Subject: Cognition

A Review of Equine Sleep: Implications for Equine Welfare

Linda Greening, Sebastian McBride

Published in 2022

Scientific review of equine sleep characteristics: what is "normal" sleep in horses? what methods are used to measure it? what factors affect sleep quality or quantity? and are changes in sleep quality and/or quantity associated with negative impacts on horse welfare? The review identifies knowledge gaps for future research.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Consciousness, Memory

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Motivational trade-offs and modulation of nociception in bumblebees

Matilda Gibbons, Elisabetta Versace, Andrew Crump, Bartosz Baran, Lars Chittka

Published in 2022

Paper demonstrating the existence of motivational trade-offs in the nociceptive responses of bumblebees, which are able to use contextual information to modulate their nociceptive behaviours. It also suggests that insects have the capacity to feel pain

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Insects

Keywords:Pain, Memory, Cognitive processes

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Unwilling or Unable? Using 3D tracking to evaluate dogs' reactions to differing human intentions

Christoph J. Völter, Lucrezia Lonardo, Maud G.G.M. Steinmann, Carolina Frizzo Ramos, Karoline Gerwisch, Monique-Theres Schranz, Iris Dobernig, Ludwig Huber

Published in 2022

Scientific paper showing that machine learning can reveal the cognitive capacity in pet dogs to distinguish between unwilling/unable motivational behaviours in humans: analysis based on 3D-tracking through machine learning reveals that dogs distinguish between similar actions (ie not giving them food) on the basis of human intentionality (being unable/not wanting to feed them).

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Modelling, Human-animal relationships

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Welfare of farm animals : studying it to improve it

Stéphane Ingrand, Xavier Fernandez

Published in 2022

Scientific study of the impact of research carried out at INRAE over the last 30 years with the aim of improving the welfare of farm animals. This research has led to the implementation of new national and European regulations, and the adoption of new practices and equipment in animal husbandry.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

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

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Does Clicker Training Lead to Faster Acquisition of Behavior for Dog Owners?

Brian Burton

Published in 2020

Report showing that the effectiveness of clicker training in dogs depends on the particular behaviour you are trying to teach them.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

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

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Measuring emotional processes in animals: the utility of a cognitive approach

Elizabeth S. Paul, Emma J. Harding, Michael Mendl

Published in 2005

Scientific review of emotions in animals, and how to measure them, in particular cognitive and subjective aspects (positive and negative)

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Memory, Human-animal relationships

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Foraging Behavior Shows Individual-Consistency Over Time, and Predicts Range Use in Slow-Growing Free-Range Male Broiler Chickens

Vitor Hugo Bessa Ferreira, Arthur Simoni, Karine Germain, Christine Leterrier, Léa Lansade, Anne Collin, Sandrine Mignon-Grasteau, Elisabeth Le Bihan-Duval, Elodie Guettier, Hélène Leruste, Hanne Løvlie, Ludovic Calandreau, Vanessa Guesdon

Published in 2022

Scientific paper describing the behavioural budget of slow-growing male broilers (S757N) in their social group and usual environment throughout the rearing period, and relating observed behavioural differences in use of space. It shows that foraging (pecking and scratching) can be used as a behavioural predictors of range limits in free-range broilers.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment

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Working for food is related to range use in free-range broiler chickens

Vitor Hugo Bessa Ferreira, Arthur Simoni, Karine Germain, Christine Leterrier, Léa Lansade, Anne Collin, Sandrine Mignon-Grasteau, Elisabeth Le Bihan-Duval, Elodie Guettier, Hélène Leruste, Ludovic Calandreau, Vanessa Guesdon

Published in 2021

Scientific paper showing that the use of runs by free-range broilers is probably related to the individual exploratory character of the animals. It suggests that individual differences between free-range broilers are present even before access is provided to runs.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Housing, Living environment

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Circus Animal Welfare: analysis through a five-domain approach

Daniel Mota-Rojas, Marcelo Daniel Ghezzi, Adriana Domínguez-Oliva, Leonardo Thielo de la Vega, Luciano Boscato-Funes, Fabiola Torres-Bernal, Patricia Mora-Medina

Published in 2022

The report reviews the scientific literature aimed at evaluating the welfare of circus animals using the five-domain method and highlights violations in each of the five areas. It proposes that these results should be taken into account in developing strategies to improve the quality of life of wild animals working in circuses.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories:Wildlife

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to its environment, Housing, Human-animal relationships, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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A Kettle of Fish: A Review of the Scientific Literature for Evidence of Fish Sentience

Helen Lambert, Amelia Cornish, Angie Elwin, Neil D'Cruze

Published in 2022

Scientific review of the scientific evidence on fish sentience and its implications for the commercial farming of fish. It concludes that there is a need to review the welfare regulations for farmed fish.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Living environment, Human-animal relationships, Stress, Livestock farming system, Societal issues

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