Behavioural Welfare Indicators Research Articles

Forage, freedom of movement, and social interactions remain essential fundamentals for the welfare of high-level sport horses.

Societal concerns for animal welfare extend to all domestic species, including high-level sport horses. The welfare of these horses, notably highlighted during the recent Olympics, has garnered significant public interest, prompting inquiries into their living conditions. Animal welfare studies have emphasised three key needs crucial to equine welfare: unlimited access to forage, freedom of movement, and social interactions with peers, commonly referred to as the "3Fs"-access to Forage, Freedom of movement, and interactions with Friend conspecifics. However, the feasibility and benefits of satisfying these needs specifically for sport horses remain unexplored. Indeed, they may face unique challenges such as high physical workload, extensive travel, limited time in their home stables, weight management, and high economic value necessitating careful handling. Consequently, restrictions on feeding, freedom of movement, and social contact are often deemed necessary. This field study aims to assess the actual level of implementation of welfare in high-level sport horses by evaluating body condition, injury risk, and behavioural welfare indicators in their home stable. To achieve this objective, the welfare of 56 high-level sport horses competing internationally was assessed using behavioural indicators of welfare through scan sampling (abnormal behaviours, i.e., stereotypies, aggression towards humans, withdrawn behaviour, and alert behaviours; positions of the ears in a backward position while foraging, watching behaviours, and through other Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) protocol measures). This study shows that there exists a large variability among horses regarding their access to the 3Fs, with some of them having a lot of restrictions and others not, meaning it is possible to respect them while competing at a high level. Second, we observed that the fewer restrictions the horses experience regarding the 3Fs while in their home stables, the better their welfare, as demonstrated by the indicators we assessed. These results undeniably support the fact that unrestricted access to forage, the ability to move freely outdoors, and the opportunity to interact socially with conspecifics are fundamental needs of horses that could be provided to horses, also to high-performance ones. It is therefore essential that solutions are put in place to ensure that these conditions are met.

Husbandry Conditions and Welfare State of Pet Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) and Caretakers' Perceptions of Stress and Emotional Closeness to Their Animals.

For pet chinchillas, limited data are available on husbandry and the human-animal relationship despite their impact on health, behavior, and welfare. We conducted an online survey with pet chinchilla caretakers (n = 336), targeting husbandry practices, health, behavioral indicators of welfare, and human-chinchilla relationships. We further investigated associations between caretakers' perceptions of stress in their chinchillas and emotional closeness to their animals. Basic needs such as keeping with conspecifics, constant access to water and hay, or offering dust baths were mostly fulfilled. Potential welfare issues included individual keeping (14.3%), undersized cages/enclosures (reported by 27.6% of the Austrian respondents), and suffering from a disease (14.7%). Behavioral indicators of good welfare, such as playing and cuddling with conspecifics, were observed several times per day by 40.9% and 87.9% of the respondents, respectively. Repetitive and unwanted behaviors were less common (fur biting, for instance, occurred 'never' in 82.9%). Caretakers rated their animals as generally more stressed if the animal was ill and more often showed fearful behavior toward them. Caretakers feeling closer to their animals spent more time engaging with them. Correct identification of this kind of association could be used as guidance for recommendations to improve chinchilla welfare at home and in the veterinary setting.

The impact of restricted grazing systems on the behaviour and welfare of ponies.

Equine obesity is a growing concern. Much of the current management advice centres on dietary restrictions, including the removal or limitation of grazing. Little is known about the impact of these approaches on the welfare of the horse. This study investigates the effect of two commonly used grazing systems advocated for the control of weight-the 'strip-grazing' and the 'track' systems-on the behaviour and welfare of outdoor-living ponies. A within-subject cross-over experimental design with four groups of pasture-kept ponies experiencing each system for 4 weeks in a random order. Time budgets and behavioural indicators of welfare were measured using 24-h electronic surveillance, morphometric parameters including weight, body condition score and cresty neck score were measured weekly and activity levels were tracked. The effect of grazing system on movement and behaviour was tested using a general linear model. Ponies moved more [median (IQR) % time spent moving, track: 3.23% (2.08%), strip: 2.02% (0.90%); p = 0.001] and travelled a greater distance [median (IQR) metres/24 h, track: 7013.47 m (1761.49 m), strip: 5331.91 m (494.16 m); p < 0.001] and engaged in less overt agonistic behaviour on the track system compared with the strip system [median (IQR) prevalence per hour; track: 0.14 (0.30), strip: 0.21 (0.37) p = 0.02]. A relatively short time period of exposure to each grazing system. Ponies on strip systems moved less and exhibited increased agonistic interactions compared with the track system, maybe as a result of a perceived reduction in space or concentration of resources, although the accessible areas were matched. These results suggest that there may be physical as well as psychological health benefits to the track system.

In Absentia—Can a Lack of Behaviour Be a Useful Welfare Indicator? An Application to the Captive Management of Livingstone’s Fruit Bats, Pteropus livingstonii

Non-invasive behavioural indicators of welfare can be particularly useful for managing captive breeding populations of endangered species; these allow individual welfare to be monitored and reproductive success maximised without the need for capture and restraint methods. However, most studies focus on the behaviours whose presence or frequency can predict welfare issues; the absence of a behaviour is less frequently considered an indicator of welfare. Here, we investigate potential behavioural correlates with welfare-related health states in captive Livingstone’s fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii), a critically endangered species that can become obese due to restricted space and reduced activity rates compared with wild populations. In this study, behavioural data were collected on males (which are particularly prone to obesity). Hurdle models were used to separately determine the factors predicting the presence or absence of behaviour and the frequency of observed behaviours. Whilst significantly lower levels of vigilance were observed in males with a larger body mass, those with diagnosed health issues were significantly more likely to show an absence of locomotion and foraging behaviour. Males with a lower body mass were also more likely to show an absence of foraging behaviour. Our study demonstrates how the absence of a behaviour can be informative as to an individual’s welfare state. This study has identified behavioural profiles that can be used to flag at-risk individuals, reducing the need for potentially stressful handling and improving our ability to safeguard the welfare of individuals within a large captive group.

A field approach to observing changes in behavioural welfare indicators over 2 years in stabled horses

In stabled horses, several behaviours are considered to be important indicators of the state of welfare at the individual level: stereotypies, aggressive behaviours towards humans and the “withdrawn”, alert, sternal, lateral and observation postures. Until now, these behaviours have been extensively studied in relation to different horse management practices. However, little is known about their changes or consistency over time. This study aimed to investigate differences in the expression of these behaviours assessed on 44 stabled horses during an initial 3-month period and then again on the same individuals 2 years later. Out of the six behaviours studied, two showed significant differences between the 2 years with medium effect sizes: the levels of aggressiveness towards humans increased (Wilcoxon signed-rank test: V = 65, P = 0.005) and those of recumbent rest during the day decreased (V = 416, P < 0.001) over time. The results also suggested limited evidence of major changes over time in the expression of stereotypies, the “withdrawn”, alert and observation postures. However, the principal component analyses carried out on all the behaviours showed that alert and observation postures may slightly decrease over time for some individuals. Regarding stereotypies and the “withdrawn” posture, the results mainly suggested a change at the individual level in the expression of these behaviours over time. This study provided new insights into the dynamic nature of several behaviours when the horses' living conditions are not fundamentally altered and raised hypotheses about the state of welfare of stabled individuals over a 2-year period.

Do zoo-housed primates retreat from crowds? A simple study of five primate species.

An animal's welfare state is directly influenced by the mental state, which is shaped by experiences within the environment throughout the animal's life. For zoo-housed animals, visitors to the zoo are a large part of that environment and a fluctuating influence within it. This study examines the impact of zoo visitors on the space use of five species of zoo-housed primates (Eastern black-and-white colobus monkeys, Colobus guereza, n = 5, Allen's swamp monkeys, Allenopithecus nigroviridis, n = 2, DeBrazza's monkeys, Cercopithecus neglectus, n = 3, Bolivian gray titi monkeys, Callicebus donacophilus, n = 3, and crowned lemurs, Eulemur coronatus, n = 3). Specifically, we considered whether primates' distance from visitor areas changed as crowd sizes increased. Data were collected using the ZooMonitor app. Observers recorded spatial coordinates for each animal over periods ranging from 12 to 32 months. Data were analyzed using two types of regression models (linear and logistic) to examine the influence of visitors on the location of the primates. Both analyses revealed a statistically significant but small decrease in primate distance from visitor viewing glass as the number of visitors increased. Behavioral indicators of welfare were also unaffected by the presence of visitors. These results suggest that, with additional validation, distance from visitors may be one promising, simple way to evaluate the influence of visitors on primate welfare.

The Importance of Evaluating Positive Welfare Characteristics and Temperament in Working Therapy Dogs.

To date, investigations of the welfare of therapy dogs have focused largely on examining physiological and behavioral measures that could indicate if the animal is experiencing stress or distress. However, this approach does not fully address the definition of welfare which is often described as existing on a continuum from negative (or stressful) to positive. With therapy dogs, it would be worth addressing if they experience positive emotional affect while working since the quality and efficacy of animal-assisted interventions for the human recipient is likely to be influenced by the animal's emotional state during the interaction. The purpose of this review is to articulate how objective measurements of the HPA axis and measurements of behavioral observations and standardized questions can be used to evaluate positive welfare in therapy dogs. A potentially relevant indicator of positive welfare is the peripheral concentration of the neurohormone oxytocin, which has been found to increase in systemic circulation within a variety of species during positive social and affiliative contexts, including during human-dog interaction. Oxytocin is also a negative-feedback regulator of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, which culminates with the production of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is widely used as a physiological indicator to assess negative welfare states in animals, including therapy dogs. Observable behavior during interactions with humans that may convey enjoyment could provide indicators of positive welfare in dogs such as engagement in play, or human-directed affiliative behaviors including leaning against, nudging, or licking the patient. However, in assessing positive welfare, it is also critical to consider that all animal behavioral displays and physiological responses are dependent on the dog's individual (and breed) temperament. Temperament directly drives how the animal copes and responds to its current physical and social environment, including during stressful situations such as when therapy dogs interact with unfamiliar humans in novel healthcare settings. Coupled with both positive and negative physiological and behavioral welfare indicators, questionnaire data can provide further context to, and enhance interpretations of, therapy dog welfare assessment results. Overall, to date, no studies have measured all of these factors to assess therapy dog welfare.

A Quantitative Approach for Using Anticipatory Behavior as a Graded Welfare Assessment

ABSTRACT To perform quick assessments, welfare practitioners may focus on specific behavioral indicators of welfare, which can lead to challenges in interpretation. Anticipatory behavior has been suggested as a potentially graded indicator of well-being in animals. However, there are difficulties in assessing variations in this class of behavior quantitatively. Here, we propose an analytical approach for identifying and comparing the intensity of anticipatory behavior across different conditions. We evaluated the changes in the behavior of a sea lion at the San Francisco Zoo before and after daily training sessions, the start time of which had differing degrees of predictability. We show that anticipatory behavior is a complex suite of behaviors that can show multi-directional changes prior to an anticipated event. Additionally, we show that the methods utilized here can distinguish among differing intensities of anticipation directed toward daily husbandry events. We suggest that this approach may be broadly applicable for applying measures of anticipatory behavior as a graded welfare indicator.

Insights into Activity of Zoo Housed Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) during Periods of Limited Staff and Visitor Presence, a Focus on Resting Behaviour

Historically, behaviour of zoo housed species during hours of limited staff and visitor presence has been poorly studied, largely due to the lack of appropriate technology. Advances in digital monitoring equipment and facility design by European elephant holders has given researchers scope to accurately evaluate behaviour for this species over 24 hrs. Various behavioural indicators of welfare have now been identified for zoo housed elephants; however the relationship between resting behaviour and welfare experience has been an area highlighted to require additional research. Lying rest is a potential positive welfare indicator for this species, with studies suggesting that engagement in lying rest can be used to monitor both psychological and physiological wellbeing. Throughout this work we aim to give insights into the behaviour of individual Asian elephants at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, specifically between the hours of 16:00 and 10:00. In addition to presenting the activity budgets of our study individuals during these times, we explore individual engagement in resting behaviour. Furthermore, we evaluate the social associations of our study group during rest. We provide evidence that unrelated individuals can form strong associations with conspecifics when resting and show that life history is a factor to consider when evaluating social compatibility between group members. Finally, we demonstrate the positive role that calves and juvenile individuals can play in facilitating meaningful associations between group members during rest. Our study highlights the importance of evaluating behaviour during understudied time periods in order to obtain a holistic view of individual welfare, further emphasising the importance of adopting an evidence-based approach to management for this species in zoos.

Domestic Animal Welfare at the Zoo: The Impact of an Animal Visitor Interaction Program on Chickens

Many modern zoos strive to create connections between guests and animals through animal visitor interaction (AVI) programs. However, there has been relatively little research into the effect of AVI programs on the welfare of program animals. Previous research has revealed three factors that may affect AVI program animal welfare: species differences, handling and transport, and the provision of choice and control. We assessed the effects of an AVI program designed with these factors in mind on the behavior of a flock (N = 16) of zoo-housed domestic chickens (Gallus gallus). Behavioral data were collected on program days and on non-program (control) days, and we considered the time leading up to the program, the program itself, and the time immediately following the program. When comparing flock behavior on program days to control days, we found no differences in behavioral indicators of welfare during the time leading up to the program and during the program. Rates of aggression, however, were significantly greater after the program had concluded compared to the same time period on matched control days, but still occurred infrequently. Additionally, we recorded the spatial location of each animal while the program occurred and found that the chickens did not spend significantly more or less time in the feeding zone as visitor participation increased, although there were individual differences within the flock. We conclude that the relatively small behavioral changes seen were not indicative of a change in welfare and consider those results in the context of the program design.

5 Effect of rest stop on welfare indicators of conditioned and non-conditioned ranch-direct or auction-market-sourced beef cattle, transported by road

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the effect of an 8h rest stop after 36 h of road transport on physiological and behavioral indicators of welfare in 7–8-mo-old conditioned and non-conditioned beef calves, sourced from either a ranch or an auction market. Three hundred and twenty weaned calves (245 ± 35.7 kg BW) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design: conditioning, conditioned (C) or non-conditioned (N); source, ranch direct (R) or auction market (A); and rest, 0 (R0) or 8 (R8) h. After resting, animals were transported for an additional 4 h. A subset of 12 animals/treatment were sampled for non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), serum amyloid-A (SAA) and creatine kinase (CK) concentrations prior to the first loading (L1); after 36 h of transport; prior to and after the additional 4 h of transport, on the day of arrival (0); and 1, 2, 3, 5, 14, and 28 d after the 4h transport. Daily standing % and dry matter intake (DMI) were assessed for 3 d after transport. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Fixed effects included conditioning, source, and time (nested in rest), while random effects were animal and pen. At L1, mean concentrations of NEFA, SAA and CK were greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for N-R0 than C-R0 and for N-R8 than C-R8. The N and R groups had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) standing % than the C and A groups, respectively. On d 0 and 1, the C-R0 and C-R8 groups had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) DMI than the N-R0 and N-R8 groups, respectively. Overall, physiological and behavioral indicators of welfare were greater in conditioned than non-conditioned calves, while fewer differences were observed between ranch and auction market calves, as well as rested or unrested calves.

Spatial distribution and activity patterns as welfare indicators in response to water quality changes in European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax

In aquaculture, fish are exposed to unavoidable stressors that can be detrimental for their health and welfare. However, welfare in farmed fish can be difficult to assess, and, so far, no standardized test has been universally accepted as a welfare indicator. This work contributes to the establishment of behavioural welfare indicators in a marine teleost in response to different water quality acute stressors. Groups of ten fish were exposed to high Total Ammonia Nitrogen concentration (High TAN, 18 mg.L-1), Hyperoxia (200 % O2 saturation), Hypoxia (20 % O2 saturation), or control water quality (100% O2 saturation and TAN < 2.5 mg.L-1) over 1 hour. Fish were then transferred in a novel environment for a group behaviour test under the same water quality conditions over 2 hours. Videos were recorded to assess thigmotaxis, activity and group cohesion. After this challenge, plasma cortisol concentration was measured in a subsample, while individual behavioural response was measured in the other fish using novel tank diving test. Prior to this study, the novel tank diving test was validated as a behavioural challenge indicative of anxiety state, by using nicotine as anxiolytic drug. Overall, all stress conditions induced a decrease in activity and thigmotaxis and changes in group cohesion while only fish exposed to Hypoxia and High TAN conditions displayed elevated plasma cortisol concentrations. In post-stress condition, activity was still affected but normal behaviour was recovered within the 25 minutes of the test duration. Our work suggests that the activity, thigmotaxis and group cohesion are good behavioural indicators of exposure to degraded water quality, and could be used as standardized measures to assess fish welfare.

Effect of transport and rest stop duration on the welfare of conditioned cattle transported by road.

The effects of providing rest on physiological and behavioural indicators of welfare of cattle being transported by road has not been well studied in North America. New revisions to Canada’s Health of Animals Regulations Part XII: Transportation of Animals indicate un-weaned and weaned calves can be transported a maximum of 12 and 36 h, respectively, before an 8 h rest is required. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of rest duration, after 12 and 36 h of transport, on physiological and behavioural indicators of welfare in 7–8 mo-old beef calves. Three hundred and twenty conditioned calves (258 ± 23.9 kg BW) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 4 factorial design where the main factors included transport duration: 12 h (12; n = 160) and 36 h (36; n = 160) and rest stop duration: 0 h (R0; n = 80), 4 h (R4; n = 80), 8 h (R8; n = 80) and 12 h (R12; n = 80). After the resting period, animals were transported for an additional 4 h. Blood and hair samples were taken from 12 animals per treatment prior to and after the first and the 4 h transport; and then 7 h, 2 d and 28 d after the 4 h transport. The concentrations of haptoglobin, creatine kinase, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), lactate, and serum and hair cortisol were determined. Standing and lying behaviour was assessed for 14 d after transport, while feeding behaviour of calves in one pen per treatment were assessed for 28 d after transportation using an electronic feed bunk monitoring system. Body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and shrink (%) was assessed for all calves. The data was modeled using generalized linear mixed methods (SAS PROC GLIMMIX), where transport and time (nested in rest) were considered fixed effects and animal and pen were considered random effects. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) effects of transport were observed on BW and shrink, where 36 h-transported calves had lower (p < 0.01) BW and greater (p < 0.01) shrink than 12 h-transported calves. A transport × time (nested in rest) interaction (p < 0.01) was observed for lying percentage where, 36-R8 calves had greater (p < 0.01) lying percentage than 12-R8 calves on d 1 after transportation. The area under the curve (AUC) for NEFA was greater (p < 0.01) for 36-R0 calves than 12-R0, 36-R4, and 36-R8 calves, and greater (p < 0.01) in 36-R12 calves than 12-R12 calves. Haptoglobin AUC was greater (p = 0.05) in 36-R12 than 12-R12 calves. Overall, physiological indicators of reduced welfare were greater in calves transported for 36 than 12 h, while no clear differences were observed between rest stop groups with the exception of NEFA. Based on these results, conditioned calves benefit from shorter transport durations but there was no clear evidence that calves rested 4, 8, and 12 h following transportation experienced reduced transport related stress compared to those that were not rested (0h).

Domestic dogs respond correctly to verbal cues issued by an artificial agent

Human-canine communication technology for the home-alone domestic dog is in its infancy. Many criteria need to be fulfilled in order for successful communication to be achieved remotely via artificial agents. Notably, the dogs’ capacity for correct behavioural responses to unimodal verbal cues is of primary consideration. Previous studies of verbal cues given to dogs alone in the test room have revealed a deterioration in correct behavioural responses in the absence of a source of attentional focus and reward. The present study demonstrates the ability of domestic pet dogs to respond correctly to an artificial agent. Positioned at average human eye level to replicate typical human-dog interaction, the agent issues a recall sound followed by two pre-recorded, owner spoken verbal cues known to each dog, and dispenses food rewards for correct behavioural responses. The agent was used to elicit behavioural responses in three test conditions; owner and experimenter present; experimenter present; and dog alone in the test room. During the fourth (baseline) condition, the same cues were given in person by the owner of each dog. The experiments comprised a familiarisation phase followed by a test phase of the four conditions, using a counterbalanced design. Data recorded included latency to correct response, number of errors before correct response given and behavioural welfare indicators during agent interaction. In all four conditions, at least 16/20 dogs performed the correct recall, cue 1 response, and cue 2 response sequence; there were no significant differences in the number of dogs who responded correctly to the sequence between the four conditions (p = 0.972). The order of test conditions had no effect on the dogs’ performances (p = 0.675). Significantly shorter response times were observed when cues were given in person than from the agent (p = 0.001). Behavioural indicators of poor welfare recorded were in response to owners leaving the test room, rather than as a direct result of agent interaction. Dogs left alone in the test room approached and responded correctly to verbal cues issued from an artificial agent, where rapid generalisation of learned behaviours and adjustment to the condition was achieved.

313 Effects of transport time and rest stop duration on welfare indicators of beef cattle travelling by road

Abstract Forthcoming revisions to Canadian Transport regulations indicate un-weaned and weaned calves can be transported a maximum of 12 and 36 h, respectively, before an 8 h rest is required. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rest duration after 12 and 36 h of transport on physiological and behavioral indicators of welfare in 7–8 mo old beef calves. Three hundred and twenty weaned calves (258 ± 23.9 kg BW) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 4 factorial design: 12 and 36 h of transport; and 0 (R0), 4 (R4), 8 (R8), and 12 (R12) h of rest. After the resting period animals were transported for an additional 4 h. A subset of 12 animals/treatment were sampled for non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), haptoglobin and lactate concentrations prior to, and after the first and the 4 h transport, and 7 h, 2 and 28 d after the 4 h transport. Standing and lying behavior was assessed for 14 d after transport. Data was analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS, where transport, and time nested within rest period were fixed effects and animal was a random effect. NEFA concentrations were greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) in 12-R4 than 12-R8 and 12-R12 calves, while 36-R0 calves had greater (P ≤ 0.05) NEFA concentrations than 36-R4, 36-R8 and 36-R12 calves after the 4 h transport. Haptoglobin concentrations were greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) in 36 than 12 h calves. No differences (P &amp;gt; 0.10) were observed for lactate. The day after transport, 36-R8 calves spent more (P &amp;lt; 0.01) time lying than 12-R8 calves. Overall, physiological indicators were greater in calves transported for 36 than 12 h, while no differences were observed between rest stops with the exception of NEFA, where overall concentrations were greater after shorter than longer rest periods.

311 Evaluation of different types of journeys on welfare indicators of un-weaned calves transported by road in Europe

Abstract Transportation of un-weaned calves in Europe is a common practice to transfer calves from origins to rearing facilities that often are in different countries and now is in the spotlight from the welfare point of view. The aim of this study was to assess physiological and behavioral indicators of welfare in calves transported in 3 different journey types. A total of 6,727 calves (3–4 wk of age and 65 ± 9.0 kg of BW) were transported with 30 trucks (n = 10 each journey type): from a unique origin to a unique rearing facility (DIR); from different origins to different rearing facilities (BUS); from a unique origin to a unique rearing facility after stopping in a resting facility (RES). Journey information and behavior at arrival was recorded. A subset of 20 calves for each transportation were sampled for NEFA, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and rectal temperature (RT) on arrival at the rearing and resting facility, and 14 d after arrival. Data were analyzed using a mixed model with type of journey and day as main effects. Transportation time was 8.2 ± 0.66 h, 9.4 ± 0.66, and 21.7 ± 0.66 h for DIR, BUS and RES. RT was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) for RES than DIR and BUS at resting and arrival. NEFA and BHBA were greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) for DIR and BUS than RES after arrival, however, when RES was evaluated at resting no differences were observed. At d 14 NEFA and BHBA were low (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Number of calves that turned back was greater (P = 0.04) in BUS, intermediate for DIR and lower for RES. In RES even the journey is longer the negative effects of transport at arrival are negligible due to the provision of feed and rest during the resting period before arrival at the rearing facility.

The scent of enrichment: Exploring the effect of odour and biological salience on behaviour during enrichment of kennelled dogs

Worldwide, millions of dogs are held in kennels for extended periods of time and may experience compromised welfare. Enrichment, often using toys, is considered important to minimize the negative impacts of kennelling. However, the value of this enrichment may be based on various sensory facets of such toys and untangling the relative contributions is a residual challenge. Therefore, improving the utility of toys as enrichment is contingent on an improved understanding of the relationship between the properties of a toy and a dog's interaction with it. The present study aimed to evaluate the addition of two different scents to toys, both presumed to have a different level of biological salience. The behaviour and level of toy engagement of 44 singly housed dogs in a rehoming centre was compared amongst no-toy (NT), unscented-toy (T) and scented-toy (T+) treatments. For T + two scents were used: rabbit (T + R) and lavender (T + L). Toys were colour and type-matched for each treatment. Many of the datasets were zero-inflated therefore a Hurdle analysis was used to explore the relationships amongst the treatments. Non-zero inflated behavioural data were analysed using a Linear Mixed Model to discern treatment effect. Dogs were significantly more likely to interact, and interacted for longer, with scented toys. This was both in comparison to periods when only unscented toys were present and when both scented and unscented toys were simultaneously presented. However, there was no difference in response to the rabbit or lavender scented toys. Provision of scent also significantly reduced stress related behaviours and increased exploration. However, alterations in behaviour were not directly related to likelihood or amount of toy use, suggesting the scents were altering behaviour through means other than increasing physical enrichment use. These findings suggest that augmentation of toys using scents may improve engagement of dogs with them, and positively affect behavioural welfare indicators in the kennelled environment. The use of novel scents may therefore promote better welfare in kennels irrespective of their presumed biological salience, but differing scents should be further trialled.

Effect of different catching practices during manual upright handling on broiler welfare and behavior

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to identify the influence of different catching practices during manual upright handling on broiler welfare and behavior. Catching was examined in a total of 4,595 Cobb broilers with average live weight of 3.2 kg and 42 days old. Six catching practices were evaluated: shed curtain position, loading time, catching method, catching team, height of the crates from the floor, and placement of the bird in the crate. Behavioral welfare indicators were defined as follows: 1) broiler agitation in the catcher's hands, measured when the birds flapped their wings, kicked, or wriggled in the hands; 2) broiler striking the crate entrance as it was being placed in the crate, measured when the birds get the head, wings, or legs, hit at the crate entrance; and 3) broiler agitation in the crate, measured when birds flapped the wings or jumped inside the crate for 3 s or more after placement in the crate. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the chance of occurrence of each behavioral welfare indicator due to the handling factors. All catching practices evaluated in the present study influenced the birds’ welfare and behavior. Thus, some procedures during broiler catching potentially improved their behavior, making them less prone to accidents, and consequently improved their welfare. The catching process should be performed with the curtains in the closed position, carrying one broiler per catcher in an upright position while containing its wings, carefully placing the birds inside the crates, and with the crates being positioned at a height of at least 21 cm from the ground. Additionally, it was concluded that more attention should be given to the broiler catchers, since the position of the curtain, loading time, and position of the crate during handling can influence the work done by them, affecting the welfare and behavior of both humans and birds.

Effect of a water conditioner on ornamental fish behaviour during commercial transport

Millions of ornamental fishes undergo transport every year during which they experience high levels of stress and prolonged recovery. Studies aiming to refine welfare during transport have generally focused on maintaining water quality to minimise stress, with far less consideration of whether the addition of water conditioners containing herbal extracts to transport water could provide additional stress reduction beyond that obtained by maintaining good water quality. No study has previously tested this on a commercial scale. The aim of this study was to test the effect of Stress Coat®, a commercially-available water conditioner which contains Aloe vera, on fish health and behaviour during commercial transport. First, we tested the effect of the water conditioner on the behaviour of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) post-transport in a simulated transport in the laboratory (bags with Stress Coat®n = 6, control bags: n = 6). In a second experiment, we added water conditioner to the shipment water of variatus platy (Xiphophorus variatus) for regional transport from a UK wholesaler to UK retail stores (< 8 h transport time) (bags with Stress Coat®n = 11, control bags: n = 11). Finally, the water conditioner was added to the shipment water of variatus platy for international transport from a farm in South-East Asia to a UK wholesaler (> 30 h transport) (bags with Stress Coat®n = 16, control bags: n = 16) followed by a second transport by road to local retailers (< 9 h) with no addition of Stress Coat®. Behaviour was monitored following the simulated transport. Water quality, behaviour, mortality and visible injuries of fish post-transport were monitored following both the regional and international transports. The effects of the water conditioner were variable between studies, but overall it reduced levels of erratic swimming and reduced biting behaviours following the simulated and international transport. The water conditioner did not significantly affect water quality, mortality or visible injuries post-transport and mortality was low throughout. Overall, adding Stress Coat® to the transport water of ornamental fishes appears to improve behavioural indicators of welfare, in particular reducing the occurrence of erratic swimming and biting behaviours.

Factors Affecting the Welfare of Calves in Auction Markets.

Simple SummaryMarketing is described as inherently stressful for cattle. When animals are sold through auction markets, travel time and fasting may be prolonged, and the chance of being mixed with unfamiliar animals is increased. Within Chile, 37% of auctioned cattle are “calves”. To assess factors that may be affecting the welfare of calves during handling and penning in markets, twelve markets were visited. Behavioral indicators of welfare during movement and penning were observed. Handling and facilities were also evaluated. We determined variables associated with differences in behavioral indicators of welfare between groups of calves. An increase in group size, number of blows/hits and other negative interactions, presence of aggressive/rough driving, slippery floor, and inadequate lighting were associated with differences in welfare indices during movement. During penning, not mixing calves from different farms was associated with an increase in positive and a decrease in negative behavioral indicators. Increased stocking density was associated with decreased positive indicators. The increased numbers of daily auctioned cattle, passage of time, and calves not mixed with incompatible animals were associated with a decrease in negative indicators and the presence of males was associated with an increase. Variables associated with negative welfare indicators were mainly linked with handling of calves.Marketing cattle through auctions increases marketing time, exposing animals to more stressful events. Within Chile, 37% of auctioned cattle are “calves”. To assess factors that may be affecting the welfare of calves during movement and penning, twelve markets were visited to evaluate behavioral indicators of welfare, handling, and facilities. Behavioral indicators during movement were classified into movement and other behaviors, and indicators during penning were classified into positive or negative behavioral welfare indicators. For each group of calves, an index was calculated based on a proportion of observed behavioral indicators. Statistical models were built to identify variables associated with changes in these indices. Presence of inappropriate driving, inadequate lighting, and slippery floor was associated with a movement index increase (poorer welfare). Negative tactile interactions were associated with an increase, and group size was associated with a decrease in movement index and other behavior indices. During penning, not mixing animals from different sources was associated with an increase and stocking density with a decrease in positive welfare index. Number of auctioned cattle, observation number, and not mixing with incompatible and/or with calves from different sources were factors associated with a decrease in negative welfare index, and the presence of males was associated with an increase. Behavioral welfare indicators were mostly associated with handling.