Subject: Emotion

Fowl language: AI is learning to analyze chicken communications to help us understand what all the clucking's about

Suresh Neethirajan

Published in 2024

Popular science article on the benefits of an AI tool to interpret the complex vocal linguistic system used by chickens. Combined with an analysis of non-vocal cues, the tool would make it possible to understand the birds' emotional states. This interpretation of different chicken vocalizations could lead to improved farming practices and a change in how we view our relationship with animals.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Human-animal relationships, Vocalisation

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Air bubble curtain improves the welfare of captive rainbow trout fry and fingerlings

Océane Amichaud, Thomas Lafond, Georgina Lea Fazekas, Aude Kleiber, Thierry Kerneis, Axel Batard, Lionel Goardon, Laurent Labbé, Sophie Lambert, Sylvain Milla, Violaine Colson

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the repeated diffusion of bubbles in a tank improved the welfare of rainbow trout. The short-term (~7 weeks) and long-term (~21 weeks) enrichment effects were similar to those observed with more conventional environmental enrichment (provision of plants and shelter). The fish were less aggressive, less fearful and showed enhanced learning abilities.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords: Animal-based measurements, Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Learning, training, Enrichment, Wefare indicators, Housing, Living environment, Behavioural disorders, Stress

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Pain Mitigation Strategies for Disbudding in Goat Kids

Preet Singh, Dinakaran Venkatachalam, Kavitha Kongara, Paul Chambers

Published in 2024

Scientific synthesis of pain-reduction strategies for kids during disbudding on the farm. The authors conclude that current good practice to reduce pain during disbudding would be the use of sedation/analgesia with an alpha-2 agonist and placement of a two-point cornual nerve block, followed by an NSAID for postoperative pain.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Caprines

Keywords: Pain, Mutilation

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A Multidimensional Evaluation of the Factors in the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) That Are Associated with, and Predictive of, Behaviour Disorders in Dogs

Rachel Malkani, Sharmini Paramasivam, Sarah Wolfensohn

Published in 2024

Scientific article to evaluate predictors for behavioral problems in dogs using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG)to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence their welfare. The study shows that aggression towards the caregiver, and the frequency of fear and anxiety episodes are predictive factors for behavioral problems.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Aggression, Aggressiveness, Animal-based measurements, Anxiety, Pain, Welfare indicators, Personality, Human-animal relationships, Behavioural disorders

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The links between positive human interaction and maternal behaviour and welfare of commercial breeding dams (Canis familiaris)

Uri Baqueiro-Espinosa, Paul Donnelly, Victoria McEvoy, Gareth Arnott

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing the positive effect of social enrichment (positive human-animal interactions) during gestation on a bitch's maternal behavior and on stress as measured by capillary cortisol levels.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Enrichment, Lactation, Maternity, Prenatal issues, Human-animal relationships, Socialization, Stress

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Feeding predictability as a cognitive enrichment protects brain function and physiological status in rainbow trout: a multidisciplinary approach to assess fish welfare

A. Kleiber, J. Roy, V. Brunet, E. Baranek, J.M. Le-Calvez, T. Kerneis, A. Batard, S. Calvez, L. Pineau, S. Milla, V. Guesdon, L. Calandreau, V. Colson

Published in 2024

Scientific article showing that the feeding predictability contributes to cognitive enrichment, offering a way to improve the welfare and immune status of rainbow trout.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Fish

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Aggression, Aggressiveness, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Stress

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Noxious stimulation induces self-protective behaviour in bumblebees

Matilda Gibbons, Elisa Pasquini, Amelia Kowalewska, Eva Read, Sam Gibson, Andrew Crump, Cwyn Solvi, Elisabetta Versace, Lars Chittka

Published in 2024

Scientific article on behavioral responses in bumblebees to noxious stimulation (application of heat), reporting that bumblebees directed their grooming more frequently towards a noxiously stimulated site, thus demonstrating that they feel pain.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Insects

Keywords:Pain

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Pet and owner personality and mental wellbeing associate with attachment to cats and dogs

Aada Ståhl, Milla Salonen, Emma Hakanen, Salla Mikkola, Sini Sulkama, Jari Lahti, Hannes Lohi

Published in 2023

Scientific article showing the relationship between the personality of cats and dogs and that of their owners, as well as that  between the owner's mental well-being and the animal's undesirable behavior.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

Keywords:Anxiety, Personality, Human-animal relationships

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Providing elevated structures in the pullet rearing environment affects behavior during initial acclimation to a layer aviary

Allison N. Pullin, Christina B. Rufener, Suzanne T. Millman, John F. Tarlton, Michael J. Toscan

Published in 2024

Scientific article reporting that hens with access to elevated platforms during the rearing phase make better use of the space in laying aviaries when they are first transferred there than those reared on the ground. The latter acclimatize within 1-2 weeks, but continue to make little use of the highest level of the aviary.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Housing, Livestock buildings

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Gut Microbiome Characteristics Of Horses With History Of Cribbing Behavior: An Observational Study

Ana Margarita Arias-Esquivel, Kwang Cheol Jeong, Peixin Fan, Jill Lance, Sally DeNotta, Carissa Wickens

Published in 2023

Scientific article to assess whether the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota differs in horses receiving a gastric health support supplement or a placebo on the one hand, and between "cribbing" or "non-cribbing" horses on the other. No difference was observed, however, a link was established between cribbing and fecal microbiota composition.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Adaptation of the animal to the environment, Microbiota, Stress, Behavioural disorders

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