to appraise the factors influencing the Brazilian population's understanding of dog welfare and mistreatment. The survey questions were adapted from the Animal Welfare Examination Protocol, utilized by veterinarians to evaluate suspected passive abuse cases in dogs. Out of 1377 responses, 1353 were valid and analyzed. Among the 19 assessed indicators, 15 demonstrated an adequate response rate surpassing 90% of all 1353 responses. However, for three questions related to comfort, a smaller yet notable percentage of responses were only minimally adequate. Moreover, in one question within the comfort assessment, 186 participants (13.74%) provided inadequate responses. This implies that these people could potentially subject animals to a state of low Animal Welfare. Lack of knowledge emerged as a potential root of passive abuse, specifically negligence. In the assessment of nutritional indicators, water supply and quality received unanimous adequate responses. In evaluating comfort perceptions, significant associations were noted between gender, dog ownership, family income, and responses regarding resting surface. Regarding health indicators, the majority responded appropriately. Female gender and dog ownership correlated with providing the appropriate response, while not owning a dog was associated with minimally adequate responses. In the context of comfort indicators, "Hitting the Dog" also demonstrated an association with gender, with females tending towards appropriate responses. Given the lack of significant correlation between educational levels and the most suitable responses, it underscores the urgency of implementing environmental education programs in schools with a focus on animal protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Ferreira Siano
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Felipe Gaia de Sousa
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Suzane Lilian Beier
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Adriane Pimenta da Costa-Val
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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15
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Jiang B, Cui L, Deng X, Chen H, Tang W. Understanding the consumer-citizen gap in Chinese public attitudes toward farm animal welfare. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6426. [PMID: 38494518 PMCID: PMC10944836 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57280-y] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Individuals of the general public can perform both consumer and citizen roles in farm animal welfare, and attitudes toward farm animal welfare may differ between these roles. However, scant research is available regarding this distinction, especially in developing countries such as China. The present study aimed to explore consumer-citizen gaps in Chinese public attitudes toward farm animal welfare across three dimensions and across demographic characteristics. A 36-item scale was designed, and completed by 5284 Chinese participants in a large-scale cross-sectional survey. Consumer-citizen gaps in attitudes toward farm animal welfare across three dimensions and demographic characteristics were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and effects of demographic characteristics on attitudes were further explored by linear regression analysis. A significant consumer-citizen gap was found in overall attitudes, although the consumer role was only slightly more positive than the citizen role. The consumer-citizen gap is driven by differences in both cognitive attitudes and behavioral attitudes. The gap is most pronounced in cognitive attitudes, where the consumer role is significantly more positive, and smaller in behavioral attitudes, where the citizen role is significantly more positive. The consumer-citizen gap varies significantly among different demographic groups, including gender, age, education, monthly household income, area of residence, and occupation. Additionally, education, monthly household income, and area of residence have significant effects on attitudes in the dual role, whereas gender only affect consumer-role attitudes significantly. The findings provide evidence that consumer-citizen gaps in Chinese public attitudes toward farm animal welfare exist, and this distinction is mainly determined by demographic characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Jiang
- College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Street 600#, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China
- Development Research Center of Modern Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lihang Cui
- College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Street 600#, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Xiaoshang Deng
- College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Street 600#, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hongbo Chen
- College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Street 600#, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Wenjie Tang
- College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Changjiang Street 600#, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, Heilongjiang, China
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16
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Libera K, Valadian R, Vararattanavech P, Dasari SN, Dallman TJ, Weerts E, Lipman L. Inspection of chicken wings and legs for animal welfare monitoring using X-ray computed tomography, visual examination, and histopathology. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103403. [PMID: 38290340 PMCID: PMC10844867 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103403] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
In broiler chickens, fractures of wings and legs are recorded at poultry slaughterhouses based on the time of occurrence. Prekilling (PRE) fractures occur before the death of animal, so the chicken was still able to experience pain and distress associated with the injury (an animal welfare issue). Postkilling (POST) fractures occur when the chickens are deceased and fully bled-out and consequently unable to feel pain (not an animal welfare issue). Current practice dictates that fractures are recognized visually and recorded by the animal welfare officers as mandated by European Union and/or national regulations. However, new potential monitoring solutions are desired since human inspection suffers from some significant limitations including subjectivism and fatigue. One possible solution in detecting injuries is X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning and in this study we aim to evaluate the potential of CT scanning and visual inspection in detecting limb fractures and their causes. Eighty-three chicken wings and 60 chicken legs (n = 143) were collected from a single slaughterhouse and classified by an animal welfare officer as PRE, POST or healthy (HEAL). Samples were photographed and CT scanned at a veterinary hospital. The interpretation of CT scans along with photographs took place in 3 rounds (1. CT scans only, 2. CT scans + photographs, 3. photographs only) and was performed independently by 3 veterinarians. The consistency of the interpretation in 3 rounds was compared with the animal welfare officer's classification. Furthermore, selected samples were also analyzed by histopathological examination due to questionability of their classification (PRE/POST). In questionable samples, presence of hemorrhages was confirmed, thus they fit better as PRE. The highest consistency between raters was obtained in the 2nd round, indicating that interpretation accuracy was the highest when CT scans were combined with photographs. These results indicate that CT scanning in combination with visual inspection can be used in detecting limbs fracture and potentially applied as a tool to monitor animal welfare in poultry slaughterhouses in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacper Libera
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roozbeh Valadian
- Department of Computational Imaging, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Patiharn Vararattanavech
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sri Nithya Dasari
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Timothy J Dallman
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Weerts
- Division of Pathology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Len Lipman
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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17
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Dannemiller NG, Watson KM, Christiansen EF, Westmoreland LS. Traumatic telson avulsion and attempted external stabilization in Atlantic horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus). Zoo Biol 2024; 43:205-209. [PMID: 38223996 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21818] [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: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Atlantic horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are prevalent in public aquarium touch pools. Despite their popularity, the literature concerning medical management under managed care is sparse. Noninfectious conditions include trauma to the exoskeleton and compound eyes; however, injury to the soft tissue connecting the telson and opisthosoma has not been previously reported. This report describes telson avulsion in three Atlantic horseshoe crabs at a public aquarium and attempted external stabilization with a vascular silicone tie in two of three affected animals. The horseshoe crab that received no veterinary intervention suffered a complete telson amputation 1 month after the initial injury. Although the two other horseshoe crabs did well postoperatively, and external stabilization prevented further avulsion or amputation, they still could not right themselves if flipped into dorsal recumbency. All three horseshoe crabs were ultimately euthanized due to animal welfare concerns. To avoid potentially serious telson ligament injury, horseshoe crabs should never be picked up by the telson. The authors recommend that telson ligament injuries be addressed promptly, any inciting cause be mitigated, and external stabilization be considered earlier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas G Dannemiller
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kaitlen M Watson
- North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach, North Carolina, USA
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18
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King C, Smith TJ, Kabrick K, Dzur A, Grandin T. Physical and behavioural health of dogs belonging to homeless people. Anim Welf 2024; 33:e11. [PMID: 38510424 PMCID: PMC10951669 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2024.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Homeless persons with dogs are often the subject of stigma, with the public criticising them for not having a proper lifestyle to care for a pet. There is solid documentation of how dogs enhance a homeless person's life, but there are few publications that address the welfare of the dog. This descriptive study assesses the physical and behavioural health of dogs belonging to homeless persons through a One Welfare lens by observing animal/human well-being, environment, and "a life worth living". A survey was carried out along with a visual assessment of the condition of the dog for 100 human-dog dyads in the Western United States. Results showed that dogs of homeless persons were well cared for and physically healthy (which was consistent with other studies), and had few behavioural problems, but did display evidence of separation distress while the owner was away. Results from this study can provide information that may lead to policy and practice changes, including, for example, changes to policies and practices prohibiting dogs from being kept with their owner while staying at a homeless shelter. Typically, shelters report that they do not have the resources to care for a person with a dog.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille King
- Canine Education Center, LLC, Loveland, Colorado80537, USA
| | - Thomas J Smith
- Northern Illinois University College of Education, Dekalb, Illinois, USA
| | - Kyle Kabrick
- VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Amy Dzur
- VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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Yan S, Li H, Lin J, Chen H, Liu S, Diao H. An investigation of the perceptions of laboratory animal welfare issues among undergraduate and graduate veterinary students in southeastern China. Front Vet Sci 2024; 10:1335484. [PMID: 38410119 PMCID: PMC10894965 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1335484] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal experiments have played a significant role in advancing scientific knowledge and enhancing people's quality of life. In order to better understand the opinions and knowledge of veterinary students in the domain of laboratory animal welfare and to explore and advance the teaching methods used in animal ethics education, a questionnaire was designed and used to conduct a survey among undergraduate and postgraduate students majoring in veterinary medicine. The survey encompassed various topics, such as students' level of knowledge about animal welfare, their perspectives on laboratory animals, their proficiency with animal experiments, and their opinions on teaching methods and content. The respondents were a total of 150 undergraduate students and 148 graduate students. The survey results indicated that most students expressed a strong sense of responsibility for the safeguarding of the welfare of experimental animals. However, there were a few students who lacked compassion for animals. Additionally, there was a general lack of basic theoretical knowledge of animal ethics and an inadequate grasp of experimental techniques among current students. Furthermore, most of the participants expressed a strong sense of responsibility to advocate for animal welfare. Although a substantial number of students were unaware of the existence of agencies for the supervision of work involving laboratory animals, they supported teaching and supervision in the domain of animal welfare and were open to various teaching methods and topics of content. In conclusion, targeted training and education regarding laboratory animal welfare and ethics should be conducted in the future to address the specific needs of students. This study provides a foundation for future animal welfare education and will help to improve the professional skills and humanistic qualities of veterinary students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihong Yan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Prevention and Control of Fujian-Nepal, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hongyang Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Prevention and Control of Fujian-Nepal, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jin Lin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Prevention and Control of Fujian-Nepal, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huimin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Prevention and Control of Fujian-Nepal, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shasha Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Prevention and Control of Fujian-Nepal, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hongxiu Diao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Infection and Immunology of Fujian Province, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Prevention and Control of Fujian-Nepal, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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20
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Singh P, Bhardwaj A, Nayan V, Legha RA, Pal Y, Soni S, Giri SK, Bhattacharya T. Milk somatic cell DNA isolation and characterization of κ-casein gene in Halari donkey milk. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24991. [PMID: 38304818 PMCID: PMC10830531 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Halari donkey breed is one of the indigenous breeds of India and its population is rapidly decreasing. The Jenny milk is more similar to human milk, exhibits a wide range of probiotic diversity and hypo-allergenicity, especially among infants suffering from cow and buffalo milk protein allergy. Some studies indicated low levels of κ-casein fraction of casein protein in donkey milk. The k-casein gene was not amplified from the DNA derived from the milk somatic cells of Halari donkeys. The Halari donkey milk has low somatic cells count. We report the first isolation of DNA from milk somatic cells of Halari donkeys with subsequent characterization of k-casein gene. Through our work, we showed that the milk somatic cells can be used as a non-invasive source for DNA isolation towards molecular studies. It also proved the presence of k-casein gene in Halari donkey milk by its amplification from isolated DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Singh
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001 (Haryana), India
| | - Anuradha Bhardwaj
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001 (Haryana), India
| | - Varij Nayan
- ICAR- Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar 125001 (Haryana), India
| | - Ram Avatar Legha
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001 (Haryana), India
| | - Yash Pal
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001 (Haryana), India
| | - Sonali Soni
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001 (Haryana), India
- Department of Biotechnology (SBAS), Maharaja Agrasen University, Baddi 174103 (Solan) HP, India
| | - Shiv Kumar Giri
- Department of Biotechnology (SBAS), Maharaja Agrasen University, Baddi 174103 (Solan) HP, India
| | - T.K. Bhattacharya
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001 (Haryana), India
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Paterson EA, O’Malley CI, Abney DM, Archibald WJ, Turner PV. Development of a novel primate welfare assessment tool for research macaques. Anim Welf 2024; 33:e3. [PMID: 38487785 PMCID: PMC10936341 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2024.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Primates are important species for biomedical research and ensuring their good welfare is critical for research translatability and ethical responsibility. Systematic animal welfare assessments can support continuous programme improvements and build institutional awareness of areas requiring more attention. A multi-facility, collaborative project aimed to develop and implement a novel primate welfare assessment tool (PWAT) for use with research macaques. PWAT development involved: establishing an internal focus group of primate subject matter experts, identifying animal welfare categories and descriptors based on literature review, developing a preliminary tool, beta-testing the tool to ensure practicality and final consensus on descriptors, finalising the tool in a database with semi-automated data analysis, and delivering the tool to 13 sites across four countries. The tool uses input- and outcome-based measures from six categories: physical, behavioural, training, environmental, procedural, and culture of care. The final tool has 133 descriptors weighted based upon welfare impact, and is split into three forms for ease of use (room level, site level, and personnel interviews). The PWAT was trialled across facilities in March and September 2022 for benchmarking current macaque behavioural management programmes. The tool successfully distinguished strengths and challenges at the facility level and across sites. Following this benchmarking, the tool is being applied semi-annually to assess and monitor progress in behavioural management programmes. The development process of the PWAT demonstrates that evidence-based assessment tools can be developed through collaboration and consensus building, which are important for uptake and applicability, and ultimately for promoting global improvements in research macaque welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie A Paterson
- Dept of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Carly I O’Malley
- Global Animal Welfare & Training, Charles River, Wilmington, MA, 01887, USA
| | | | | | - Patricia V Turner
- Dept of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
- Global Animal Welfare & Training, Charles River, Wilmington, MA, 01887, USA
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22
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Mace JL, Knight A. From the Backyard to Our Beds: The Spectrum of Care, Attitudes, Relationship Types, and Welfare in Non-Commercial Chicken Care. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:288. [PMID: 38254457 PMCID: PMC10812673 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020288] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-commercial chickens may be the third most numerous pets in Western countries. Yet, to date, there is limited research into their welfare or the care-taking practices and attitudes of their guardians. Using a quantitative questionnaire, this study investigated non-commercial chicken owners' care-taking practices, attitudes, and relationship types with their chickens. Additionally, the study investigated barriers to optimizing non-commercial chicken welfare. Specific questions were asked regarding niche care-taking practices, including the use of Suprelorin® implants. With 2000+ responses, this study found variable care-taking practices, yet largely positive attitudes towards chickens, and a "personal" (though not "close personal") owner-chicken relationship, as defined by the Owner-Bird Relationship Scale. The Chicken Attitude Scale, Owner-Bird Relationship Scale, and Care Series scores were found to be correlated with each other, with coefficients ranging from 0.176 to 0.543 (p < 0.001). "Preventing commercial chickens from going to slaughter" was a key motive for chicken care by 56.1% of respondents, with 69.6% of respondents stating they cared for ex-commercial chickens. This study found a higher prevalence of reported poor health conditions and number of deaths relative to prior studies, and egg yolk peritonitis emerged as a leading health condition and cause of death. Moreover, 68.0% had not heard of Suprelorin® implants, and only 6.3% used implants. Most (76.4%) chicken carers followed an omnivorous diet that includes chicken meat/eggs. The results reinforced previous findings concerning a need for more avian-specialist, locally available, and affordable veterinary care for chickens. Research into Suprelorin® implants, rooster-specific care, and tailored requirements of caring for ex-commercial chickens is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L. Mace
- Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK
| | - Andrew Knight
- Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
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23
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Spence KL, Rosanowski SM, Slater J, Cardwell JM. 'I want to be the sort of owner that he wants me to be': Rationales for biosecurity implementation among British horse owners. Equine Vet J 2024. [PMID: 38177092 DOI: 10.1111/evj.14047] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Horse owners play a critical role in mitigating the risk of pathogen spread between horses. However, little is known about how they view biosecurity and whether they experience barriers to the uptake of preventive measures. OBJECTIVES To explore horse owners' attitudes, perceptions, and experiences of biosecurity and identify how these factors shape horse owners' decisions for biosecurity implementation. STUDY DESIGN Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. METHODS Interviews were conducted with 23 horse owners across Great Britain. Participants were purposively selected to include those in different geographic regions, with different management arrangements, and varied length of horse ownership experience. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a critical realist thematic analysis. RESULTS Participants felt a moral obligation to prioritise their horse's happiness, which became a challenge when certain biosecurity measures (e.g., quarantine) were perceived as compromising their horse's happiness or comfort (Theme 1). A lack of biosecurity was the social norm among shared yards and competition venues (Theme 2), which made it difficult for participants to implement biosecurity measures effectively on their own. Combined with the sense of moral obligation participants felt towards their horse, this meant that participants had to 'care double' (i.e., be more vigilant than they would otherwise) to compensate for collective inaction (Theme 3). MAIN LIMITATIONS Participants may have been more interested in and/or knowledgeable about biosecurity than the general horse owning population. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight several challenges that could be addressed to improve biosecurity implementation among horse owners. Efforts to encourage improved uptake of biosecurity measures should focus on communicating how reducing the risk of disease aligns with horse care. Further research on social norms in the horse industry is needed, in addition to identifying strategies to encourage a collective adoption of biosecurity measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey L Spence
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Sarah M Rosanowski
- Digital Agriculture, Grasslands Research Centre, AgResearch Limited, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Josh Slater
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jacqueline M Cardwell
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK
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24
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Bowen J, Fatjó J. Repetitive Behaviors in Dogs. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2024; 54:71-85. [PMID: 37805296 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.09.003] [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] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Repetitive behaviors in companion animals have been compared with obsessive-compulsive disorders in people. There is evidence that repetitive behaviors may go unrecognized because they have a high level of comorbidity with other, more salient, behavior problems and may be overshadowed or regarded as amusing eccentricities. To assess repetitive behavior problems, we propose a standardized approach involving 5 categories or axes. This approach aims to identify the nature of the problem and the balance among medical, environmental, and temperamental factors. Environmental modification, behavioral modification, and drug treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Bowen
- Queen Mother Hospital for Small Animals, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Jaume Fatjó
- Autonomous University of Barcelona and Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain.
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25
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Brunt MW, Haley DB, LeBlanc SJ, Kelton DF. Perceived role of the veterinarian in promoting dairy cattle welfare. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1325087. [PMID: 38164396 PMCID: PMC10757964 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1325087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Improving the lives of animals in agricultural systems has primarily focused on minimizing negative experiences. Research is needed on the promotion of positive experiences (pleasure, enjoyment, play, choice, happiness) for animals and the role of veterinarians in their promotion. Our aims were to describe how Canadian bovine veterinarians and veterinary students perceive the role of a veterinarian in positive vs. negative experiences for dairy cows and to analyze the rationale provided to explain their answers. Canadian veterinary practitioners (n = 78) and veterinary students (n = 148) responded to an online cross-sectional survey and were asked, on a 7-point scale, how important the role of a veterinarian is to promote practices that influence the experience of dairy cows. We used qualitative description to analyse participants' open-ended text responses. Practices to minimize negative experiences were most important (mean ± SE; 6.8 ± 0.03), a balance of positive and negative experiences was less important (6.4 ± 0.05), and encouragement of positive experiences scored lowest (6.0 ± 0.06), although all scored highly. Four themes were identified to explain participants' reasoning regarding their perceived role of a veterinarian in the promotion of dairy cattle welfare, centered on: the animal, the producer, the veterinarian, and society. Participants indicated that promoting positive experiences was less important than decreasing negative experiences (5.9 ± 0.09). There were four themes identified to explain participants' reasoning regarding the relative importance of promotion of positive experiences versus decreasing negative experiences which centered on: frameworks to compare positive and negative experiences, impacts on the animal, the participant's view of their role, and the practicality of implementation. These results indicate modest differences in valuing avoidance of negative vs. promotion of positive welfare. There were no differences in the quantitative analyses between veterinarians and veterinary students. We conclude that veterinarians are favorably disposed to positive aspects of welfare for dairy cows but may be more focussed on avoidance of negative aspects of welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Brunt
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Dairy at Guelph, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Derek B. Haley
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Dairy at Guelph, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen J. LeBlanc
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Dairy at Guelph, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - David F. Kelton
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Dairy at Guelph, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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26
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Williams JM, Berg LC, Clayton HM, Kirsch K, Marlin D, Randle H, Roepstroff L, van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MS, Weishaupt MA, Munsters C. A Delphi Study to Determine International and National Equestrian Expert Opinions on Domains and Sub-Domains Essential to Managing Sporthorse Health and Welfare in the Olympic Disciplines. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3404. [PMID: 37958159 PMCID: PMC10650931 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213404] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The public is increasingly questioning equestrianism's social license to operate. While the focus historically centered on horseracing, increased scrutiny is now being placed on how dressage, showjumping, and eventing are addressing equine management and welfare concerns. Nominated equestrian federation and equestrian organization experts (n = 104) directly involved in international and/or national-level horse sports took part in a four-stage, iterative Delphi to obtain consensus on what factors should be considered essential to manage sporthorse health and welfare. Five core domains were agreed as essential: training management, competition management, young horse management, health status and veterinary management, and the horse-human relationship. Two further domains: stable and environmental management, and welfare assessment were rated as important but not essential, as most respondents felt that these areas were already managed well. Participants felt increased education and guidance combined with further policy development and regulation are needed to support stakeholders to optimize sporthorse management. An appetite to engage with research to generate evidence that promotes sporthorse welfare was evident. The development of a sporthorse welfare charter and evidence-based guidelines to inform the management and monitoring of sporthorses' health and welfare are recommended to provide horses with a good life and to safeguard the future of equestrian sports.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lise C. Berg
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Copenhagen, Hoejbakkegaards Alle 5, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark;
| | - Hilary M. Clayton
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | - Katharina Kirsch
- Department Sensors and Modeling, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Max-Eyth Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany;
| | - David Marlin
- AnimalWeb Ltd., Tennyson House, Cambridge CB4 0WZ, UK;
| | - Hayley Randle
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia;
| | - Lars Roepstroff
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | | | - Michael A. Weishaupt
- Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Carolien Munsters
- Equine Integration B.V., Groenstraat 2c, 5528 NS Hoogeloon, The Netherlands;
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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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28
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De la Fuente MF, de Araújo BMC, da Silva Policarpo I, Pereira HM, Borges AKM, Vieira WLS, Pereira Filho GA, Alves RRN. Keeping reptiles as pets in Brazil: keepers' motivations and husbandry practices. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2023; 19:46. [PMID: 37865770 PMCID: PMC10590521 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-023-00618-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reptiles are considered one of the most popular pets in the world and are often associated with an incorrect belief that they are simple, highly adaptable, and easy to keep animals when compared with other pets, such as dogs and cats. However, keeping reptiles as pets can pose several challenges in meeting their needs in a domestic setting, requiring specific conditions and effort to maintain their health, well-being, and survival. METHODS During 2015, using online semi-structured questionnaires applied to 719 Brazilian pet reptile keepers who participated in online groups of reptile breeders on the social network Facebook, this study aimed to identify Brazilian keepers' motivations for maintaining reptiles as pets, investigate their monthly expenses, and the husbandry practices for the maintenance, such as housing and feeding conditions, handling of the animal, health issues, and treatment provided. RESULTS We found multiple motivations for keeping reptiles as pets (mostly snakes, lizards, and chelonians), the main motivation being emotional reasons, followed by entertainment and convenience reasons. The great majority of keepers (69%) declared to spend less than or up to US$30 per month in maintaining their reptiles. Most reptiles were kept alone in terrarium/aquarium enclosures, with basic environmental complexity in terms of physical elements. Lizards and chelonians were fed with a few insect species, cultivated fruits and vegetables, while snakes were fed mainly with domestic rodents, rabbits, or birds. Keepers declared frequent cleaning of the enclosure, but inappropriately handled their animals directly with their hands, which might result in potential threats to human and reptile health and safety. Several diseases or injuries were mentioned and 55.6% of the keepers declared taking the reptile to the vet for treatment. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our findings revealed several challenges that reptiles face when kept in domestic environments, including issues related to housing, nutrition, and healthcare. Even though keepers demonstrated positive feelings toward their pets, suggesting a positive relationship and a willingness to provide them with proper care, it seems that without the proper knowledge and awareness, reptiles may unintentionally be kept with poor husbandry. Addressing these challenges on husbandry practices is essential for improving reptiles' welfare and promoting a responsible pet ownership.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Fernanda De la Fuente
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Etnobiologia e Conservação da Natureza, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
| | | | - Iamara da Silva Policarpo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Heliene Mota Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Etnobiologia e Conservação da Natureza, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
| | - Anna Karolina Martins Borges
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Etnobiologia e Conservação da Natureza, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
- LAPEC - Laboratório de Peixes e Conservação Marinha, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Washington Luiz Silva Vieira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Laboratório de Ecofisiologia Animal, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | | | - Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Etnobiologia e Conservação da Natureza, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
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29
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Cui L, Tang W, Deng X, Jiang B. Farm Animal Welfare Is a Field of Interest in China: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on CiteSpace. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3143. [PMID: 37835750 PMCID: PMC10571665 DOI: 10.3390/ani13193143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Farm animal welfare research conducted in China is not commonly accessed or known outside of China, which may lead to the assumption that farm animal welfare receives relatively little attention in China. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on the existing Chinese farm animal welfare literature to provide robust evidence to refute this assumption. A total of 1312 peer-reviewed Chinese studies on farm animal welfare published between March 1992 and June 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. CiteSpace software was used to analyze and visualize the number, species, authors, institutions, journals, and keywords of the papers. In China, farm animal welfare research has gone through the processes of an early stage (1992-2001), rapid-growth stage (2002-2007), and mature stage (2008-present), and the scale of research continues to grow. Notably, swine and chickens have received priority attention in this area. A Matthew effect was observed for authors and institutions, with relatively little collaboration among authors and institutions. Most of the papers were published in a small number of journals, with an apparent agglomeration characteristic. The research hotspots, summarized as "feed and diet", "environmental impacts and control", "integrated rearing management", "injury and disease", "behavior and technologies for behavior monitoring", "genetic analysis", "welfare during transport and slaughter", "welfare-friendly animal product consumption", "attitudes toward farm animal welfare", and "healthy breeding". The keywords "computer vision", "recognition", "temperature", "precision livestock farming", "laying hen", and "behavior", represent the major research frontiers in the field, which could indicate potential areas of significant future research. The findings of the present bibliometric analysis confirm the fact that farm animal welfare is a field of interest in China. Farm animal welfare research in China tends to be pragmatic, with a strong emphasis on enhancing growth and production performance, as well as product quality, rather than solely concentrating on improving farm animal welfare. This paper provides insightful references that researchers can use to identify and understand the current status and future direction of the farm animal welfare field in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihang Cui
- College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.C.); (W.T.); (X.D.)
| | - Wenjie Tang
- College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.C.); (W.T.); (X.D.)
| | - Xiaoshang Deng
- College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.C.); (W.T.); (X.D.)
| | - Bing Jiang
- College of Economics and Management, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.C.); (W.T.); (X.D.)
- Development Research Center of Modern Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
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30
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Wongsaengchan C, McCafferty DJ, Lennox K, Nager RG, McKeegan DEF. Non-invasive assessment of positive affective state using infra-red thermography in rats. Anim Welf 2023; 32:e66. [PMID: 38510988 PMCID: PMC10951672 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2023.87] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
With recent increased focus on positive welfare in animal welfare science, there is demand for objective positive welfare indicators. It is unclear whether changes in body surface temperature can be used to non-invasively identify and quantify positive states in mammals. We recorded continuous measurements of tail surface temperature using infra-red thermography (IRT) and concurrent behavioural observations in male and female Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). If tail surface temperature can differentiate between positive and negative experiences, we expect a qualitatively different response compared to negative experiences. Three groups of rats were presented with increasing magnitudes of food rewards (neutral/none, one and three rewards). The rats were placed in an arena to which they were habituated and filmed for 30 s before and 30 min after exposure to different rewards. Tail temperature initially decreased from the pre-reward baseline and subsequently returned towards baseline temperature. The overall pattern of the change was the same as for rats subjected to negative stimuli in previous studies. Nevertheless, dynamic changes in tail temperature, specifically the rate of recovery and the behavioural response (exploration), differed between neutral and rewarded rats but failed to distinguish reward magnitude. Sex differences were found in both thermal and behavioural responses, unrelated to reward magnitudes. Female rats exhibited a greater initial response with a slower recovery than male rats, emphasising the value of using of both sexes in animal welfare research. This study improves our understanding of the effects of positive emotions induced by food reward on peripheral body temperature and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanakarn Wongsaengchan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
- School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, UK
| | - Dominic J McCafferty
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Katie Lennox
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Ruedi G Nager
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Dorothy EF McKeegan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
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31
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Wiese TR, Rey Planellas S, Betancor M, Haskell M, Jarvis S, Davie A, Wemelsfelder F, Turnbull JF. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment as a welfare indicator for farmed Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar) in response to a stressful challenge. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1260090. [PMID: 37841467 PMCID: PMC10569038 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1260090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare assessments have struggled to investigate the emotional states of animals while focusing solely on available empirical evidence. Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) may provide insights into an animal's subjective experiences without compromising scientific rigor. Rather than assessing explicit, physical behaviours (i.e., what animals are doing, such as swimming or feeding), QBA describes and quantifies the overall expressive manner in which animals execute those behaviours (i.e., how relaxed or agitated they appear). While QBA has been successfully applied to scientific welfare assessments in a variety of species, its application within aquaculture remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to assess QBA's effectiveness in capturing changes in the emotional behaviour of Atlantic salmon following exposure to a stressful challenge. Nine tanks of juvenile Atlantic salmon were video-recorded every morning for 15 min over a 7-day period, in the middle of which a stressful challenge (intrusive sampling) was conducted on the salmon. The resultant 1-min, 63 video clips were then semi-randomised to avoid predictability and treatment bias for QBA scorers. Twelve salmon-industry professionals generated a list of 16 qualitative descriptors (e.g., relaxed, agitated, stressed) after viewing unrelated video-recordings depicting varying expressive characteristics of salmon in different contexts. A different group of 5 observers, with varied experience of salmon farming, subsequently scored the 16 descriptors for each clip using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Principal Components Analysis (correlation matrix, no rotation) was used to identify perceived patterns of expressive characteristics across the video-clips, which revealed 4 dimensions explaining 74.5% of the variation between clips. PC1, ranging from 'relaxed/content/positive active' to 'unsettled/stressed/spooked/skittish' explained the highest percentage of variation (37%). QBA scores for video-clips on PC1, PC2, and PC4 achieved good inter- and intra-observer reliability. Linear Mixed Effects Models, controlled for observer variation in PC1 scores, showed a significant difference between PC1 scores before and after sampling (p = 0.03), with salmon being perceived as more stressed afterwards. PC1 scores also correlated positively with darting behaviours (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). These results are the first to report QBA's sensitivity to changes in expressive characteristics of salmon following a putatively stressful challenge, demonstrating QBA's potential as a welfare indicator within aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Monica Betancor
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
| | - Marie Haskell
- Scotland’s Rural College SRUC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Jarvis
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - James F. Turnbull
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
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Hampton JO, Hemsworth LM, Hemsworth PH, Hyndman TH, Sandøe P. Rethinking the utility of the Five Domains model. Anim Welf 2023; 32:e62. [PMID: 38487458 PMCID: PMC10936274 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2023.84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The Five Domains model is influential in contemporary studies of animal welfare. It was originally presented as a conceptual model to understand the types of impact that procedures may impose on experimental animals. Its application has since broadened to cover a wide range of animal species and forms of animal use. However, it has also increasingly been applied as an animal welfare assessment tool, which is the focus of this paper. Several critical limitations associated with this approach have not been widely acknowledged, including that: (1) it relies upon expert or stakeholder opinion, with little transparency around the selection of these individuals; (2) quantitative scoring is typically attempted despite the absence of clear principles for aggregation of welfare measures and few attempts to account for uncertainty; (3) there have been few efforts to measure the repeatability of findings; and (4) it does not consider indirect and unintentional impacts such as those imposed on non-target animals. These deficiencies lead to concerns surrounding testability, repeatability and the potential for manipulation. We provide suggestions for refinement of how the Five Domains model is applied to partially address these limitations. We argue that the Five Domains model is useful for systematic consideration of all sources of possible welfare compromise and enhancement, but is not, in its current state, fit-for-purpose as an assessment tool. We argue for wider acknowledgment of the operational limits of using the model as an assessment tool, prioritisation of the studies needed for its validation, and encourage improvements to this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan O Hampton
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC3010, Australia
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA6150, Australia
| | - Lauren M Hemsworth
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Paul H Hemsworth
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Timothy H Hyndman
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA6150, Australia
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA6150, Australia
| | - Peter Sandøe
- Department of Food and Resource Economics and Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 25, DK-1958, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Macdonald DW. Mitigating Human Impacts on Wild Animal Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2906. [PMID: 37760306 PMCID: PMC10525650 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182906] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human activities negatively impact the welfare of wild vertebrates in many different contexts globally, and countless individual animals are affected. Growing concern for wild animal welfare, especially in relation to conservation, is evident. While research on wild animal welfare lags behind that focused on captive animals, minimising human-induced harm to wild animals is a key principle. This study examines examples of negative anthropogenic impacts on wild animal welfare, how these may be mitigated and what further research is required, including examples from wildlife management, biodiversity conservation, wildlife tourism and wildlife trade. Further, it discusses the relationship between animal welfare and biodiversity conservation, and synergies that may be achieved between these. Ultimately, it is discussed how the welfare of wild animals may be balanced with other priorities to ensure that welfare is afforded due consideration in interactions between people and wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Macdonald
- The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney OX13 5QL, UK
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Zemanova MA. Crucial but Neglected: Limited Availability of Animal Welfare Courses in Education of Wildlife Researchers. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2907. [PMID: 37760307 PMCID: PMC10525554 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182907] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare is a subject of increasing scientific and ethical concern in today's society, crucial for the well-being of animals used in research and the integrity of scientific data. Equipping researchers in the life science disciplines with a science-based knowledge of animal welfare, behaviour, physiology, and health is, therefore, essential. Nevertheless, previous studies evaluating animal welfare education focused on veterinary, laboratory, or farm animal science. Consequently, the aim of this study was, for the very first time, to map the prevalence of animal welfare courses in the university education of ecologists, wildlife biologists, and conservation managers in Europe, Canada, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. A comprehensive assessment of 1548 universities was conducted, resulting in the identification of 596 relevant programs at the bachelor's and master's levels. Analysis of the curricula revealed that only 1% of the programs offered a formal course on animal welfare, while 65% provided courses on animal behaviour, 59% on animal physiology, and 34% on animal health. However, the majority of these courses were listed as electives rather than mandatory components of the programs. These results underscore the need for universities to incorporate more formal and obligatory education in animal welfare in order to better prepare future ecologists, wildlife biologists, and conservation managers for the challenges of working with wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam A. Zemanova
- Environmental Sciences and Humanities Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland;
- Animalfree Research, Postgasse 15, 3011 Bern, Switzerland
- Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, 91 Iffley Road, Oxford OX4 1EG, UK
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35
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Luke KL, Rawluk A, McAdie T, Smith BP, Warren-Smith AK. How equestrians conceptualise horse welfare: Does it facilitate or hinder change? Anim Welf 2023; 32:e59. [PMID: 38487466 PMCID: PMC10937214 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2023.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
More than ever the welfare of horses in equestrian sport is in the spotlight. In response to this scrutiny, one peak body, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) has created an Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission to protect their sport's longevity. However, for welfare-based strategies to be successful, the conceptualisation of horse welfare must align across various stakeholders, including the general public. The value-laden nature of welfare makes agreement on its definition, even among scientists, difficult. Given little is known about how equestrians conceptualise horse welfare, we interviewed 19 Australian amateur equestrians using a semi-structured format. Systems thinking and the Five Domains Model provided the theoretical framework and informed our methods. Using reflexive thematic analysis, three themes were identified: (1) good horse welfare is tangible; (2) owners misinterpret unwanted horse behaviour; and (3) equestrians publicly minimise horse welfare issues but are privately concerned. Our results highlight participants' conceptualisations of horse welfare do not align with the Five Domains Model; participants' ideal of prioritising horse welfare does not align with their practice; and there is inconsistency between what participants share publicly and what they think privately about horse welfare. These findings can inform the development of programmes to improve ridden horse welfare throughout the horse industry. As a starting point, programmes that provide a safe space for equestrians to explore their private horse welfare concerns, and programmes that build a partnership mindset to facilitate knowledge exchange between all stakeholders are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Luke
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bruce Hwy, Rockhampton, QLD, 4702, Australia
| | - Andrea Rawluk
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Tina McAdie
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bruce Hwy, Rockhampton, QLD, 4702, Australia
| | - Bradley P Smith
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bruce Hwy, Rockhampton, QLD, 4702, Australia
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36
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Ogle B, DeSmet A. The perception of felid welfare by zookeepers in North America and the implications for zoo managers. Zoo Biol 2023; 42:651-660. [PMID: 37128659 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21768] [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: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Zookeepers working with felids were asked to complete an online survey to examine their perceptions of animal welfare. A total of 121 zookeepers in an AZA-accredited zoo completed the survey. Results from this study suggest that institutional offerings of professional development programming in animal welfare have the greatest potential to influence zookeeper perceptions of animal welfare. Participants also identified four areas of improvement for felid welfare, including 1) larger and more dynamic spaces, 2) increased attention to behavioral husbandry, 3) more unique diet presentations, and 4) the ability for the animal to remain out of the view of the public. In addition, there appear to be differences in perception between traditionally described "small cat" and "large cat" keepers in terms of the ability to deliver the Five Freedoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Ogle
- Department of Anthrozoology, Beacon College, Leesburg, Florida, USA
| | - Annabel DeSmet
- Department of Anthrozoology, Beacon College, Leesburg, Florida, USA
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37
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Smith SA. Fish Welfare in Public Aquariums and Zoological Collections. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2548. [PMID: 37627339 PMCID: PMC10451808 DOI: 10.3390/ani13162548] [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: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A wide variety of fish species have been displayed in public aquariums and zoological collections for over 150 years. Though the issue of pain perception in fish is still being debated, there is no disagreement that negative impacts on their welfare can significantly affect their health and wellbeing. A general description of the basic biological requirements for maintaining fish in captive environments is presented, but species-specific information and guidelines should be developed for the multitude of species being maintained. A combination of behavioral, performance, and physiological indicators can be used to assess the well-being of these animals. Ultimately, the goal for optimizing the welfare of fish should be to provide the best possible environment, husbandry, and social interactions to promote natural species-specific behaviors of the fish in captivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Smith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, 205 Duck Pond Drive, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0442, USA
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38
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Reimert I, Webb LE, van Marwijk MA, Bolhuis JE. Review: Towards an integrated concept of animal welfare. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 4:100838. [PMID: 37612226 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100838] [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: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare is an important field of study due to animal sentience, yet there is to date no consensus on the definition of animal welfare. There have been four key developments in the field of animal welfare science since its birth: the theoretical and empirical study of affective states, and hence our understanding thereof, has increased; there has been a shift from a primary focus on unpleasant experiences towards an inclusion of pleasant experiences; there has been an increasing mention and investigation of the notion of cumulation of experiences in time, and with this, the importance of the time component of both affective states and animal welfare has come forward. Following others, we define welfare as a balance or cumulation of pleasant and unpleasant experiences over time. The time period of welfare depends on when welfare considerations are necessary, and may range from the duration of single and relatively short-term experiences to the entire life of an animal. We further propose that animal welfare conceptualised in this way can be assessed at three levels: level 1 represents the assessment of the environment and 'internal factors' such as health and personality, which interact in their impact on the affective experiences of animals; level 2 represents the assessment of affective states; and level 3 represents the assessment of the balance or cumulation of these affective states in time. The advancement of research necessitates studies to be more or less comparable, and this would be facilitated by researchers mentioning which concept of animal welfare they are basing their work on, at which level of assessment they are working, which assumptions they might be drawing from to infer welfare and which time period of interest they are focusing on, even if this is not mirrored by the timing of the assessment in practice. Assessment at levels 2 and 3 still needs much study, at both the theoretical and empirical levels, including agreements on validation tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Reimert
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - L E Webb
- Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - M A van Marwijk
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - J E Bolhuis
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Olczak K, Penar W, Nowicki J, Magiera A, Klocek C. The Role of Sound in Livestock Farming-Selected Aspects. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2307. [PMID: 37508083 PMCID: PMC10376870 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142307] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
To ensure the optimal living conditions of farm animals, it is essential to understand how their senses work and the way in which they perceive their environment. Most animals have a different hearing range compared to humans; thus, some aversive sounds may go unnoticed by caretakers. The auditory pathways may act through the nervous system on the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune systems. Therefore, noise may lead to behavioral activation (arousal), pain, and sleep disorders. Sounds on farms may be produced by machines, humans, or animals themselves. It is worth noting that vocalization may be very informative to the breeder as it is an expression of an emotional state. This information can be highly beneficial in maintaining a high level of livestock welfare. Moreover, understanding learning theory, conditioning, and the potential benefits of certain sounds can guide the deliberate use of techniques in farm management to reduce the aversiveness of certain events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Olczak
- Department of Horse Breeding, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska St. 1, 32-083 Balice, Poland
| | - Weronika Penar
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Ethology, Faculty of Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture in Kraków, 24/28 Mickiewicza Ave., 30-059 Cracow, Poland
| | - Jacek Nowicki
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Ethology, Faculty of Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture in Kraków, 24/28 Mickiewicza Ave., 30-059 Cracow, Poland
| | - Angelika Magiera
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Ethology, Faculty of Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture in Kraków, 24/28 Mickiewicza Ave., 30-059 Cracow, Poland
| | - Czesław Klocek
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Ethology, Faculty of Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture in Kraków, 24/28 Mickiewicza Ave., 30-059 Cracow, Poland
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40
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Martelli P, Krishnasamy K. The Role of Preventative Medicine Programs in Animal Welfare and Wellbeing in Zoological Institutions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2299. [PMID: 37508076 PMCID: PMC10376426 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142299] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The overarching goal of a preventative medicine program is to minimize the chances of health problems developing and to maximize the chances of detecting health problems early, in a manner that best benefits the animals and the organization. The traditional paradigms of animal welfare, stemming from the five freedoms and being progressively fleshed out to five domains, the 24/7 approach and so forth do not apply perfectly to zoological collections and less so to animals undergoing veterinary treatments. The physiology and behaviour of animals undergoing veterinary treatments, including therapeutic, quarantine and preventative medicine, are derailed from their normal states and their choices and comfort are de facto limited. A paradigm separating animal wellbeing from animal welfare is necessary to instil clarity of thought and to guide actions in regard to the welfare of animals under human care. Using such a model, preventative medicine programs emerge as a cornerstone of zoo and aquarium animal welfare, all the more if it incorporates modern veterinary and husbandry techniques, including operant conditioning.
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41
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Bartolomé A, Carazo P, Font E. Environmental enrichment for reptiles in European zoos: Current status and perspectives. Anim Welf 2023; 32:e48. [PMID: 38487426 PMCID: PMC10936270 DOI: 10.1017/awf.2023.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Zoos and aquaria are paying increasing attention to environmental enrichment, which has proven an effective tool for the improvement of animal welfare. However, several ongoing issues have hampered progress in environmental enrichment research. Foremost among these is the taxonomic bias, which hinders our understanding of the value of enrichment for neglected groups, such as reptiles. In this study, we evaluated the status of environmental enrichment for reptiles in European zoos using a survey approach. A total of 121 zoos (32% response rate) completed our main survey, focusing on the use of different enrichment types for reptiles. We found significant differences in the use and/or type of enrichment between reptile groups. Tortoises (family Testudinidae) and monitor lizards (genus Varanus) were the most enriched taxa while venomous snakes were the least. The enrichment types most used across taxa were structural/habitat design and dietary. A second, more detailed, questionnaire followed, where participants were questioned about specific enrichment techniques. A total of 42 enrichment methods were reported, with two being represented across all taxa: increasing structural/thermal complexity and enrichment objects. Finally, we present information from participating zoos on enrichment goals, assessment methods, sources of information for enrichment ideas, and whether enrichment for reptiles is considered essential and/or implemented routinely. Results suggest that, although usage is widespread across European zoos, our understanding of enrichment for reptiles needs to be re-evaluated, since many of the techniques reported tread a fine line between basic husbandry and actual enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Bartolomé
- Ethology lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Spain
| | - Pau Carazo
- Ethology lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Spain
| | - Enrique Font
- Ethology lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Spain
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42
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Cohen S, Ho C. Review of Rat ( Rattus norvegicus), Mouse ( Mus musculus), Guinea pig ( Cavia porcellus), and Rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) Indicators for Welfare Assessment. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2167. [PMID: 37443965 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132167] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The monitoring and assessment of animals is important for their health and welfare. The appropriate selection of multiple, validated, and feasible welfare assessment indicators is required to effectively identify compromises or improvements to animal welfare. Animal welfare indicators can be animal or resource based. Indicators can be collated to form assessment tools (e.g., grimace scales) or animal welfare assessment models (e.g., 5 Domains) and frameworks (e.g., 5 Freedoms). The literature contains a wide variety of indicators, with both types needed for effective animal welfare assessment; however, there is yet to be an ideal constellation of indicators for animal-based welfare assessment in small mammals such as guinea pigs (Cavia Porcellus), mice (Mus musculus), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and rats (Rattus norvegicus). A systematic review of grey and peer-reviewed literature was performed to determine the types of animal-based welfare indicators available to identify and assess animal health and welfare in these small mammals maintained across a wide variety of conditions. The available indicators were categorised and scored against a selection of criteria, including potential ease of use and costs. This review and analysis aim to provide the basis for further research into animal welfare indicators for these species. Future applications of this work may include improvements to animal welfare assessments or schemes, guiding better management, and implementing future strategies to enable better animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shari Cohen
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camden 2570, Australia
| | - Cindy Ho
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
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43
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Bartlett A, Grinsted L, Freeman MS. Behaviour, Furnishing and Vertical Space Use of Captive Callimico ( Callimico goeldii): Implications for Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2147. [PMID: 37443945 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132147] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Provision of optimal captive care should be supported by species-specific evidence. Callimico (Callimico goeldii) is a small South American callitrichid primate. This study sought to address gaps in species-specific knowledge and captive management research by examining differences in callimico behaviour across multiple collections, investigating vertical enclosure use and a possible association between specific behaviours and vertical zones. Observational research was conducted at five European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) organisations, in exhibits that were visually divided into four vertical zones. Instantaneous scan sampling was used to record behaviour and location of callimico over a six-day period at each collection, exceeding 160 observational hours. Significant differences were observed in foraging between collections and were much lower than the recommendations in Best Practice Guidelines, although near-wild levels were recorded in one enclosure. At an average height of 2 m, callimico utilized a similar vertical space across very different enclosures, regardless of overall available height, reflective of their natural ecology. The association between whole food items and increased foraging time, horizontal branches and locomotion and deep substrate and diversity of behaviours, offers further species-specific evidence of how the callimico use their captive environment. Our findings complement current EAZA guidelines to support species appropriate care for callimico and makes specific recommendations for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Bartlett
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK
| | - Lena Grinsted
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK
| | - Marianne Sarah Freeman
- Animal Health and Welfare Research, University Centre Sparsholt, Winchester SO21 2NF, UK
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44
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Winship KA, Jones BL. Acoustic Monitoring of Professionally Managed Marine Mammals for Health and Welfare Insights. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2124. [PMID: 37443922 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132124] [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: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Research evaluating marine mammal welfare and opportunities for advancements in the care of species housed in a professional facility have rapidly increased in the past decade. While topics, such as comfortable housing, adequate social opportunities, stimulating enrichment, and a high standard of medical care, have continued to receive attention from managers and scientists, there is a lack of established acoustic consideration for monitoring the welfare of these animals. Marine mammals rely on sound production and reception for navigation and communication. Regulations governing anthropogenic sound production in our oceans have been put in place by many countries around the world, largely based on the results of research with managed and trained animals, due to the potential negative impacts that unrestricted noise can have on marine mammals. However, there has not been an established best practice for the acoustic welfare monitoring of marine mammals in professional care. By monitoring animal hearing and vocal behavior, a more holistic view of animal welfare can be achieved through the early detection of anthropogenic sound sources, the acoustic behavior of the animals, and even the features of the calls. In this review, the practice of monitoring cetacean acoustic welfare through behavioral hearing tests and auditory evoked potentials (AEPs), passive acoustic monitoring, such as the Welfare Acoustic Monitoring System (WAMS), as well as ideas for using advanced technologies for utilizing vocal biomarkers of health are introduced and reviewed as opportunities for integration into marine mammal welfare plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelley A Winship
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Dr., Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | - Brittany L Jones
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Dr., Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
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45
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Carmo LG, Werner LC, Michelotto PV, Daros RR. Horse behavior and facial movements in relation to food rewards. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286045. [PMID: 37307268 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Food rewards are believed to have a positive valence in horses. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of food rewards on horse behavior before entering a horse chute, and behavior and facial movements while restrained in it. Thirteen female adult horses were brought once daily to an animal handling facility for three weeks. In week 1, baseline period, no reinforcement was applied. In weeks 2 and 3, experimental phase, half of the horses received positive reinforcement treatment after entering and remaining in the chute; the remaining horses were considered as controls (no positive reinforcement applied). There was a cross-over between the groups during the experimental phase. Horses were individually brought to the restraining chute and videos recorded during 60-sec. The duration and number of entries into the area close to the gate leading to the chute were measured before restraining and body posture, neck position, and tail swinging were recorded in the chute. Facial movements were also recorded and scored using EquiFACS methodology. Multilevel linear and logistic models were built to assess behavioral changes from baseline to the treatment phase and between phases (control and positively reinforced). Horses did not change their body posture or tail swings across the different phases (P > 0.1) and were less likely to show lowered neck during the positively reinforced phase (OR: 0.05; CI95%: 0.00-0.56; P = 0.05) compared to baseline. The likelihood of a lowered neck did not differ between the positive reinforcement and control phases (P = 0.11). In the positively reinforced phase, horses seemed to be more attentive (ears forward) and active (less eye closures, more nose movements) than in the control phase. A three-day positive reinforcement phase did not elicit major changes in body behavior in the chute but affected the facial movements of group-housed mares.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laize G Carmo
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Laís C Werner
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Pedro V Michelotto
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ruan R Daros
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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46
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Tallo-Parra O, Salas M, Manteca X. Zoo Animal Welfare Assessment: Where Do We Stand? Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1966. [PMID: 37370476 DOI: 10.3390/ani13121966] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Zoological institutions, such as zoos and aquariums, have made animal welfare a top priority, as it is not only a moral obligation but also crucial for fulfilling their roles in education and conservation. There is a need for science-based tools to assess and monitor animal welfare in these settings. However, assessing the welfare of zoo animals is challenging due to the diversity of species and lack of knowledge on their specific needs. This review aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of existing methodologies for assessing zoo animal welfare through: (1) A critical analysis of the main approaches to zoo animal welfare assessment; (2) A description of the most relevant animal-based welfare indicators for zoo animals with a particular focus on behavioural and physiological indicators; and (3) An identification of areas that require further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriol Tallo-Parra
- School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Animal Welfare Education Centre, AWEC Advisors SL, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina Salas
- Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Koningin Astridplein 20-26, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Xavier Manteca
- School of Veterinary Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Animal Welfare Education Centre, AWEC Advisors SL, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus UAB, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
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Cooke AS, Mullan S, Morten C, Hockenhull J, Le Grice P, Le Cocq K, Lee MRF, Cardenas LM, Rivero MJ. Comparison of the welfare of beef cattle in housed and grazing systems: hormones, health, and behaviour. THE JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE 2023; 161:450-463. [PMID: 37641790 PMCID: PMC7614983 DOI: 10.1017/s0021859623000357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Animal welfare encompasses all aspects of an animal's life and the interactions between animals. Consequently, welfare must be measured across a variety of factors that consider aspects such as health, behaviour, and mental state. Decisions regarding housing and grazing are central to farm management. In this study, two beef cattle systems and their herds were compared from weaning to slaughter across numerous indicators. One herd ("HH") were continuously housed, the other ("HG") were housed only during winter. Inspections of animals were conducted to assess body condition, cleanliness, diarrhoea, hairlessness, nasal discharge, and ocular discharge. Hair and nasal mucus samples were taken for quantification of cortisol and serotonin. Qualitative behaviour assessments (QBA) were also conducted and performance monitored. Physical health indicators were similar between herds with the exception of nasal discharge which was more prevalent in HH (P < 0.001). During winter, QBA yielded differences between herds over PC1 (arousal) (P = 0.032), but not PC2 (mood) (P = 0.139). Through summer, there was a strong difference across both PC1 (P < 0.001) and PC2 (P = 0.002), with HG exhibiting more positive behaviour. A difference was found in hair cortisol levels, with the greatest concentrations observed in HG (P = 0.011), however such a pattern was not seen for nasal mucus cortisol, or for serotonin. Overall, providing summer grazing (HG) appeared to afford welfare benefits to the cattle as shown with more positive QBA assessments, but also slightly better health indicators, notwithstanding the higher levels of cortisol in that group.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. S. Cooke
- School of Life Sciences, College of Science, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Okehampton, UK
| | - S. Mullan
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - C. Morten
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Okehampton, UK
| | - J. Hockenhull
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - P. Le Grice
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Okehampton, UK
| | - K. Le Cocq
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Okehampton, UK
- School of Sustainable Food and Farming, Harper Adams University, Edgmond, UK
| | - M. R. F. Lee
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Okehampton, UK
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Sustainable Food and Farming, Harper Adams University, Edgmond, UK
| | - L. M. Cardenas
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Okehampton, UK
| | - M. J. Rivero
- Net Zero and Resilient Farming, Rothamsted Research, Okehampton, UK
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48
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Fragoso AAH, Capilé K, Taconeli CA, de Almeida GC, de Freitas PP, Molento CFM. Animal Welfare Science: Why and for Whom? Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1833. [PMID: 37889695 PMCID: PMC10252133 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111833] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
There are, in the literature, distinct ways to approach animal welfare. The objective of this work was to study the value attributed to farm animals in the scientific papers published in animal welfare and animal production journals at three different points in time, separated by a decade each. The first ten papers mentioning "animal welfare" or "animal well-being" in their objectives or hypotheses from each journal and each focus year were selected. The 180 papers were blindly scored by five assessors between 1 and 10, according to the degree of intrinsic value attributed to animals. The overall mean score and standard deviation were 5.60 ± 2.49, with 6.46 ± 2.29 and 4.74 ± 2.40 for AW and AP journals, respectively, and 5.37 ± 2.44, 5.68 ± 2.52 and 5.75 ± 2.41 for the focus years of 2000, 2010 and 2020, respectively. There was an interaction between focus year and publication area: papers from AW journals scored better over time, in contrast with papers from AP journals, for which scores remained similar over decades. The inter-assessor agreement is moderate, which may reflect the subject complexity, as the language used in the papers studied was ambiguous in relation to why and for whom it is performed. The low overall mean score evidenced that the animal welfare scientific publications are, on average, not prioritizing the interests of the animals. Thus, our results evidenced the presence of animal welfarism in animal welfare science, a problem that seems not to be intrinsic to animal welfare science itself, but rather to the way research is frequently conceived, conducted, interpreted, summarized and applied. Therefore, it seems urgent to further study the motivation for animal welfare research. The statement of the main justification for animal welfare papers, with an explicit declaration of the motivational priorities that constitute each scientific animal welfare study, may be an interesting recommendation for the improvement of animal welfare science.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karynn Capilé
- Animal Welfare Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, Curitiba 80035-050, Brazil; (A.A.H.F.); (K.C.)
| | - Cesar Augusto Taconeli
- Department of Statistics, Federal University of Paraná, Rua Cel. Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, Curitiba 81531-980, Brazil;
| | - Gabrielle Cristine de Almeida
- Animal Welfare Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, Curitiba 80035-050, Brazil; (A.A.H.F.); (K.C.)
| | - Paula Pimpão de Freitas
- Animal Welfare Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, Curitiba 80035-050, Brazil; (A.A.H.F.); (K.C.)
| | - Carla Forte Maiolino Molento
- Animal Welfare Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, Curitiba 80035-050, Brazil; (A.A.H.F.); (K.C.)
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Brown B, Cardwell JM, Verheyen KLP, Campbell MLH. Testing and Refining the Ethical Framework for the Use of Horses in Sport. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1821. [PMID: 37889722 PMCID: PMC10252045 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111821] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2021, in response to an acknowledged need for universal, consistent ethics to guide decision making in the horse sport sector, Campbell published a theoretical ethical framework for the use of horses in competitive sport. The research reported here tested the applied usefulness of that theoretical ethical framework through stakeholder engagement in a three-round modified Delphi study and refined it to develop a practical decision-making tool which can be applied consistently across multiple equestrian disciplines. Stakeholders from a broad range of equestrian competitive disciplines participated in the research. Participants were required to apply the ethical framework to a pre-determined ethical dilemma, individually (Rounds 1 and 2) and within a group (Round 3), and at the end of each round to complete a questionnaire designed to gauge opinion and user experience. At the completion of each round of testing, the theoretical framework was refined based on stakeholder feedback. Results showed that participants perceived useability and application of the framework to generally increase with each round. Qualitative content analysis identified key concepts, including cognition (e.g., broadens/deepens thinking) and application (e.g., considers multiple angles from a variety of information sources, needs to be a short/simple process). Results suggested that the refined framework is beneficial for group decision making across a wide variety of ethical issues and equestrian competitive disciplines. The framework thus has the potential to improve equine welfare through facilitating consistent ethical decision making in which the interests of the horse are prioritized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bluebell Brown
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Jacqueline M. Cardwell
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Kristien L. P. Verheyen
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Madeleine L. H. Campbell
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonnington, Nottingham LE12 5RD, UK
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50
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DiVincenti L, McDowell A, Herrelko ES. Integrating Individual Animal and Population Welfare in Zoos and Aquariums. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101577. [PMID: 37238007 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101577] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last 50 years, animal welfare science has advanced dramatically, especially in zoos and aquariums. A shifting focus from population-level welfare parameters such as reproductive success and longevity (macroscopic, big-picture concepts) to the subjective experience of individual animals (microscopic, focused concepts) has led to more effective animal welfare assessments and improvements in animal welfare. The interplay between individual animal and population welfare for captive animals is critical to the way zoos and aquariums operate to realize their welfare and conservation missions, especially when these missions conflict with one another. In this report, we explore the intersection of individual animal and population welfare in zoos and aquariums and how these two concepts may support one another or be in conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allen McDowell
- North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, P.O. Box 967, Manteo, NC 27954, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Herrelko
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC 20008, USA
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