Subject: Interspecies relationships

Development and Validation of a Test for the Classification of Horses as Broken or Unbroken

Laura Menchetti, Emanuela Dalla Costa, Michela Minero, Barbara Padalino

Published in 2021

Scientific paper presenting and validating a behavioural test based on the animal's reaction to approaching, haltering and leading, to describe a horse as broken in or not. This test could be used to determine the status of horses prior to transport, given that transport regulations are stricter for unbroken horses.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

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

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Cognition and the human-animal relationship: a review of the socio-cognitive skills of domestic mammals towards humans

Plotine Jardat, Léa Lansade

Published in 2021

Scientific review of 5 social-cognitive abilities possessed by domestic mammals in relation to humans: ability to distinguish between humans and recognise individuals;  perception of human emotions; interpretation of our attentional states and goals; use of referential communication (recognising human signals or sending signals to humans); and engagement in social learning with humans.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Keywords:Cognitive processes, Human-animal relationships

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Animal Signals, Music and Emotional Well-Being

Charles T. Snowdon

Published in 2021

Scientific review of the effect of music on the emotional state of animals. It recommends that available information on the sensory systems and behaviours of each species should be taken into account so that music can be selected in light of the desired emotional response from the animal, thereby improving its well-being.

Document Types: Scientific review

Keywords:Adaptation of the environment to the animal, Enrichment, Living environment, Livestock farming system

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Detecting Welfare in a Non-Verbal Species: Social/Cultural Biases and Difficulties in Horse Welfare Assessment

Martine Hausberger, Clémence Lesimple, Séverine Henry

Published in 2021

A scientific review investigating the reasons why most domestic horses have unsatisfactory welfare levels despite being very close to humans. It identifies human subjectivity, human misinterpretation of signals sent by horses, and human desensitisation to welfare situations as the main contributing factors. It proposes the promotion of validated indicators to allow horse welfare to be assessed objectively. 

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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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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Equine-Assisted Interventions (EAIs) for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): Behavioural and Physiological Indices of Stress in Domestic Horses (Equus caballus) during Riding Sessions

Laura Contalbrigo, Marta Borgi, Marta De Santis, Barbara Collacchi, Adele Tuozzi, Marica Toson, Veronica Redaelli, Rosangela Odore, Cristina Vercelli, Annalisa Stefani, Fabio Luzi, Emanuela Valle, Francesca Cirulli

Published in 2021

Scientific paper comparing behavioural and physiological signs of stress in horses participating in standardised equine assisted intervention (EAI) sessions with those of children with and without autism. The results show that EAI sessions are stressful for horses, regardless of the type of rider.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords: Human-animal relationships, Stress

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Recommendations for Ensuring Good Welfare of Horses Used for Industrial Blood, Serum, or Urine Production

Xavier Manteca Vilanova, Bonnie Beaver, Mette Uldahl, Patricia V. Turner

Published in 2021

Article summarising the current recommendations for the welfare of horses used by the pharmaceutical industry for the production of blood or urine derivatives.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Keywords:Welfare indicators, Human-animal relationships

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Understanding the Awareness, Knowledge, and Opinion of Dairy Cattle Welfare among Dairy Farmers in Keningau, Sabah

Mohammed Babatunde Sadiq, Sim Song-Lin, Siti Zubaidah Ramanoon, Sharifah Salmah Syed-Hussain, Wan Mastura Shaik Mossadeq, Mohd Shahrom Salisi, Rozaihan Mansor

Published in 2021

A scientific paper recording the knowledge and opinions of dairy farmers in Keinigau (Borneo Island), and demonstrating a substantial need for training. Veterinarians are identified as the people who can make a positive change to the level of knowledge of these farmers.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

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

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Welfare Assessment of 30 Dairy Goat Farms in the Midwestern United States

Melissa N. Hempstead, Taylor M. Lindquist, Jan K. Shearer, Leslie C. Shearer, Vanessa M. Cave, Paul J. Plummer

Published in 2021

Article testing protocols for assessing the welfare of European goats in the context of US MidWest farms

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Caprines

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

Long-term stress in dogs is related to the human-dog relationship and personality traits

Amanda Höglin, Enya Van Poucke, Rebecca Katajamaa, Per Jensen, Lina S. V. Roth

Published in 2021

Article showing that dog stress is mainly influenced by the relationship between the owner and the dog and, to a lesser extent, by the owner's personality

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories:Canine

Keywords: Societal issues, Human-animal relationships

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