Discipline: Ethology

Burlap and buddies: the effects of social enrichment (preweaning mixing) and object enrichment (burlap) on piglet behavior and welfare in the postweaning environment

Ashlyn Scott, Arielle Le Heiget, Reyna Stefanson, Jamie Ahloy-Dallaire, Meagan King

Published in 2024

Scientific article demonstrating that early social enrichment encourages socialization with unfamiliar conspecifics during post-weaning, while object enrichment (burlap) allows pigs to divert their attention and limits aggressive behavior and the biting of conspecifics. Both types of enrichment can improve pig behavior and welfare after weaning.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Aggression, Enrichment, Housing, Weaning, Socialization, Behavioural disorders, Welfare indicators, Aggression

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How does chronic pain impact the lives of dogs: an investigation of factors that are associated with pain using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid

Rachel Malkani, Sharmini Paramasivam, Sarah Wolfensohn

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that behavioral problems (reduced mobility, fear, loss of interest in social interaction, lack of play) can be predictors of the appearance more obvious clinical symptoms (lameness) in dogs suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. Knowing how to identify these behavioral indicators early on and proactively could lead to faster treatment of dogs with chronic pain.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Pain, Education, End of life, Welfare indicators, Fear, Stress, Behavioural disorders, Aging

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Social buffering of behavioural stress response in two fish species, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and koi carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Santiago Pintos, Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato, Luisa María Vera, Luis Conceição, Cristiano Bertolucci, Javier Sánchez-Vázquez, Paulo Rema

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the effects of social enrichment on fish stress responses vary according to the species studied.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Enrichment, Housing, Fear, Stress, Behavioural disorders

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Exploration of skin redness and immunoglobulin A as markers of the affective states of hens

Delphine Soulet, Anissa Jahoui, Rodrigo Guabiraba, Léa Lansade, Marie-Claire Blache, Benoît Piégu, Gaëlle Lefort, Vanaique Guillory, Pascale Quéré, Karine Germain, Frédéric Lévy, Scott A. Love, Aline Bertin, Cécile Arnould

Published in 2024

Scientific article reporting that hens display increased redness of the facial skin in situations eliciting positive or negative affective states, with high-intensity negative situations resulting in the highest degree of redness. Meanwhile, situations could produce minor changes in immunoglobulin A concentrations. The authors conclude that changes in facial skin redness do indeed reflect variations in the hens' affective states and can be used as a marker when assessing the quality of the human-hen relationship.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Welfare indicators

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Sheep fatigue during transport: Lost in translation?

Published in 0

Results of a qualitative study on sheep fatigue during transport from the perspective of stakeholders. Four Subjects emerged when the interview data was analysed, suggesting several avenues of research to improve sheep welfare during transport, including fatigue assessment based on QBA (qualitative behavioral analysis).

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Ovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Animal trade, Welfare indicators, Transport, Behavioural disorders

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Colloque BOW : Le bâtiment d’élevage, point de rencontre entre l’homme et l’animal

Yannick Ramonet, Frédéric Kergourlay, Vanessa Lollivier

Published in 2024

Conference proceedings from the BOW symposium co-organized by the BATICE and One Welfare RMTs on February 14 and 15, 2024 in Rennes.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal,Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Enrichment, Housing, One Welfare, Human-animal relationships, Welfare indicators, Behavioural disorders, Education, Precision farming, Societal issues, Livestock housing, Livestock farming system

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The potential of pumice as a litter material and its influence on growth performance, carcass parameters, litter quality traits, behavior, and welfare in broiler chickens

Duman, M., Şekeroğlu, A. & Tainika, B

Published in 2024

Scientific study showing the potential of pumice as a bedding material to improve the zootechnical performance, behavior and welfare of broiler chickens. The article concludes that acid pumice, either on its own or mixed with wood shavings, would provide a reliable litter material, replacing wood shavings.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Carcass quality, Animal-based measurements, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Behavioural disorders, Welfare indicators

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Enrichment materials for sows during pregnancy - Short review

Schubbert Antje, Spoolder Hans, Pedersen Lene

Published in 2024

Summary of the different types of enrichment (materials, objects, substrates) that can be  given to sows during gestation, and the recommended methods for their provision. 

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Maternity, Behavioural disorders, Education, Welfare indicators

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Assessing Giraffe Welfare During Seasonal Habitat Changes in Northern US Zoos

Razal, C., Bryant, J., & Miller, L.

Published in 2024

Multi-criteria study of behavioral observations, hormonal monitoring and decubitus rates as a means to assess giraffe welfare, comparing summer outdoor habitats and winter indoor quarters at several zoological institutions. The results suggest that housing giraffes indoors does not compromise their welfare, since positive effects were observed in both indoor and outdoor surroundings.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Wildlife, Ruminants

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Welfare indicators, Housing, Living environment

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Catcalls: exotic cats discriminate the voices of familiar caregivers

Crews T, Vonk J, McGuire M.

Published in 2024

Scientific study on whether undomesticated Felidae species recognize familiar human voices by exposing them to audio playbacks of familiar and unfamiliar humans using the cats' names and measuring the latency, intensity and duration of the cats' responses. The results suggest that close human contact rather than domestication is associated with the ability to distinguish between human voices, and that less social species may have socio-cognitive abilities similar to those of more gregarious species.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Felines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Human-animal relationships, Socialization, Vocalisation

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