Animal Welfare Aspects Research Articles

The Effect Of Good Dairy Farming Implementation On The Income Level And Efficiency Of Dairy Cows Farmers Businesses In West Malang Regency

The research aims to identify the implementation of Good Dairy Farming Practice, measure the income and efficiency of livestock business. The research was conducted in West Malang Regency from November 2021 to February 2022 in three sub-districts namely Pujon, Ngantang and Kasembon. Samples were taken as many as 100 using purposive sampling method. Data analysis was descriptive quantitative to identify the Good Dairy Farming Practice score, analysis of business efficiency with Cobb Douglass Production Function Regression, analysis of business income and influential factors with Multiple Linear Regression. The results showed that the application of GDFP with sufficient score categories is health aspects (2.84), milking hygiene aspects (2.76), feed nutrition and drinking water aspects (2.43), animal welfare aspects (2.87), environmental aspects (2.64), and unfavorable score category is socio-economic aspects (1.37). The average income of dairy farmers is IDR 70,959,024 per year. The results of income regression analysis showed that the variables of health and nutrition aspects had a very significant effect, the milking hygiene aspect had a significant effect, and the environmental aspect had a less significant effect. The results of the efficiency of the use of factors of milk production with a value of 1.215 showed increasing returns to scale. All aspects of GDFP are in the sufficient category and the socio-economic aspects are in the unfavorable category. This makes the farmer's income less than optimal.

Animal Welfare or Own Welfare: What Motivates Consumers’ Choice of Cage‐Free Products?

ABSTRACTThis study addresses the puzzle of animal welfare regulations consistently passing by majority votes, despite potential welfare losses evident in market data. To understand this phenomenon, we propose a conceptual framework that considers two possibilities: first, animal welfare might not be valued in the market, as suggested by classical externality analysis, and second, it could be valued due to altruistic motivations. To illustrate the framework, we uncover the motives driving consumers’ demand for animal welfare products jointly utilizing the results of a discrete choice experiment and respondents’ perception data obtained in China. Our findings align with the predictions made by classical externality analysis, indicating that the public good aspect of animal welfare is not valued in this market and thereby challenging the existence of altruistic behavior. Moreover, our analysis of consumer heterogeneity reveals that as consumers’ knowledge increases, they exhibit a decreased inclination to prioritize the animal welfare attribute for fulfilling their private needs, and may raise concerns about the safety of animal welfare‐friendly products.

Brief research report: the evolution of animal welfare legislation for pigs in 13 EU member states, 1991-2020

This brief report characterizes and maps changes in six key aspects of pig animal welfare (AW) legislation in 13 countries in the European Union (EU) during the period 1991-2020, focusing primarily on aspects of AW likely to impact the economic performance and international competitiveness of the pig production sector. National AW legislation in the selected EU member states that exceed the EU minimum levels within the six selected key areas are also mapped. Analysis of changes in AW over time, using legislative texts, academic literature, and an expert survey, revealed that AW-legislation at the national level has generally become more stringent, in line with EU directives, and that a number of member states have introduced additional AW legislation that exceed EU minimum levels. This review helps to uncover historical changes in and can form the basis for further research investigating effects of changes in AW legislation.

Pharmacokinetics, Fecal Output, and Grimace Scores in Rabbits Given Long-acting Buprenorphine or Fentanyl for Postsurgical Analgesia.

The New Zealand white rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a frequently used surgical model. Pain management after surgery is a critical aspect of animal welfare. Recently, a long-acting buprenorphine formulation (Ethiqa XR; EXR) was approved for use in rats and mice but has not yet been investigated in rabbits. The current study aimed to determine whether a single subcutaneous dose of 0.15mg/kg of EXR could achieve and maintain therapeutic buprenorphine plasma concentrations (0.1ng/mL) for 72h in male and female rabbits. We also evaluated the safety profiles of EXR and the fentanyl patch (FP) by assessing fecal output after surgery, because opioids are known to decrease intestinal motility. Behavior and pain scores were compared for rabbits that received either EXR or the FP after undergoing an annulus puncture procedure to induce osteoarthritis. EXR at 0.15mg/kg SC provided a shorter time to onset and sustained analgesia for 72h in male and female rabbits, whereas the FP provided suboptimal analgesia after 48h. Both EXR and FP reduced fecal output after surgery. Output returned to baseline levels within 72h for the EXR group and remained slightly below baseline at 96h after surgery for the fentanyl group. Grimace pain scores revealed no significant difference between treatment groups. These results suggest that EXR is a safe and effective option for postoperative pain management in rabbits.

Hispanic worker attitudes toward pig euthanasia on U.S. farms.

On-farm pig euthanasia considers aspects of animal welfare and industry economics. Guidelines are available about the euthanasia process, but the agricultural workforce is highly diverse and guidelines do not consider cultural barriers. Euthanasia requires the ability to identify compromised pigs, technical skills, and willingness to euthanize pigs. In addition, timely euthanasia is part of the Common Swine Industry Audit (CSIA) and, thus, can lead to failed audits if not performed as required by the audit standards. The United States (US) swine industry employs a high percentage of Latin American workers, some US residents/citizens, and others through non-immigrant North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) visas. These workers vary in their level of education and swine industry experience. Proper training of this workforce and identification of the barriers associated with performing timely euthanasia are critical to promote improved welfare practices. The objectives of this study were to: (1) develop a survey instrument to identify Hispanic caretaker attitudes toward pig euthanasia, (2) assess and describe swine caretakers' attitudes toward pig euthanasia using the developed survey instrument, and (3) determine the demographic and psychological barriers associated with performing pig euthanasia. Participants (n = 163) were surveyed from 16 farms across the State of Iowa. The on-farm survey was administered for two days in a period of 60 min per day. The results for demographics and the swine management survey data indicated that employees with less time working on the farm showed less knowledge of the CSIA, lower perceived ability to identify compromised pigs that needed to be euthanized, lower willingness to pecrform euthanasia on their own, and preferred not to have the responsibility of telling others when to euthanize pigs (p < 0.001). Secondary traumatic stress and transgressions were significantly correlated scales, associated with burnout, betrayals, and worker satisfaction (p = 0.022). Furthermore, individuals identifying as female had higher secondary traumatic stress scores (p = 0.026) and lower compassion satisfaction scores (p = 0.015). This data suggest that there are demographic, psychometric, and training-related factors correlated with Hispanic caretakers' feelings about pig euthanasia. The results of this study could be used to further improve and develop targeted training programs for Hispanic caretakers for early identification of compromised pigs and timely euthanasia, which could benefit human well-being, animal welfare, and the swine industry audit performance.

Comparisons of recycled manure solids and wood shavings/sawdust as bedding material—Implications for animal welfare, herd health, milk quality, and bedding costs in Swedish dairy herds

Increasing shortages and costs of common bedding materials have led dairy farmers in Sweden to consider using recycled manure solids (RMS), which are readily available and low cost, as an alternative bedding material. The main risks are effects on udder health and milk quality, but RMS could also affect animal welfare and claw health. The advantages and disadvantages of using RMS bedding have not been fully investigated, and findings in other countries cannot be directly applied to Swedish conditions and climate. This observational cross-sectional study investigated the use of RMS as bedding, regarding associations with certain aspects of animal welfare, herd health, milk quality, and bedding costs in Swedish dairy herds. Thirty-four dairy farms using RMS or wood shavings/sawdust (each n = 17) were compared. Each farm was visited 2 times during the housing period from 2020 to 2021, once from October to December and once from March to May. Dairy barns were observed, animal welfare was assessed, and freestall dimensions were measured. Farm owners were interviewed about housing system characteristics, herd performance, and herd management. Data on milk production and herd health were obtained from the Swedish official milk recording scheme for the indoor period from October to March. The prevalence of claw disorders and abnormal claw conformation were collected from the national claw health database for the period from October to May. On each farm visit, composite samples of unused bedding outside the barn and used bedding material from the freestalls, respectively, were taken for total bacterial count and DM analysis. Samples of bulk tank milk for determination of total bacterial count were taken in connection to the visits. In addition, samples of unused and used bedding material and manure from alleys for analysis of 3 Treponema species associated with digital dermatitis (DD) were gathered and analyzed. Total bacterial count was significantly higher in unused (8.50 log10 cfu/g) and used RMS bedding (9.75 log10 cfu/g) than in wood shavings/sawdust (used 4.74; unused 8.63 log10 cfu/g), but there were no significant differences in bulk milk total bacterial count (median 4.07 vs. 3.89 log10 cfu/mL) or SCC (median 243,800 vs. 229,200 cells/mL). The aspects of animal welfare assessed did not differ significantly between the 2 bedding systems, whereas the prevalence of total claw disorders (25.9% vs. 38.0% of trimmed cows), dermatitis (6.9% vs. 16.2% of trimmed cows) and sole ulcers (2.0% vs. 4.0% of trimmed cows) were significantly lower in the RMS herds. Treponema spp. were not detected in unused RMS material, but all RMS herds had presence of DD recorded at foot trimming. An economic assessment based on the interview results and price level from winter 2021 revealed that the costs of RMS bedding varied with amount of RMS produced. Thus, RMS is a potential alternative bedding material for dairy cows in Sweden and can be a profitable option for large dairy herds. However, the high level of total bacteria in the material requires attention to bedding and milking routines as well as regular monitoring of herd health.

Humane slaughter in Mediterranean sea bass and bream aquaculture: farm characteristics, stakeholder views, and policy implications

In many countries, increasing concern for animal welfare is driving retailer commitments and government legislation that aim to improve the lives of farmed fish. One aspect of fish welfare involves stunning fish prior to slaughter. The feasibility of stunning depends on the species of fish and physical farm characteristics. In this article, we provide an overview of stunning before slaughter in European sea bass and sea bream aquaculture, one of the largest finfish farming industries in the developed world that does not yet stun most of its production. Sea bass and sea bream stunning necessitates the use of electrical stunning equipment aboard harvest vessels, often a significant distance from the shoreline; this presents an interesting engineering and policy challenge. Together, Türkiye, Greece, Spain, and Italy produced over 400,000 t of sea bass and sea bream in 2020. In Türkiye and Greece, farms are numerous and located very close to the shoreline. In Spain and Italy, farms are few and located far from the shoreline. The highest average production is found in farms from Türkiye (1,000 t) and Spain (1,300 t, and lower average production is found in Greece (300 t) and Italy (350 t). Producer progress towards the installation of electrical stunning appears comparatively well-developed for Türkiye, Spain, and Greece, though we emphasise that producers and other stakeholders require continued support to realise this opportunity. Producers in Italy appear slower to make progress on this aspect of animal welfare and may require additional support.

Antinociceptive and Cardiorespiratory Effects of a Single Dose of Dexmedetomidine in Laboratory Mice Subjected to Craniotomy under General Anaesthesia with Isoflurane and Carprofen or Meloxicam.

Pain refinement represents an important aspect of animal welfare in laboratory animals. Refining analgesia regimens in mice undergoing craniotomy has been sparsely investigated. Here, we sought to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine in combination with other analgesic drugs on intraoperative anti-nociceptive effects and cardiorespiratory stability. All mice were anaesthetised with isoflurane and received local lidocaine infiltration at the surgical site. Mice were randomised into treatment groups consisting of either carprofen 5 mg kg-1 or meloxicam 5 mg kg-1 with or without dexmedetomidine 0.1 mg kg-1 administered subcutaneously. Intra-anaesthetic heart rates, breathing rates, isoflurane requirements, and arterial oxygen saturations were continuously monitored. We found that administration of dexmedetomidine significantly improved heart and breathing rate stability during two of four noxious stimuli (skin incision and whisker stimulation) compared to non-dexmedetomidine-treated mice and lowered isoflurane requirements throughout anaesthesia by 5-6%. No significant differences were found between carprofen and meloxicam. These results demonstrate that dexmedetomidine reduces nociception and provides intra-anaesthetic haemodynamic and respiratory stability in mice. In conclusion, the addition of dexmedetomidine to anaesthetic regimes for craniotomy offers a refinement over current practice for laboratory mice.

Exploring Consumers’ Perception of Farm Animal Welfare in Muar, Johor

The concept of animal welfare has been in existence since the early 1950s, and the Animal Welfare Act of Malaysia was officially established in 2015. Farm animal welfare (FAW) pertains to the imperative for farmers to establish habitats that enable animals to manifest their innate behaviors. Consumer perception encompasses the way individuals perceive various aspects of animal welfare, including variations in perception among species and nations, the impact of animal-friendly branding, and the extent to which consumers are ready to pay more for food produced from animals maintained under improved welfare conditions. In Malaysia, customers exhibit limited concern for farm animal welfare and possess insufficient awareness regarding the treatment of animals bred for food. The objective of this study was to establish the correlation between customers' impressions of farm animal welfare and their attitudes, knowledge, preferences for welfare-friendly products, and socio-demographic factors. This study categorized attitude, knowledge, welfare-friendly items, and socio-demographic parameters as independent variables, while customers' perception was considered the dependent variable. This study employed a simple random sampling method, selecting 100 participants in Muar, Johor. Data was gathered by distributing a survey questionnaire to consumers in Muar, Johor. The data is analyzed using SPSS, which provides outputs for descriptive and regression analyses. The results indicated that consumers' evaluations of farm animal care were highly influenced by their attitudes and level of knowledge. The findings indicated that residents in Muar, Johor lack awareness and knowledge concerning the well-being of livestock. Hence, it was imperative for consumers and students to grasp the concept of farm animal welfare in order to understand the manner in which animals were handled for the purpose of food production.

Moral disengagement in the media discourses on meat and dairy production systems

Meat and dairy production and consumption are the subject of ongoing public debates that touch on various sustainability issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, animal welfare, and social and health aspects. Despite extensive discussions specifically relating to the environmental impacts of livestock farming in conjunction with animal welfare aspects, there have been no substantial changes in production or consumption patterns. Moreover, the focus of extant research is usually on consumers' responses to public concerns around livestock production. In this study, we shed light on the discrepancy between the normative discourse and action of relevant value chain actors with the help of Bandura's theory of moral disengagement, which allows us to identify mechanisms that contribute to the perpetuation of unsustainable production and consumption patterns. In particular, we focus on the shifting of responsibility between actors in the normatively charged field of sustainable livestock production. We collected 109 media interviews on meat and dairy production and consumption from the years 2020–2022, including interviews with actors from agriculture, processing industries, and food retail. Using qualitative content analysis, we investigated the role of moral disengagement in the media discourse on meat and dairy production and explored differences between actors in terms of moral disengagement. We found that shifting of responsibility shows a quasi-circular dynamic of being shifted from all actors to all, in our case most frequently to consumers, politics, and (diffuse) economic forces. In addition, our analysis showed the use of social justifications, beneficial comparisons, and euphemistic labelling to be common mechanisms of moral disengagement, constituting a collective problem within agri-food systems.

Exploring uses for an algorithmically generated Animal Welfare Indicator for welfare assessment of dairy herds

On-farm welfare assessment is time-consuming and costly. Assessing welfare using routinely collected herd data has been proposed as a more economical alternative. The online Animal Welfare Indicator (AWI), developed by a Norwegian dairy cooperative, applies an algorithm to routinely collected health, production, and management data to "indicate" aspects of animal welfare at herd level. The overall AWI score is based on 10 AWI subindicator scores, representative of elements of animal welfare such as claw health, udder health, and mortality. Our cross-sectional study explored 2 ways in which the AWI may enable more efficient welfare assessment of Norwegian dairy herds. First, we investigated using the AWI to reduce the duration of on-farm assessments by replacing on-farm measures. Second, we examined reducing the number of on-farm welfare assessments by using the AWI to predict which herds have poorer welfare with respect to specific on-farm measures. Using Spearman rank analyses, we investigated if the AWI scores for 157 herds were associated with 24 on-farm welfare variables measured contemporaneously by Welfare Quality assessment. The mortality AWI subindicator score and the percentage mortality in the previous 12 mo were moderately correlated, as were the udder health AWI subindicator score and the percentage high somatic cell count (SCC) in the previous 3 recordings. Only negligible or weak correlations were found between the other AWI scores and the on-farm assessment variables. We built Generalized Linear Models using AWI scores as independent variables to predict herds with poorer welfare. Herds were classified as having poorer welfare based on their results in specific on-farm welfare measures. We evaluated the models' predictive ability and accuracy. Moderately accurate models were built for predicting poorer herds with respect to high SCC, mortality, and moderate or severe lameness. The other models were less accurate. The AWI scores were generally unsuitable as replacements of on-farm welfare measures. The AWI subindicators for udder health and mortality could replace the on-farm welfare measures related to those 2 topics, but there was some overlap in the data used to calculate them. Despite a lack of independence, the use of those 2 AWI subindicators may marginally reduce the duration of on-farm assessments. A prediction model based on AWI scores showed potential for identifying herds with poorer welfare in terms of moderate or severe lameness, facilitating more efficient use of resources for on-farm lameness assessment. As a consequence of the data used in the AWI, it was only reflective of health-related welfare outcomes.

Analyze the Importance of Animal Mental Health - Take Captive Animals as an Example

Animals, like humans, can also experience mental health problems, a viewpoint that has been previously overlooked or denied. In the context of societal development, there is a growing trend of keeping animals in captivity for various reasons. However, regrettably, there have been minimal efforts made towards enhancing the mental well-being of these captive animals. This essay aims to comprehensively explore the significance of animal mental health and its profound impact on both animal welfare and different aspects of human society. Furthermore, it provides compelling scientific justifications for prioritizing the promotion of animal mental health, with a specific focus on the detrimental effects of captivity on their psychological well-being. The essay also emphasizes the crucial role of animal mental health in fostering harmonious coexistence between humans and animals, promoting environmental conservation, and driving social progress. By shedding light on these interconnected domains, this essay aims to contribute to a more holistic understanding of the importance of animal mental health and advocate for its prioritization in various societal, ethical, and scientific contexts.

Slaughterhouse’s Animal Welfare Assessement at Bekasi City, West Java

The quality of meat sold in Bekasi City is affected by the implementation of animal welfare during the slaughtering process in Slaughterhouses. The research aimed to analyze the animal welfare implementation during the slaughtering process at Bekasi City slaughterhouses. The data was conducted by observing the five-freedom implementation for five slaughterhouses throughout Bekasi City, from the shelter cages to the slaughter. Herding officers ensured no disturbance in the herding route, hitting only animals' backs when the animals stopped walking, and confirmed that animals did not pile up on the herding lane and that live animals did not see the slaughter process. However, some officers still wear clothing that contrasts with the environment, hit the animals repeatedly, and shout at the animals excessively during the herding process. Animal welfare aspects of the slaughter process, such as officers already in position when the animal enters the restraining box, the sharpness of the knife being checked before slaughtering, having a spare knife, and animals slaughtered less than 30 seconds after stunning, have been implemented by all officers. The butcher animal welfare implementation, such as checking the animals' death after being slaughtered, still needs to be improved. This research concluded that Bekasi City's slaughterhouse officers had implemented aspects of animal welfare. However, some improvements are still required through training to increase the competence of officers.

Assessment of Economic Aspects of Animal Welfare in Farm

Bu çalışmada, işletmelerde hayvan refahını dikkate alan uygulanmaların ekonomik sonuçlarını değerlendirmek amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmanın verileri daha önce yapılmış bilimsel çalışmalardan, ulusal ve uluslararası kuruluşların raporlarından elde edilmiştir. Çalışmada hayvan refahı kavramına kısaca değinildikten sonra hayvan refahını dikkate alan çiftlik uygulamaları hakkında bilgi verilmiş ve bu uygulamaların işletmedeki ekonomik sonuçları üzerine tartışılmıştır. Hayvan refahını dikkate alan uygulamalar ilk yatırımlar, işletme maliyetleri, etkinlik ve verimlilik, pazar talebi, yasal uyumluluk, risk yönetimi ve uzun vadeli sürdürülebilirlik dâhil olmak üzere birçok açıdan işletmelerin ekonomisi etkilemektedir. İşletmeler gelişmiş hayvan refahına yatırım yaparak potansiyel olarak verimliliğini artırabilir, hastalıkla ilgili maliyetleri azaltabilir, ürün kalitesini iyileştirebilir, etik açıdan bilinçli tüketicileri çekebilir, yasal ve düzenleyici standartlara uyum sağlayabilir. Bunlar da işletmelerin karlılığını arttırmasına, pazarlamada rekabet gücüne ve uzun vadede sürdürülebilir olmasına neden olur.&#x0D; İşletmelerde hayvan refahını dikkate alan uygulamalarının ekonomik açıdan değerlendirilmesi, çiftçilerin hayvan refahı uygulamalarına ilişkin bilinçli kararlar alırken işletme yönetimlerinin finansal uygulanabilirliğini sağlamaları için çok önemlidir. İşletmelerde hayvan refahının ekonomik yönlerini anlamak, çiftçilerin hayvan refahı ile finansal hususlar arasında bir denge kurmasına yardımcı olabilir ve sonuçta hem hayvanlara etik muameleyi hem de iş başarısını artırmayı teşvik eder.

Animal lives embodied in food loss and waste

While the importance of reducing meat loss and waste is acknowledged due to its substantial environmental impacts, the aspect of animal welfare largely remains unaddressed. The suffering and death that is inflicted on animals to produce food that is never eaten remains invisible. This study aims to bridge the gap between food loss and waste (FLW) accounting literature and animal welfare considerations. It achieves this by estimating the number of animal lives embodied in meat loss and waste of six major meat-producing species along the food supply chain and by modelling three potential reduction scenarios. It shows that approximately 18 billion animal lives were embodied in losses and waste of global meat production and consumption in 2019. The scenarios reveal that wasted and lost animal lives could be reduced by 7.9 billion if best regional efficiencies were mainstreamed, and by 4.2 or 8.8 billion if Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 was implemented, achieving a 50 % loss and waste reduction in the downstream or whole supply chain, respectively. Considering species-specific conscience and sentience, and previous recommendations, the analysis finds leverage points for change at the consumption stage in developed, high-income countries, in Industrialized Asia, judging by absolute, and in North America and Oceania, judging by per-capita numbers, as well as in top countries of FLW and animal life loss. It further identifies trade-offs for animal welfare between reducing FLW of different meat types, especially chicken and beef, and reducing production-based losses while keeping emissions and resource use low and supporting food security.

Short Communication: Daily activities of Javan langurs (Trachypithecus auratus) in Gembira Loka Zoo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract. Fitriyani N, Purba LHPS. 2023. Short Communication: Daily activities of Javan langurs (Trachypithecus auratus) in Gembira Loka Zoo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 5278-5282. The Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus) is one of the endemic primates of Java, Bali, and Lombok. The status of this species is vulnerable in their wild population; thus, the conservation effort is important to keep their existence. One of the conservation efforts is ex-situ conservation. Since this conservation is out of the animal's natural habitat, we must care about all aspects of animal welfare, including the physical and mental state, which can be observed from its behavior. This study aimed to analyze the daily activities of Javan langur living in an ex-situ conservation area named Gembira Loka Zoo. We observed and recorded the daily activity of seven individuals of Javan langur for about 250 hours, including holiday and non-holiday periods. This observation during holiday and non-holiday periods is intended to see whether there are differences in the behavior of Javan langur. The differences in number of visitors during the holiday period can reach thousands, whereas during the non-holiday period, there are only tens up to hundreds of loyal visitors per day. The result showed that the individuals spent most of their time on resting behavior (62.28% on holiday and 61.83% on non-holiday), followed by feeding (15.82% on holiday and 20.70% on non-holiday) and moving (12.01% on holiday and 12.64% on non-holiday). We analyzed the difference in their daily activities between holiday and non-holiday periods to observe the frequency of activity among those types of days. The Javan langurs showed a significant difference between those days only in social behavior (Mann-Whitney, p = 0.03). This study provides new behavioral data about the population of captive Javan langurs in Gembira Loka Zoo, which can be used as basic data for the conservation management of Javan langurs in captivity.

Animal Welfare Aspects in Planning and Conducting Experiments on Rodent Models of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is an acute life-threatening cerebrovascular disease with high socio-economic impact. The most frequent cause, the rupture of an intracerebral aneurysm, is accompanied by abrupt changes in intracerebral pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure and, consequently, cerebral blood flow. As aneurysms rupture spontaneously, monitoring of these parameters in patients is only possible with a time delay, upon hospitalization. To study alterations in cerebral perfusion immediately upon ictus, animal models are mandatory. This article addresses the points necessarily to be included in an animal project proposal according to EU directive 2010/63/EU for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes and herewith offers an insight into animal welfare aspects of using rodent models for the investigation of cerebral perfusion after subarachnoid hemorrhage. It compares surgeries, model characteristics, advantages, and drawbacks of the most-frequently used rodent models-the endovascular perforation model and the prechiasmatic and single or double cisterna magna injection model. The topics of discussing anesthesia, advice on peri- and postanesthetic handling of animals, assessing the severity of suffering the animals undergo during the procedure according to EU directive 2010/63/EU and weighing the use of these in vivo models for experimental research ethically are also presented. In conclusion, rodent models of subarachnoid hemorrhage display pathophysiological characteristics, including changes of cerebral perfusion similar to the clinical situation, rendering the models suited to study the sequelae of the bleeding. A current problem is low standardization of the models, wherefore reporting according to the ARRIVE guidelines is highly recommended. Animal welfare aspects of rodent models of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Rodent models for investigation of cerebral perfusion after subarachnoid hemorrhage are compared regarding surgeries and model characteristics, and 3R measures are suggested. Anesthesia is discussed, and advice given on peri- and postanesthetic handling. Severity of suffering according to 2010/63/EU is assessed and use of these in vivo models weighed ethically.

Consumers' views on egg quality and preferences for responsible production – results from nine European countries

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to provide information on how citizens in nine countries across Europe perceive egg product quality and the importance of a product's sustainability attributes (animal welfare, country of origin and production method) in egg purchases.Design/methodology/approachThe data were gathered in 2021 via an online survey in nine European countries (Finland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Denmark). A total of 3,601 responses were collected. As methods of analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted when investigating the quality dimensions of egg products and the differences amongst the sociodemographic groups.FindingsCitizens in European countries considered animal welfare aspects, production method and country of origin important when purchasing egg products. Citizens' perceived quality of egg products was related to two dimensions (i.e. product properties and responsible production), and there were differences in perceptions by sociodemographic groups (i.e. age, gender, education and country of residence). Responsible production was most valued by younger women with higher education. Also in the Netherlands and Romania, citizens had stronger preferences for product properties compared to responsible production, whilst in Germany, responsible production was appreciated more than product properties.Originality/valueThe study provides new information on citizens' perceived egg product quality and the role of a product's sustainability attributes in egg purchases. Furthermore, the results bring novel insights on the differences in perceptions amongst citizens living in nine European countries.

Latitudinal and zoo specific zeitgebers influence circadian and circannual rhythmicity of behavior in captive giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).

The circadian clock influences many aspects of animal welfare including metabolism, breeding, and behavior. In most species, circadian clocks are internal clocks regulated by external environmental cues called zeitgebers. The most common zeitgebers are light/dark cycles, food, and temperature. However, within captive environments, animals can be housed at latitudes with different light/dark cycles than their natural habitat and most other zeitgebers are controlled by humans. The effects that modified zeitgebers have on captive animals' circadian and circannual rhythmicity is largely unknown. To explore this and potential welfare implications, we measured and analyzed observational behavioral data of zoo-housed giant pandas for one year utilizing live camera footage from six zoos across the world. The worldwide distribution of the zoos gives us the unique opportunity to investigate how housing giant pandas within and outside of their natural latitudinal range can affect circadian rhythmicity and behavior. Focal sampling was completed for 11 giant pandas each month for 12 consecutive months to gain an estimate of one circannual cycle. Within each month, we estimated one daylight or 24 h cycle of activity/behavior by conducting 10-min observation sessions systemically each hour the pandas were visible. Zero-inflated negative binomial mixture models found that latitude is associated with activity levels, with pandas housed outside of their natural latitudinal range displaying less activity than those within their latitudinal range. Amount of daylight, temperature minimum, and temperature range were also associated with activity cycles, potentially acting as zeitgebers. An association between sexual-related and stereotypic behavioral cycles was found, with the circannual cycles fluctuating in synchrony throughout several points in a year. These results indicate that changes to common zeitgebers and environmental conditions can influence circadian and circannual cycles. The widespread evolution of circadian rhythms suggests an adaptive advantage to possessing one in an environment with cyclical changes, allowing species to anticipate changes in their environment and respond accordingly. Therefore, although animals are highly adaptive, creating a captive environment that mimics the environmental conditions for which the animal has evolved can encourage naturalistic cycles that ultimately aid in promoting positive welfare states and increasing chances of successful breeding and conservation.

Consumer Interaction with Sustainability Labelling on Food Products: A Narrative Literature Review.

Sustainability labelling on food products can help consumers make informed purchasing decisions and support the urgent transition to sustainable food systems. While there is a relatively robust body of evidence on health and nutrition labelling, less is known about the effectiveness of sustainability labelling in facilitating sustainable food choices. This paper investigates the impact of sustainability labelling on consumer understanding, attitudes, and behaviour to support a more nuanced, detailed, and holistic understanding of the evidence. Using a narrative literature review methodology, the paper assesses studies covering environmental, social, and/or animal welfare aspects of sustainability labelling on food products. We found that consumer understanding of sustainability information is often limited, which could hinder behaviour change. While sustainability labelling can influence consumer attitudes and purchasing behaviours, evidence from real consumer settings tends to show small effect sizes. Consumers are generally willing to pay more for sustainability-labelled products, and organic labelling often leads to the highest reported willingness to pay. The review emphasises the importance of trust, suggesting a preference for labelling backed by governments or public authorities. Sustainability labelling that uses intuitively understandable cues has an increased impact, with visual aids such as traffic light colours showing promise. We conclude that further research is needed in real-world settings, using representative populations and exploring the influence of demographic factors, values, and attitudes.