Subject: Cognition

Dogs distinguish human intentional and unintentional action

Britta Schünemann, Judith Keller, Hannes Rakoczy, Tanya Behne, Juliane Bräuer

Published in 2021

Scientific article on whether dogs are able to distinguish between situations where a human intentionally withholds a reward and those where the lack of reward is unintentional, resulting either from a mistake or a physical obstacle that prevents the reward being given. The results show that dogs clearly distinguish between intentional and unintentional behaviour.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Learning, training, Consciousness, Human-animal relationships

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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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Behavioral Biology of Horses

Janne Winther Christensen

Published in 2021

Scientific overview chapter dealing with the behaviour of horses, covering human-horse relationships, especially during dressage and training, social behaviour, effects of environmental restrictions and cognitive abilities

Document Types: Scientific work

Animal categories: Equines

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

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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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Guide to good welfare practice for equidae

Horse industry

Published in 2021

The first draft of the Guide de bonnes pratiques pour l’application des engagements de la charte pour le bien-être des équidés was submitted for evaluation to Anses, which issued its opinion in January 2021. This revised version 2.0, which incorporates Anses's recommendations, was validated by the Ministry of Agriculture on 15 July 2021.

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories: Equines

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

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The importance of observation in cattle handling

The Beef Site

Published in 2021

This article reminds us that good human-animal relationships require a good knowledge of and respect for the animal's needs and behaviour. A summary for cattle is provided of these, as defined by Temple Grandin, an internationally renowned behaviourist.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: Animal-based measurements,Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

Knowledge and Perspectives on the Welfare of Italian Heavy Pigs on Farms

Marika Vitali, Eleonora Nannoni, Luca Sardi, Giovanna Martelli

Published in 2021

A scientific review of the available data on the welfare of Italian heavy pigs, which are reared over a longer period in order to create traditional products and therefore have special needs. The review concludes that there are many information gaps and research is needed to improve the welfare of this particular pig population.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords: Welfare indicators, Livestock farming system

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Specificities of the evaluation of consciousness and unconsciousness according to slaughter method

Claudia Terlouw, Barbara Ducreux and Cécile Bourguet

Published in 2021

Review article on the proper assessment of indicators of consciousness and unconsciousness: moment at which the assessment is carried out, interpretation of the assessment, particular areas for vigilance depending on the assessment method used.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Consciousness, Pain, Brain integration, Cognitive processes, Stress

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Objective Assessment of Chronic Pain in Horses Using the Horse Chronic Pain Scale (HCPS): A Scale-Construction Study

Johannes P. A. M. van Loon, Lucia Macri

Published in 2021

Scientific paper describing the development of a chronic pain assessment scale for horses based on behavioural and facial expression indicators, and testing it on horses with and without chronic pain for intra- and inter-observer reliability

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

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

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Understanding behaviour to improve the welfare of an ornamental fish

Manuela Lombardi Brandão, Felipe Dorigão-Guimarães, Marcela Cesar Bolognesi, Ana Carolina Dos Santos Gauy, André Vitor Salinas Pereira, Lethicia Vian, Thais Billalba Carvalho, Eliane Gonçalves-de-Freitas

Published in 2021

Scientific review of social and reproductive behaviours, cognitive abilities, the effects of environmental enrichment and of practices to improve the welfare of angelfish and, more generally, of ornamental fish.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Enrichment, Stress

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