Subject: Emotion

Exploring the relationship between horse-owner attributes and their approach to horse training

E. Bartlett, E. J. Blackwell, L. J. Cameron, J. Hockenhull

Published in 2024

Scientific article aimed at identifying the factors that influence horse owners' choice of training approach. An online survey revealed that the choice of approach depended on several factors: age, gender, goals, activities, role in the industry and whether or not respondents had undergone training in animal behavior. Beliefs about the sentience and cognitive abilities of horses, and the use of scientific data were correlated with the likelihood of applying aversive methods.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Working animals, Animal mediation, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Effects of single- or pair-housing on the welfare of shelter dogs: Behavioral and physiological indicators

Hecker G, Martineau K, Scheskie M, Hammerslough R, Feuerbacher EN

Published in 2024

Scientific article reporting that dogs housed in pairs in shelters, even for a short time, exhibit fewer stress-related behaviors (lip licking, whining, and ears back) than dogs housed individually. In addition, the urinary cortisol:creatinine levels in non-isolated dogs were lower.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords: Adoption, Animal-based measurements,Abandonment, Behavioural disorders, Housing, Socialization, Stress, Welfare indicators

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Sixty Years of Tinbergen's Four Questions and Their Continued Relevance to Applied Behaviour and Welfare Research in Zoo Animals: A Commentary

Robert Kelly, Paul Rose

Published in 2024

Scientific article illustrating how ethologist Tinbergen's four questions - based on the causality, ontogeny, phylogeny and function of animal behaviors - can help zoo animal research in areas such as sentience, welfare, conservation and species management.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Biodiversity, Population management, Living environment, Evolutionary processes, Behavioural disorders

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Gilts prefer an open pen to a stall

Ede, T., Ceribelli, M. & Parsons, T.D.

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that, when given a choice, gilts prefer to spend time in an open pen rather than in an individual stall. Intrinsic (personality) and extrinsic (time of day, experimental day) factors also influence gilts' housing preferences.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Housing, Restraint equipment, Personality, Fear

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Early human contact and housing for pigs - Part 1: responses to humans, novelty and isolation

M E Lucas, L M Hemsworth, K L Butler, R S Morrison, A J Tilbrook, J N Marchant, J-L Rault, R Y Galea, P H Hemsworth

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing the beneficial impact of early human contact on the subsequent emotional responses of piglets reared in a conventional farrowing cage or in a free-range farrowing pen.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Housing, Restraint equipment, Maternity, Fear, Human-animal relationships, Stress

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A field approach to observing changes in behavioural welfare indicators over 2 years in stabled horses

A. Ruet, J. Lemarchand, C. Briant, C. Arnould, L. Lansade

Published in 2024

Article describing behavioral variations in stabled horses at 2-year intervals. Among the welfare indicators observed at the individual level, aggressive behaviour towards humans increased, while resting postures decreased. Other observed behaviours (stereotypies, withdrawal, alert and observation postures) did not change significantly over time.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurements, Welfare indicators, Housing, Personality, Human-animal relationships, Behavioural disorders

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Accelerometers Contribution to the Knowledge of Domestic Cats' (Felis catus) Behavior: A Comprehensive Review

Serena Prigent Garcia, Alia Chebly

Published in 2024

Scientific review of the potential value of bio-loggers to analyze activity patterns and biological rhythms in domestic cats.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Felines

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

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A scoping review of the use of bioacoustics to assess various components of farm animal welfare

Mathilde Coutant, Avelyne S. Villain, Elodie F. Briefer

Published in 2024

Scientific summary article describing the AI bioacoustic tools that are currently available for the assessment and monitoring of the welfare of farm animals. The article does, however, stress that it is currently rare to see these methods used on the ground  to help farm management. 

Document Types: Scientific review

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

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

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Animal sentience included in Belgian Constitution

Eurogroup for Animals

Published in 2024

Article announcing the addition of animal sentience to the Belgian Constitution, making Belgium the sixth EU member state to include animals in its Constitution.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords:Consciousness, Societal issues

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Bien-être des animaux : quels critères scientifiques pour construire un étiquetage des produits alimentaires ? Rapport de l’Anses

Anses

Published in 2024

News item on an Anses report recommending a harmonized comprehensive food product labeling system using animal-based scientific welfare indicators and also take into account the living conditions of their parents.

Document Types: Scientific review

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

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Animal-based measurements, Livestock buildings, Castration, Animal trade, Enrichment, Identification, Housing, Restraint equipment, Living environment, Mutilation, Prenatal issues, Sterilization, Stress, Livestock farming system, Transport, Behavioural disorders, Societal issues, Welfare indicators

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