Document type : Scientific article

Validation of the Donkey Pain Scale (DOPS) for Assessing Postoperative Pain in Donkeys

Maria Gláucia Carlos de Oliveira, Valéria Veras de Paula, Andressa Nunes Mouta, Isabelle de Oliveira Lima, Luã Barbalho de Macêdo, Talyta Lins Nunes, Pedro Henrique Esteves Trindade, Stelio Pacca Loureiro Luna

Published in 2021

Scientific article proposing and testing a scale for acute pain in donkeys during castration. The proposed scale is both reliable and valid.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

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

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Effect of transportation and social isolation on facial expressions of healthy horses

Johan Lundblad, Maheen Rashid, Marie Rhodin, Pia Haubro Andersen

Published in 2021

Scientific paper describing the facial expressions of healthy, pain-free horses before and during transport and social isolation, both of which are potentially stressful management procedures. The following facial features were observed in both cases: increased eye white, dilated nostrils, elevated upper eyelid, elevated inner forehead, exposed tongue, increased ear movements and blinking frequency. Some of these stress markers are already used as indicators of pain.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Pain, Welfare indicators, Stress, Transport

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Automatic Pain Detection on Horse and Donkey Faces

Hilde I. Hummel, Francisca Pessanha, Albert Ali Salah, Thijs J. P.A.M. van Loon, Remco C. Veltkamp

Published in 2021

Summary of a presentation at a conference on the use of automatic facial recognition to develop an automatic pain prediction system for horses, based on grimace scales.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Anxiety, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships, Pain, Stress

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A preliminary study of the effects of the number of consecutive days of training and days off on foal recall

Jaymie Loy, Leigh Wills, Sally King, Kirsty Jenkins, Sarah Ellis, Hayley Randle

Published in 2021

A scientific paper on experimental work to determine how the incorporation of rest days during initial preparation influences foal learning outcomes. The results support the inclusion of a rest day during the first four days of initial training programmes, to reduce the occurrence and development of undesirable behaviours such as biting.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Learning, training, Brain integration, Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships

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Improving Equine Welfare through Human Habit Formation

Jo White, Ruth Sims

Published in 2021

Scientific article on tests carried out to evaluate the effectiveness for animal welfare of introducing the regular practice by equine owners of scratching a horse while carrying out routine care . The owners performed the action for 1 month and then took part in a semi-structured interview. The introduction of the habit had a positive impact on human behaviour towards the horses.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Learning, training, Societal issues, Human-animal relationships

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Good animal welfare by design: An approach to incorporate animal capacities in engineering design

H.J.E. van Weeghel, A.P. Bos, M.H. Jansen, W.W. Ursinus, P.W.G. Groot Koerkamp

Published in 2021

Scientific article presenting a method of designing breeding and rearing systems that takes into account the animal as a subject, in order to improve animal welfare. Giving an animal the opportunity to influence its environment through choices and decision making according to its own preferences allows the animal to have positive experiences. The aim of the method is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between human goals and animal welfare in future breeding and rearing systems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

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

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Consciousness, Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Livestock farming system

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Addressing the welfare needs of farmed lumpfish: Knowledge gaps, challenges and solutions

Carlos Garcia de Leaniz, Carolina Gutierrez Rabadan, Sara I. Barrento, Rebecca Stringwell, Paul N. Howes, Ben A. Whittaker, Jessica F. Minett, Robert G. Smith, Craig L. Pooley, Ben J. Overland, Leigh Biddiscombe, Richard Lloyd, Sofia Consuegra, Jake K. Maddocks, Paul T. J. Deacon, Ben T. Jennings, Sonia Rey Planellas, Amanda Deakin, Amber I. Moore, Daniel. Phillips, Guillermo Bardera, Maria F. Castanheira, Maria Scolamacchia, Nancy Clarke, Ollie Parker, John Avizienius, Malcolm Johnstone, Michalis Pavlidis

Published in 2021

A scientific paper to identify the challenges and solutions involved in improving  lumpfish welfare in salmon farming using a Delphi method with stakeholders in the fish-farming sector. Respondents identified 5 behavioural and 12 physical indicators that were useful. However, lumpfish and salmon have very different behavioural and physiological needs, so the welfare standards of one species are not appropriate for the other.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Pain, Welfare indicators, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Livestock farming system

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Exploring the performance of system changes in Dutch broiler production to balance animal welfare, ammonia emissions and particulate matter emissions with farm profitability

Luuk S.M. Vissers, Alfons G.J.M. Oude Lansink, Helmut W. Saatkamp

Published in 2021

Scientific paper testing out various combinations of changes to elements of the Dutch broiler rearing system that might satisfy EU and consumer expectations in terms of environmental protection and animal welfare, while safeguarding the incomes of farmers. Those combinations that included animal welfare changes (lower stocking density, enrichment and/or daylight), tube heaters to reduce NH3 emissions and use of an ionisation technique to reduce fine particle emissions gave the best results.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords: Enrichment, Environment, Housing, Living environment,Livestock farming system,Societal issues

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Activity Budget Comparisons Using Long-Term Observations of a Group of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under Human Care: Implications for Animal Welfare

Tim Huettner, Sandra Dollhaeupl, Katrin Baumgartner, Lorenzo von Fersen

Published in 2021

Scientific paper reporting long-term observations of the behaviour of a group of dolphins in a dolphinarium. It highlights that noise leads to decreases in play behaviour and training performance, and increased time spent swimming rapidly, and that significant changes to time allocation in activity budgets can affect the animals' welfare.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Mammals

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Consciousness, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Welfare indicators

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Is Animal Welfare an Internationally Understood Concept in the Zoo World? Thematic Analysis of Two Regional Groups of Zoo Staff

Heather Bacon, Belinda Vigors, Darren J. Shaw, Natalie Waran, Cathy M. Dwyer, Catriona Bell

Published in 2021

Scientific article comparing the perceptions and knowledge of zoo professionals in Europe and China, using telephone interviews on 3 Subjects: "what animal welfare is", "animal welfare frameworks" and "the human element in animal welfare". It shows that, although the concept of animal welfare is perceived in comparable ways by the two cultures,  its implementation in China would require action by management and staff motivation.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords: Societal issues, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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