Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science最新文献

Mortality in the receiving stage is considered a direct indicator of animal health and productivity, and it may also serve as an indirect indicator of animal welfare. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with animal mortality during the receiving stage of feedlot cattle production systems. A cohort study conducted between August-December 2022 and January-May 2023. The receiving stage was analyzed production systems at state of Queretaro, Mexico. An integrated checklist was applied to assess the transport, handling, and infrastructure of animal pens. A descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis to assess potential risk factors associated with mortality, using Stata version15 software. The receiving stage in feedlot cattle lasted an average of 24.9 days. Included a total of 2263 animals. Nineteen lots originated from the south of México. A mortality rate of 0.75% was observed. Multivariate analysis revealed that cattle lots in which animals slipped during handling had an IRR of 6.6 (CI: 1.08-40.22; p = 0.041), compared with lots where no slipping animals was observed. These findings suggest that optimizing unloading and animal handling process may reduce cattle mortality in feedlots. In addition, the implementation of welfare practices under veterinary supervision could further decrease mortality rates.

This study evaluated hair cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress in 34 domestic cats (Felis catus), comparing indoor and outdoor individuals. The aim was to investigate associations between hormonal levels, physical and social environmental characteristics, and behavioral indicators related to feline welfare. Hair samples were analyzed using the ELISA method, and guardians completed structured questionnaires. The overall mean cortisol concentration was 2.52 pg/mg, with no significant difference between indoor (2.40 pg/mg) and outdoor (2.62 pg/mg; p = 0.510) groups, suggesting that both housing styles may be compatible with low physiological stress levels. Indoor cats were associated with more intentionally enriched environments, including litter boxes, hiding places, vertical spaces, and predatory stimuli, highlighting the importance of resources provided by the owners indoors. Cats exhibiting behaviors such as isolation and excessive vocalization showed higher cortisol levels, while perceived stress reported by guardians did not correlate with hormonal data. The findings reinforce the relevance of environmental enrichment for feline welfare. Studies with larger samples are recommended to deepen these associations and support the dissemination of effective environmental management practices for domestic cats.

Animal shelters address animal welfare in communities through the intake and outcome of companion animals, but these efforts affect population dynamics of companion animals based on the distance animals are moved and the factors that underlie intake and outcome. Using data from an animal shelter in Washington, DC we analyzed cat intakes and outcomes based on geographic and socioeconomic factors. Most intakes were stray cats (59%) and cats relinquished by owners (38%) and most outcomes were adoptions (84%). The highest number of intakes were in high development, low-income neighborhoods, whereas the lowest number of intakes were in low development, high-income neighborhoods. The highest number of outcomes were to high-income neighborhoods and there was a trend toward more outcomes in neighborhoods further from the shelter. Cats returned to the shelter were more likely to originate from areas near the shelter whereas cats that were relinquished originated from areas further from the shelter. Stray intakes were less common, and returns to shelter were more common, in high-income, high development areas. Seized cats originated from low-income neighborhoods. Relative to adoptions, the proportion of returned to owner outcomes was higher in low-income neighborhoods that were closer to the shelter as well as high-income neighborhoods that were distant from the shelter. Our results highlight the factors underlying cat intakes and outcomes in shelters that ultimately determine where, when, and how animals are moved across one urban area; these factors must be considered when developing cat population management plans to reach animal welfare and societal goals.

Animal welfare is a priority for modern zoos, with environmental enrichment playing a key role in promoting natural behaviors. We studied a captive flock of Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) at the Chilean National Zoo, which was normally fed in a concrete pool. We evaluated the effects of introducing mud-based enrichment to stimulate natural foraging behavior. We also analyzed the flock's social dynamics, including dominance hierarchies and interaction networks, to assess their influence on resource access. Social network analysis revealed a highly cohesive group with strong clustering, high transitivity, and a semi-linear dominance structure, indicating stable and frequent agonistic interactions. However, neither dominance rank nor sex significantly influenced foraging behavior. The enrichment intervention led to a 12% increase in overall foraging time, a 23% reduction in pool foraging, and a shift toward using the mud puddles. These changes aligned with the species' natural foraging strategies. Our findings demonstrate that enrichment can promote species-natural behaviors and highlight its importance in improving the welfare of captive flamingos in zoological settings.

Research on equine-assisted therapy (EAT) has primarily been centered on human health. Relatively few studies have addressed the impact of EAT on horses. This study sought to monitor four experienced therapy horses' cardiovascular and glucocorticoid activity over the course of standardized EAT sessions designed to support women with intellectual disability. In the control condition, horses completed the EAT protocol solely with the therapist, thereby resembling a training session. Descriptive data analysis revealed higher levels of heart rate during an experimental EAT session and increased salivary cortisol when horses were navigated by the client through an obstacle course during the "challenge" phase of the protocol, pointing at a greater physical demand due to the recipient on horseback. Given the parasympathetic activity and overall heart rate variability across experimental EAT sessions and the cortisol recovery after the sessions, the findings do not give rise to any acute animal welfare concerns. For a more holistic interpretation of the present research results, further investigation into the horse perception of EAT, based on a bigger sample size and additional markers of welfare, is needed.

This study examines the relationship between the attitude of cattle farmers toward their animals and the occurrence of behavioral and health problems in cattle. Various factors, including animal behavior, husbandry conditions and the frequency of diseases, are taken into account. The results of an online survey of 1,242 German cattle farmers indicated that a range of factors, including the husbandry system, the number of cattle, grazing practices and the human-animal relationship, can influence the occurrence of abnormal behavior in cattle, such as tongue play, mutual sucking, horse-like sitting and standing up as well as diseases, especially musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, the study identified two distinct types of basic attitudes among livestock farmers toward cattle: emotional and utilitarian attitudes. A robust foundation between the attitude of the livestock owner and the husbandry conditions can therefore facilitate the welfare of cattle in terms of freedom from pain, disease and psychological suffering, as well as the expression of normal behavior. This, in turn, can reduce the occurrence of abnormal behavior.

Global positioning system (GPS) data loggers are commonly used to track the movements and distribution of both wild and domestic animals. However, the expense often poses a challenge for researchers. Recently, there has been a rise in the utilization of affordable and user-friendly GPS data loggers for tracking animal movements, albeit with compromised accuracy. We aimed to identify factors influencing the accuracy of a low-cost GPS data logger (I-gotU GT-600) and to enhance its location accuracy. Initial investigations revealed that recording intervals impacted the location error of the GPS data logger. To elucidate the relationship between recording intervals and location accuracy, we conducted stationary and motion tests. Our findings indicated that recording intervals of less than 15 sec substantially enhances the location accuracy of the low-cost GPS data logger. Our results highlight the relationship between the fix schedule and location accuracy for these GPS data loggers. Our study provides information that enhances the quality of data for researchers using low-cost GPS data loggers for short-term studies in various settings, such as zoos and livestock facilities.

Gaps in skills, knowledge, and experience can hinder pet owners' ability to provide proper care and good animal welfare. This study aimed to examine how past and current experiences, reasons for acquiring rabbits, and methods of knowledge acquisition impact the lifestyle and health of pet rabbits in households. Among 306 rabbit owners surveyed, 25% had previous experience with rabbits, and 54% had owned rabbits for over 3 years. While 61% sought veterinary care upon acquiring rabbits, only 47% scheduled regular check-ups, and 38% consulted a veterinarian when health changes were noticed. Sixty-nine percent of rabbits were primarily fed hay, and just 23% were provided companionship with other rabbits. Reasons for acquiring rabbits included gifts (17%) and seeking companionship (43%). Only 18% of respondents obtained information about rabbit care from veterinarians. These factors significantly influenced owners' assessments of rabbit lifestyle (p < 0.001), with current experience impacting health management (p < 0.01). The study shows that rabbit wellbeing is closely tied to owner education, especially regarding health monitoring and veterinary care.

This study assessed the effect of a thermo-insulated kid barrel (KB) on the behavioral, physiological, and morphometric growth performance of winter-born Black Bengal goat kids. Two groups were studied: one group was housed in a goat shed without a thermo-insulated kid barrel (control group), while the other group was housed in a shed with a thermo-insulated kid barrel (kid barrel group). Each group consisted of six kids along with their mothers. Due to the lack of independent replication, the results are presented descriptively. During the winter, microclimatic conditions inside the KB were consistently warmer than those in the goat shed. Kids in the kid barrel group spent 60% of their time inside the KB during the pre-weaning period. Morphometric traits of the kids were better in the kid barrel group compared to the control group during both pre- and post-weaning periods. Additionally, post-weaning feed intake was higher in the kid barrel group. In conclusion, providing a thermo-insulated kid barrel as an ancillary housing structure during winter improved the overall performance of goat kids..

Understanding what influences mood (optimism/pessimism) is crucial in determining whether environments are conducive to positive welfare. This study explores the impact of learning opportunities on mood in Cornish Cross chickens (also known as "broiler chickens"), of which over nine billion individuals are raised annually for meat in the United States. We predicted that access to learning opportunities promotes optimism in these chickens. We conducted yoked-control design experimental trials and two judgment bias tests (baseline and post-experimental) with eight adult sanctuary-living hens. There were significant post-experimental between-group differences in mood, with those who had access to learning opportunities experiencing greater optimism than those who did not. These results suggest that learning and the ability to control access to rewards may contribute positively to the welfare of Cornish Cross chickens.