Discipline: Physiology (metabolism, molecular and cellular biologies, etc.)

Assessment of positive emotions in animals to improve their welfare

Boissy A., Manteuffel G., Jensen M.B., Moe R.O., Spruijt B., Keeling L., Winckler C., Forkman B., Dimitrov I., Langbein J., Bakken M., Veissier I., Aubert A.

Published in 2007

It is now widely accepted that social welfare is not simply the absence of negative experiences, but rather the presence of positive experiences such as enjoyment. However, scientific research on positive emotions has long been neglected. This paper addresses two main issues: first, it reviews the current state of scientific knowledge supporting the existence of positive emotional states in animals and, second, it suggests possible applications of this knowledge to improve quality of life under animal management conditions. In the first part of the paper, we review recent advances in psychology and neuroscience to provide pragmatic frames based on cognitive processes (such as positive anticipation, contrast and controllability) for use in further investigation of positive emotions in animals. Next, the neurobiological basis of positive emotions is brought to animal welfarer in the identification behavioural and physiological expressions of positive experiences in animals. The monitoring of the autonomic nervous system (via the heart rate and its variability) and the immune system could provide appropriate tools to better assess emotional states in animals, supplementing classic adrenal cortical measurements. In the second part of the paper, useful strategies to enhance positive experiences (such as physical, social and cognitive enrichment or putative genetic selection) are described. The paper then turns to practical applications to assess and promote positive emotions that can help improve an animal's quality of life. Play, affiliation behaviours and certain vocalisations would appear to be the most promising indicators to evaluate positive experiences in laboratory animals and in farm animals kept under commercial production conditions.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Learning, training, Pain, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Brain integration, Fear, Cognitive processes, Stress

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A critical review of fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry and horses

Forkman B., Boissy A., Meunier-Salaün M-C., Canali E., Jones R.B.

Published in 2007

Fear is probably the most-studied emotion in pets. In this overview, we attempt to establish the levels of repeatability and validity for fear tests carried out on cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, poultry and horses. We focus our review on the three most common types of fear tests: the arena test (open field), the novel object test and the stress test. For some tests, e.g. tonic immobility in poultry, there is a good body of literature on the factors affecting test results, test validity and age dependency. However, there are relatively few such well-defined and validated tests, and the element that is particularly lacking for most tests is information on robustness, i.e. what aspects can be modified without affecting the validity of the tests. The relative lack of standardised tests is an obstacle to the development of applied ethology as a science.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Experimentation, Welfare indicators, Memory, Fear, Cognitive processes, Stress, Vocalisation

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Comportement, Conduite et Bien-être Animal

Xavier Manteca i Vilanova, Anthony J. Smith

Published in 2014

Farm management has changed radically in developed countries over the last five decades. Many of these changes are the result of intensification, which leads to farming conditions that are far removed from the natural conditions in which animals can freely express their natural behaviours. For example, laying hens in cages cannot scratch the ground or flap their wings, pregnant sows in individual gestation stalls are unable to prepare a nest for their future litters, and dairy cows are unable to suckle their calves. These changes do not appear to have had a negative effect on animal productivity, but they have raised deeper questions about the moral justification for keeping animals in such conditions. In developing countries, many societies, such as pastoralist peoples, have a long tradition and sophisticated knowledge of animals and animal husbandry. Indeed, the welfare and health of the herder and his family depend on the welfare and health of their animals. Recently, Western practices have spread to developing countries and people with no traditional connection to the keeping of livestock are beginning to work in this sector, particularly in intensive systems. This book is intended to meet the needs of both pastoralists who are the heirs to local traditions and small-scale farmers and businessmen interested in more intensive or Western-type peri-urban management systems. It will also be useful to those involved in rural development and to non-governmental organisations and agricultural advisory services. The book brings together information on the behaviour and welfare of production animals that is likely to be of use in tropical climates and is usually hard to find, being widely dispersed across the scientific literature.

Document Types: Technical work

Animal categories: Bovines, Canines, Ovines, Porcines, Ruminants, Poultry

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators, Fear, Prenatal issues, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Douleurs Animales en Elevage

P. Le Neindre, D. Baldin, S. Desmoulin, R. Guattéo, D. Guéméné, JL. Guichet, R. Larrère, K. Latouche, C. Leterrier, O. Levionnois, P. Mormede, L. Mounier, J. Porcher, P. Prunet, A. Prunier, A. Serrie, J. Servière, C. Terlouw, PL. Toutain, N. Vialles

Published in 2013

There is growing public sensitivity to animal pain across a variety of human activities: animal experimentation, pet cruelty, live performances such as in circuses, and the rearing of animals for human consumption. This situation gives rise to a sometimes difficult dialogue between animal rights campaigners who refuse to accept any exploitation of animals, those who advocate improvements to the living conditions of animals, and businesses who point out the financial constraints within their sectors. The contents of this expertise are intended to inform public decision-making and, beyond this, to provide a robust reference framework to argue positions and decisions in the public debate, and to identify the needs of research in this field in order to better respond to the questions raised.

Document Types: Scientific work

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Mammals, Monogastrics, Ovines, Fish, Porcines, Ruminants, Poultry

Keywords: Adaptation of the animal to the environment,  Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Pain, Precision farming, Experimentation, Force-feeding, Welfare indicators, Brain integration, Mutilation, Cognitive processes, Stress

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