Discipline: Ethology

Key Concepts for Enhancing Zoo Animal Welfare: Coping, Comfort, Choice, Control, Challenge, and Compassion

Rose, P. E., & Lewton, J.

Published in 2024

Synthetic overview exploring the application of welfare theory to zoo animals using key familiar indicators that promote adaptation, autonomy and positive cognitive challenges. A trained human husbandry approach based on compassion is essential to making welfare a core goal in zoos.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Learning, training, Enrichment, Housing, Human-animal relationships

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Animal affect, welfare and the Bayesian brain

Lecorps B, Weary D.

Published in 2024

Synthesis exploring the Bayesian hypothesis that the brain is a predictive machine that interprets sensory data through expectations based on past experiences that influence affective responses. Applied to animals, this theory could improve our understanding of their affective states and reveal the impact of deficits in an animal's predictive processing on its welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords: Cognitive processes, Welfare indicators,Learning, training

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Review: Confinement, restriction of social contacts and movement in domestic horses

Léa Lansade, Elke Hartmann, Michela Minero, Alice Ruet

Published in 2024

Summary of the social and locomotive needs of horses. Their welfare is affected by inadequate housing conditions, such as isolation in individual stalls. It is recommended that horses be housed in stable groups in enriched environments and that they should have regular social contact, even when housed singly.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal , Anxiety, Enrichment, Animal mediation, Housing, Socialization, Stress, Behavioural disorders, Working animals, Welfare indicators

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Apis mellifera welfare: definition and future directions

Formato Giovanni, Giannottu Elena, Roncoroni Cristina, Lorenzi Valentina, Brajon Giovanni

Published in 2024

Synthesis describing the essential role played the Apis mellifera bee in pollination and Adaptation of the animal to the environment and as a biomarker for environmental quality. Although they are often overlooked in terms of welfare, honey bees could be included in the five-domain model, which would recognize their capacity for emotional and the importance of defining and promoting practices to improve their welfare.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Insects

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Biodiversity, Consciousness, Pain, Education, Environment, Welfare indicators, Memory

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The human-animal relationship in zoo-housed mammals: Behavioral and physiological responses to visitor and keeper interactions

Domínguez-Oliva, A., Marcet-Rius, M., Gómez-Medina, C., Olmos-Hernández, A., Gutiérrez, Q., & Mota-Rojas, D.

Published in 2024

Study exploring the importance of positive human-animal interactions for various animal species housed in zoos, as well as welfare-enhancing strategies such as enrichment and positive reinforcement. Integrated into the Five Domains of Animal Welfare model, the human-animal relationship must be optimized to improve the emotional state of animals.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords: Enrichment, Human-animal relationships

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A Review of Animal-Based Welfare Indicators for Calves and Cattle

Harris, S.; Shallcrass, M.; Cohen, S.

Published in 2024

Study of calf and cattle welfare indicators, which are classified as behavioral, physiological or physical, and rated for effectiveness, cost and ease of use. These indicators can be used to assess the health and emotional state of a herd. They are also a useful framework for research and welfare improvement in cattle production to meet societal expectations. 

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators, One Welfare

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Human-computer interactions with farm animals-enhancing welfare through precision livestock farming and artificial intelligence

Neethirajan S, Scott S, Mancini C, Boivin X, Strand E.

Published in 2024

Scientific synthesis exploring the potential of animal-computer interactions (ACI) to improve the individual welfare of farm animals, particularly in the context of precision farming and artificial intelligence.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Cattle, Pigs, Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animalAnimal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Precision farming, Identification, Welfare indicators, Housing, Modelling, One Welfare, livestock farming systemBehavioural disorders

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Welfare and performance benefits of shade provision during summer for feedlot cattle in a temperate climatic zone

David W Miller, Anne L Barnes, Teresa Collins, Liselotte Pannier, Joshua Aleri, Shane K Maloney, Fiona Anderson

Published in 2024

Study evaluating the benefits of access to shade for cattle in a temperate zone. Results showed a slight improvement in weight gain and calmer, more sociable behavior in cattle with access to shade under conditions of moderate heat stress.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Environment, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Robustness, Behavioural disorders

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Towards a task to assess boredom-like states in pigs-Stimulus validation as a basis

Hintze S, Heigl H, Winckler C

Published in 2024

Scientific study to measure pig approach and avoidance responses to stimuli with different valence (positive, ambiguous, negative) in order to distinguish between boredom, depression and apathy. The results show that the valence of the stimuli and the age of the animals influence these responses.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Housing

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Social networks of pregnant gilts during outdoor feeding and the effects on their offspring

Leandro Sabei, Marisol Parada Sarmiento, Cihan Çakmakçı, Sharacely de Souza Farias, Thiago Bernardino, Rosangela Poletto, Erika Alejandra Becerra Mendez, Beatriz Kaori, Adroaldo José Zanella

Published in 2024

Study examining the social dynamics of gilts through pregnancy in an outdoor system, analyzing their feeding and social behaviors, and the effects of these dynamics on the group and their offspring. Results show links between social rank, salivary cortisol levels and piglet weight, highlighting the importance of integrating social behavior into management and genetic selection practices to improve pig welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressivity, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Maternity, Personality, Prenatal issues, Socialization

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