Subject: Interspecies relationships

Quantification of play behaviour in calves using automated ultra-wideband location data and its association with age, weaning and health status

J. A. Vázquez-Diosdado, C. Doidge, E. V. Bushby, F. Occhiuto and J. Kaler

Published in 2024

Article describing a quantification method that can automatically detect play behavior in rearing calves using location data from ultra-wideband sensors. The occurrence and duration of play behavior decreases with age, disease and increasing temperature, while play behavior increases during and after weaning. Play behavior is potentially a positive welfare indicator.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Precision farming, Welfare indicators, Weaning

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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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The meaning of animal well-being for farmers and dairy farm employees

Axelsson L., Arvidsson-Segerkvist K., Pálsdóttir A. M., Ljung M.

Published in 2024

Report on a survey of Swedish dairy farmers and their employees to understand their perceptions of animal welfare from their respective perspectives and needs.

Document Types: Technical review

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords: One Welfare,Societal issues

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Dairy farmers' preferences for immediate versus late calf separation

Albert Boaitey

Published in 2024

Analysis of a survey carried out in the US to gain an understanding of dairy calf farmers' perceptions of the practice of allowing prolonged contact between mother and calf. The survey concludes that the foster cow system was the preferred alternative to conventional early separation, followed by restricted suckling systems. The lowest-ranked alternative system was free contact between calf and mother.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Lactation, Housing, Maternity, One Welfare, Human-animal relationships, Weaning, Livestock farming system

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Exploration of skin redness and immunoglobulin A as markers of the affective states of hens

Delphine Soulet, Anissa Jahoui, Rodrigo Guabiraba, Léa Lansade, Marie-Claire Blache, Benoît Piégu, Gaëlle Lefort, Vanaique Guillory, Pascale Quéré, Karine Germain, Frédéric Lévy, Scott A. Love, Aline Bertin, Cécile Arnould

Published in 2024

Scientific article reporting that hens display increased redness of the facial skin in situations eliciting positive or negative affective states, with high-intensity negative situations resulting in the highest degree of redness. Meanwhile, situations could produce minor changes in immunoglobulin A concentrations. The authors conclude that changes in facial skin redness do indeed reflect variations in the hens' affective states and can be used as a marker when assessing the quality of the human-hen relationship.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Poultry

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

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Producer perceptions of dairy calf management, behavior, and welfare

S.B. Doyle, C.L. Wickens, J.M.C. Van Os, E.K. Miller-Cushon

Published in 2024

Results of a survey to gain an understanding of dairy calf farmers' perceptions of the management, behavior and welfare of their animals. Farmers seemed to attach great importance to the welfare of their calves. Those who installed group housing were more interested in the subjective welfare of their calves. Individual perceptions of animal welfare would appear to depend on the respondents' practical experience.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Enrichment, Welfare indicators, Lactation, Housing, Living environment, One Welfare, Human-animal relationships, livestock farming system

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Catcalls: exotic cats discriminate the voices of familiar caregivers

Crews T, Vonk J, McGuire M.

Published in 2024

Scientific study on whether undomesticated Felidae species recognize familiar human voices by exposing them to audio playbacks of familiar and unfamiliar humans using the cats' names and measuring the latency, intensity and duration of the cats' responses. The results suggest that close human contact rather than domestication is associated with the ability to distinguish between human voices, and that less social species may have socio-cognitive abilities similar to those of more gregarious species.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Felines

Keywords:Animal-based measurements, Human-animal relationships, Socialization, Vocalisation

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Barriers and drivers of farmers to provide outdoor access in pig farming systems: a qualitative study

S. Brajon, C. Tallet, E. Merlot, V. Lollivier

Published in 2024

Results of a survey to identify the obstacles and motivations for French pig farmers to provide free-range access for pigs. Sustainability and the benefits for the health and welfare of animals and farmers are the central concerns of producers considering a change to this system.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Keywords:Livestock buildings, Education, Housing, Living environment, One Welfare, Human-animal relationships, Livestock farming system, Societal issues

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Work: what links us to pets

Vanina Deneux-Le Barh and Sébastien Mouret

Published in 2024

Article reflecting on the various forms of work we impose on animals. The authors nevertheless emphasize that while work can be a cause of suffering, it can also be a source of pleasure and emancipation, for the humans as well as the animals. Our working relationships with animals can also be based on respect, love and cooperation.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: All animals

Keywords: Animal mediation, Human-animal relationships,Working animals

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