Journal of Veterinary Behavior-clinical Applications and Research最新文献

The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between lamb and ewe behaviors in postnatal 3-hour and lamb survival using machine learning (ML) algorithms and to determine the best ML classifier to predict lamb survival. The research data consisted of postnatal 3-hour behavior records of 43 Kivircik ewes and their 65 lambs, along with preweaning survival information of lambs. The prediction of lamb survival was performed on three datasets containing different features using decision tree, support vector machine (SVM), multilayer perceptron, logistic regression, random forest (RF), K-nearest neighbors, and boosting (B) ML algorithms. The accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score values of the RF algorithm were 0.931, and the area under curve value was 0.966 for dataset 1, which included parity of dam, birth type and sex of lamb, and birth weight predictors, as well as postnatal lamb and ewe behaviors as features. In dataset 2, which includes principal component scores instead of lamb and ewe behaviors, the RF approach made classification with an accuracy of 0.909. In dataset 3, which includes the maternal behavior score as a feature, the RF and SVM algorithms showed similar performance (0.909 accuracy). These results indicate that, by using lamb and ewe behaviors in the postnatal 3-hour with ML methods, it is possible to classify lambs as either surviving or dying before weaning with high accuracy. In addition, it was determined that the ML algorithm that best adapted to the current study data was the RF classifier.

The objective was to evaluate the consumption and behavior of recently weaned foals receiving different sources of roughage. Twenty recently weaned foals of the Mangalarga Marchador breed, with an average of 6 months and 135.9kg, were distributed into four groups: corn silage (CS), conventional hay (HAY), pelleted hay (PELET), and haylage (HL). The diets were formulated to meet the requirements of the category and were isoproteic and isoenergetic. The experimental period lasted 110 days, with the first 35 days of adaptation. The dry matter intake was manually measured at the beginning, middle, and end of the twenty foals experiment, and the ingestion and ingestive behavior of ten foals were also evaluated in an automated way (Intergado®). Two behavioral assessments were also performed (START and END) through visual observations at 5-minute intervals for 24 hours. Ingestion and behavior results were analyzed in a randomized block design (RBD) with split plots, and the results recorded by the Intergado® electronic feeder were analyzed in RBD, and the means were compared by Tukey test at 5% of significance. The lowest forage dry matter (FDMI) and total (TDMI) intakes throughout the experiment were from the CS treatment and the highest was from the HAY Similar results were found for FDMI measured by the Intergado® feeder (FDMIi). At the START, the CS and PELET treatments provided the lowest times consuming roughage and the longest times standing idle and performing stereotypical behavior. At the END, the same treatments provided the shortest times in social interaction and the longest times performing stereotypic behavior. PELET continued to be the treatment with the shortest time-consuming roughage. Thus, CS should not be used as a roughage base in diets for recently weaned foals, as it results in lower FDMI and lower TDMI, resulting in longer idle times and higher frequency of stereotypic behavior. The pelleted hay should be used with caution, because in addition to causing less consumption time, longer idle time, and greater frequency of stereotypic behavior, it can cause colic.

Habituation indicates a decrement in response to a specific stimulus by repeated exposure to that stimulus. Responding to or ignoring sound stimuli, which are common background distractors, is important for the undisturbed functioning of the organism, efficient animal management and safe handling. We habituated 20 warmblood horses to a set of distracting sounds and assessed the possibility of reversing this process through simple modifications in sound playback. The study involved three stages: habituation (Stage 1) and two trials of dishabituation (Stage 2, 3). In Stage 1, five different sounds of animals, each on a separate day, were repeatedly (every 20 minutes (min)) played during a stay on an experimental paddock. The sounds were selected out of 40 sounds of different origin based on their distracting effect on the horses (e.g., interruption of previous activity, increase in emotional arousal) during the first exposure to them three months earlier. In Stage 2, four new and unknown sounds (futuristic characteristics) were additionally introduced to the set of habituated sounds, whereas in Stage 3, habituated sounds (from Stage 1) were played from an altered location. Behavioral (e.g., disruption of feeding, duration of feeding, locomotion and standing alert) and cardiac (heart rate and heart rate variability) variables were assessed. Generally, horses quickly habituated to the initially distracting sounds, but great variability was observed in the number of needed playbacks (1–7) for each horse. After completion of Stage 1, the horses responded with an increase in vigilance, locomotion, refeeding frequency and a 1-minute increase in mean heart rate to novel but not to known sounds. None of the modifications resulted in a recovery of previously habituated reactions. After introduction of playback modifications, only maximum heart rate (in Stage 2, Stage 3) and time of standing alert (in Stage 3) increased after re-exposure to sounds horses had been habituated to, suggesting some level of vigilance. However, this response was too weak to conclude about dishabituation. The results of the study confirm sound recognition and the fast and persistent audio habituation in horses.

Opioid abuse is an epidemic in the United States with the number of deaths associated with this addiction growing each year, and yet, identification of a successful treatment plan is a major limitation to addressing this epidemic. Traditional treatment programs do not always fit for all addicts; however, equine assisted psychotherapy and learning (EAPL) shows promise as an alternative treatment option for those individuals where traditional treatment options have failed. Nevertheless, due to the novelty of this treatment option, literature concerning EAPL is limited. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify articles that address the characteristics and methodologies found in EAPL programs as it relates to opioid abuse treatment. Through the use of this scoping review, literature covering four key topics were gathered: 1) addiction treatment curriculums, 2) EAPL programs, 3) physiological effect of addiction treatment for humans, and 4) physiological effect of EAPL participation on the human and horse. Research associated with physiological effect was the most lacking of the topics covered during this review of literature. Reviewed literature pointed to a variety of populations that participate in addiction treatment programs that range from inpatient to long term recovery. EAPL programs offer an assortment of activity options to combat the challenges presented by the range of populations treated. Vital signs were mentioned in the literature reviewed as the leading way to track physiological changes but were not discussed in relation to addiction-specific treatment. Physiological measures showed change in both horses and humans who participated in equine programming but did not dictate concrete cause and effect instances. The limited literature identified through this scoping review validates the need to further explore the intentional relationship between EAPL and opioid abuse treatment programming.

This study investigated the effect of auditory environmental enrichment on the behavior of pregnant and lactating sows housed in mixed (cage until 35 days after insemination and then collective pens) or collective housing (cage until 72 hours after insemination and then collective pens) during the gestation period, as well as the behavior of their litters. A sample of 56 sows of a commercial strain between second and sixth parity was submitted to the treatments from artificial insemination to piglet’s weaning (21 days). The sows were assigned in 2 × 2 factorial randomized block designs in the treatments: mixed housing-control (MH-C), collective housing-control (CH-C), mixed housing-music (MH-M), and collective housing-music (CH-M). The sows in the treatments with auditory enrichment were exposed daily throughout gestation and lactation to 6 hours of classical music (Bach symphonies) divided into 2-hour periods. Behavioral assessment was performed on 10 sows of each treatment once a week. At 21 days of age, their piglets were subjected to tests of novel arena, novel object, and voluntary human approach. In both phases, regardless of the housing system evaluated (CH or MH), females submitted to music had a lower incidence of agonistic and stereotyped behaviors and greater social interaction with other sows and their piglets in relation to the control group. Piglets from the CH-M treatment vocalized less and showed better results in the voluntary approach test. Music as an environmental enrichment reduced agonistic interactions between pregnant and lactating sows and the incidence of stereotypies. Piglets from sows housed in a collective system exposed to sound stimuli in the pre- and postnatal periods were more fearless at 21 days of age.

The dogs' quality of life is highly influenced by the characteristics of their physical and social environment and by the behavior and lifestyle of their owners. In this context, the social distancing demanded by the COVID-19 pandemic had the potential to affect the behavior and the welfare of pet dogs—due to the increased coexistence of dogs with human families during this period. This study investigated socio-demographic and behavioral factors possibly related to behavioral changes in pet dogs in Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online questionnaire was made available, containing questions about socio-demographic and behavioral aspects of the respondent and their dog, the routine of the residence, and possible changes in the routines of owner and dog, imposed by the pandemic. A total of 649 questionnaires were answered in full, the responses of which were analyzed through binary logistic regression, with a possible undesirable change in dog behavior as the response variable. The results indicated a 58.06% average prevalence of behavioral problems. The factors detected as influential in the prevalence of behavioral problems in dogs were, in addition to available space and intrinsic characteristics of the dogs (size and age), the owner’s perception of the negative effects of the pandemic on his/her health and emotional state, on their dog’s quality of life, and on the dog-owner relationship. Our findings draw attention to the importance of the quality of the relationship between dog and owner for the welfare of dogs and contribute to the understanding of dog behavioral problems.

The survival and reproductive success of well-distributed animal species hinge on rhythmic activity synchronized with day/night and sleep/wake cycles. The rhythmicity of body temperature and motor activity is frequently used in chronobiology to determine circadian system function. The current study explores the daily rhythm of locomotor activity and body temperature in captive domestic cats (Felis catus) maintained under controlled light/dark (12:12) cycle conditions. A mainly nocturnal activity was observed, particularly, the cats had an activity peak shortly before or after switching on, indicating a crepuscular pattern. A positive correlation (P < 0.05; r = 0.16) was found between the temperatures and locomotory activity data. The findings highlight the importance of understanding temporal regulation in maintaining internal balance and overall animal welfare. The study provides valuable insights into the circadian patterns of domestic cats, emphasizing the potential use of body temperature as an indicator of circadian system status.

Homeothermic mammals can assert equilibrium in heat production and heat exchange with the ambient environment to maintain their body temperature through modification of physiology and behavior. However, the newborn piglets do not possess a well-developed thermoregulatory center resulting in a welfare issue, that is, piglet mortality due to hypothermia. Therefore, the present study was aimed to evaluate the early life welfare crisis of thermal adaptability of neonatal piglets. For this purpose, 127 newborn piglets were selected immediately after their birth. Rectal temperature (RT), which represents the core temperature of the neonate piglets, was recorded for three consecutive days from the second day of the birth. The first-day recording was avoided to minimize the disturbance of the farrowing mother. The RT was recorded for three days (second, third, and fourth day) at 0600, 0800, 1000, 1200, 1400, and 1600 hours of the day. Concurrently, the ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded. The average RT increased significantly (P < 0.01) as the neonatal piglets became older. The cosinor analysis demonstrated significant (P < 0.01) rhythmicity in RT of daytime on all three days. Furthermore, the gradual reduction of acrophase value indicated the gradual gaining of thermal control of neonates. The daytime RT of neonates was positively (P < 0.01) correlated with the ambient temperature (r² = 0.301). The results indicated that the RT of neonatal piglets in the early days of life was modified as per the ambient temperature and their thermoregulatory system gradually developed as age increased.

The relationship between stress and gastric ulceration has been described in laboratory animals and human peptic ulcer disease. In horses, high levels of cortisol have been associated with ulcerations in the glandular mucosa but not in the squamous mucosa. However, currently, there are no data on gastric ulceration and cortisol concentrations in working mules. The objective of this study was to assess the association between serum cortisol levels and the presence of ulcers in both types of gastric mucosa. Blood samples of 97 clinically healthy mules of both sexes, with an average age of 8.7 ± 4.4 years, mean body weight (BW) of 290.5 ± 37.6 kg, and a body condition score (BCS) of 5 ± 0.8, were subjected to a gastroscopic study to evaluate and classify the lesions found in both gastric mucosa. In addition, blood samples were taken to measure the concentration of serum cortisol through commercial sandwich ELISA kit (AccuBind®, Monobind Inc., CA, USA). Mule gastric ulcerative syndrome (MGUS) was identified in 44.6%, 27.8% and 19.6% for mule squamous gastric disease (MSGD) and mule glandular gastric disease (MGGD), respectively. The mean cortisol concentration was 10.59 ± 4.06 μg/dL, with very similar concentrations between the ulcerated and non-ulcerated mule groups. The association analysis did not show statistical significance between the serum cortisol and the degree of ulceration in either type of gastric mucosa, differing from what has been reported in horses, possibly due to adaptive differences that these hybrids may have when compared to other equids.

A 1-year-old spayed female DSH cat was evaluated for profound fear of the travel carrier, veterinary handling, and new people in her home. The patient was diagnosed with specific phobia (carrier/veterinary handling) with situational fear (of new people) after a behavioral and medical assessment. Treatment with environmental changes, specific training/behavior modification for entering a novel crate, and the event medications gabapentin and lorazepam significantly improved the patient’s fear and phobia. These combined interventions allowed for veterinary care to be administered and for routine car travel.