Document type : Scientific article

Dog-human vocal interactions match dogs' sensory-motor tuning

Eloïse C. Déaux, Théophane Piette, Florence Gaunet, Thierry Legou, Luc Arnal, Anne-Lise Giraud

Published in 2024

Scientific article reporting that dogs' response to human speech is tuned to a slower rhythm than humans. To improve the effectiveness of communication with dogs, humans should, and do, slow their speech rate.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships, Vocalisation

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Welfare assessment of stabled horses in five equestrian disciplines

V. Jovanović, M. Vučinić, E. Voslarova, K. Nenadović

Published in 2024

Scientific study identifying several welfare problems in five categories of stabled horses (western riding horses, riding school horses, leisure horses, show jumping horses and endurance horses). Leisure horses received less exercise, and a lack of social contact was observed in 28% of horses in this category.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Working animals, Welfare indicators, Housing, Animal mediation, Human-animal relationships, Behavioural disorders

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Organic rearing of non-castrated male pigs: welfare indicators, carcass traits, pork quality and boar taint in Duroc and Pietrain crossbreds

Lebret B, Ferchaud S, Poissonnet A, Prunier A

Published in 2024

Scientific study comparing two organically-rased genotypes of uncastrated male pigs to assess their welfare and meat quality. Large-White x Duroc pigs displayed fewer body lesions, but had an increased risk of unpleasant odors linked to boar taint.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Castration, Carcass quality, Sterilization, livestock farming system

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The effect of duration of ownership and time spent together during the day on cat owners' level of understanding of cats' body language

Abdurrahman Köseman, Ibrahim Şeker, Abdulsamed Erez, Şenol Koşan

Published in 2024

Study revealing that cat owners do understand some of their cats' body postures, but with limited accuracy. Female graduates, aged 21 to 40, who spent 1 to 5 hours a day with their cats, were best able to understand the latters' body language. However,the study showed that having owned their cats for a long time and spent long periods of time together were not enough to ensure that owners correctly understood their cats' body language.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Felines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Education, Living environment, Personality, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Socialization, Stress, Behavioural disorders

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The complex affective and cognitive capacities of rats

Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal

Published in 2024

Article demonstrating that rats are not only able to feel fear, pain and anxiety, but are also capable of empathy. They show prosocial behaviors, helping fellow rats in distress, suggesting that they are capable of imagining the needs of others.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Rodents

Keywords:Learning, training, Consciousness, Memory, Cognitive processes

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A five-domains assessment of sow welfare in a novel free farrowing system

Kate Plush, David Lines, Lauren Staveley, Darryl D'Souza, Robert van Barneveld

Published in 2024

Study showing that sows housed in a maternity ring (MR) have better welfare than those in farrowing crates, with fewer frustration-related behaviors and injuries and less medication required for piglets. Assessment using the five-domain framework reveals a more positive emotional state for sows housed in MR.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Livestock buildings, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Housing, Restraint equipment, Maternity, Fear, Behavioural disorders

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Heat stress measuring methods in dairy cows

Alessandra Aloia, Aristide Maggiolino, Lucrezia Forte, Pasquale De Palo

Published in 2024

Study exploring predictors other  than the temperature-humidity index (THI) to assess heat stress in cattle. Other early predictors use non-invasive, animal-based strategies, thanks to precision breeding technologies.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Living environment, Robustness, Stress

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Less experienced observers assess piglet castration-induced acute pain differently than experienced observers: A pilot study

da Silva GV, Lopez-Soriano M, Pairis-Garcia MD, Trindade PHE

Published in 2024

Pilot study to investigate the effects of observer experience levels on pain assessments following pig castration in which observers with three experience levels  used the UPAPS scale to assess the animals.  Inexperienced observers showed lower agreement than experienced observers, although their predictive ability was similar.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Castration, Pain, Education, Sterilization, Vocalisation

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Evaluation of a scheme to identify risks for tail biting in pigs

D'Alessio RM, Mc Aloon CG, Correia-Gomes C, Hanlon A, O'Driscoll K

Published in 2024

Study evaluating a tail-biting risk assessment program on 27 pig farms. Results showed little correlation between management practices and tail-biting risk, despite identifying areas for improvement such as stocking density, enrichment provision and incidence of tail docking. The study underscores the need to improve the training of assessors. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Aggressivity, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Housing, Mutilation, Carcass quality, Behavioural disorders

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Combining Automated Behaviour Recognition and Physiological Data to Characterize Heat Tolerance and Animal Welfare in Growing Pigs

Poullet Nausicaa, Guichard Johanna, Beramice David, Dantec Laurent, Gourdine Jean-Luc, Bonneau Mathieu

Published in 2024

Study combining computer visual monitoring and temperature measurements to monitor the behavior and thermoregulation of 22 pigs exposed to tropical temperatures (ranging from 20.3 to 27.9°C) and thermoneutral conditions (22°C). Pigs exposed to heat stress spent more time lying on their sides to dissipate heat, and a thermal discomfort index (HDI) was created to assess the impact on their welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

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

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