Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science最新文献

To meet the needs of socially complex primates, modern zoo enclosures are designed to include structural, sensory, food-based, and tactile enrichment, as well as opportunities to express the behavioral preferences of zoo-housed individuals. The welfare of captive primates is commonly measured by the expression of species-typical behaviors; and more recently by analyzing space use. Here, we present data from a study on preferential space use for three adult orangutans housed at Auckland Zoo. One of the zoo's main goals, with the recent introduction of an overhead line pathway, was to encourage arboreal movement and to increase time spent off the ground. Findings from this study show significant departure from expected values for use of both location and height. Most notably, all individuals used the overhead pathway within values expected by chance, but there was significant variation in location use within the enclosure. Residuals indicate that each orangutan has personal preference for different areas and height ranges of their enclosure, which is supported by behavioral observations. Enclosure use is heavily influenced by individual preferences, physical capabilities, and husbandry practices.

Individually ventilated cages (IVCs) benefit rodent and researcher health but may limit animals' ability to communicate with cage-neighbours via ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). Despite USVs' importance in rodent social behaviour, no previous research has investigated IVCs' impact on between-cage USV transmission. We recorded USV transmission between cages housing Sprague-Dawley rats in three conditions: in an open cage rack setting with microphone in an empty cage; from an open cage with a microphone outside an enclosed IVC; and between adjacent IVCs (with microphone in empty IVC). We compared the number and amplitude of USVs detected during 10-minute sessions across conditions. To verify results weren't due to differences in USV generation between cage types, we simultaneously recorded with two microphones, one inside an IVC and one in an adjacent enclosed IVC. Results showed USVs generated in open cages were clearly detectable in adjacent open cages but attenuated outside IVCs and virtually undetectable in adjacent IVCs. Since this loss of inter-cage USVs may affect animal behaviour, we recommend adjustments to cage design and handling procedures to mitigate these effects.

The aims of this study were to first determine the extent of owners' fundamental knowledge of equine care, second, gain their opinions on the implementation of a mandatory certificate of knowledge and third, to investigate the association of certification on horse owner knowledge. An online survey comprising 23 questions (18 closed, 5 open) was distributed worldwide via snowball sampling, and completed by 1847 horse owners who were all ≥18 years old from 17 different countries. Almost all (96%, n = 1781) completed surveys were usable. Just over half (52%) of participants held a current equine knowledge certification, and 59% believed a mandatory certificate of knowledge should be necessary to buy, own, or sell a horse. Horse owners with an equine certificate of knowledge were more likely to be in favor of a mandatory certificate (Pearson's Chi-squared = 50.79, df = 1, p < 0.0001). The mean correctly answered knowledge questions was 68%, indicating that approximately 1/3 of horse owners lacked fundamental horse care knowledge. Further examination indicated that participating horse owners showed the least understanding in the behavioral interactions domain (ANOVA F(4, 24) = 4.98, p < 0.01), specifically in relation to pain recognition and learning theory terminology. Arguably, this deficit in knowledge and likely correct application increases the risk of owners using misinformed or inappropriate techniques to manage horse behavior and training, predisposing the horse to experiencing a sub-optimal quality of life. Overall no significant difference was found between the total correct scores of horse owners with or without a certificate (ANOVA F(1, 56) = 0.78, p > 0.05); however, a series of Chi-squared tests revealed that for the more complex questions, horse owners with a certificate scored better than those without (all p < 0.05). Further work is needed to develop an evidence-based assessment framework if mandatory certification of horse owners is to become an effective tool for improving horse welfare and quality of life.

Lameness in dairy cows is a clinical sign resulting from multiple diseases that affects animal welfare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consistency of lameness prevalence estimations between farm managers and locomotion scoring conducted by trained observers, in confined and grazing dairy systems. The study was conducted on 18 dairy farms in Argentina. The locomotion of the lactating cows was scored by trained observers using a four-point visual scale from 0 to 3. Farm managers were interviewed about the number of lame cows in the herd. The consistency of lameness prevalence detected by the farm manager and the observers was assessed by computing the Lin's concordance and correlation coefficient. The comparison of grazing systems versus confined systems on lameness prevalence was analyzed using a generalized mixed model, assuming a binomial distribution for the errors. On average, farm managers estimated a lower prevalence of lameness (p < 0.01) compared with the trained observers; 2.24% and 7.06%, respectively. Based on the estimations from trained observers, we could not detect differences (p = 0.19) in lameness prevalence between confined and grazing systems.

We analyzed dog care practices among 1,006 owners in urban and rural areas in Uganda to identify the root causes of roaming. The dog owners were mostly male, aged 20-39 years, and low-income earners. Each household in urban areas had an average of 2.36 dogs (SD 3.35), and 2.35 dogs (SD 2.18) in rural areas. We determined that 16.1% of urban dogs and 29.4% of rural dogs roamed during the day, with numbers rising to 26.0% and 65.2% at night (p < 0.001), due to dogs being released at night for security purposes. Key drivers of roaming included inadequate confinement, particularly the lack of a secure enclosure around homes, underfeeding and abandonment. These issues were linked to poverty, low education and poor attitudes. Our findings provide a foundation for developing tailored strategies to control free-roaming dogs (FRD) in Uganda. Short-term solutions include implementing fines for owners who allow their dogs to roam, subsidized dog sterilization, and public education programs. Long-term strategies should involve policies on dog ownership, registration, breeding, and research to develop evidence-based control measures for FRD.

In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to describe differences between India and the United States in public perceptions of free-roaming dogs and cats, concerns related to free-roaming animals, and preferred strategies for veterinary medical interventions and population management. Between August 2021 and February 2022, 498 individuals completed an online survey including 210 Indian respondents and 288 American respondents. Free-roaming dogs and cats were largely perceived as community animals among Indian respondents, with significantly more respondents indicating they should be allowed to roam freely compared with American respondents. Respondents from both countries were concerned about animal welfare, although Americans were significantly more likely to list animal welfare, public health and wildlife risks as significant concerns related to free-roaming cats and dogs. American respondents were also more likely to support adoption for sociable animals and euthanasia for unsociable animals, whereas Indian respondents were more likely to support spay/neuter, vaccinate and release strategies for both dogs and cats. Our findings speak to the importance of implementing tailored strategies for free-roaming cat and dog management based on local cultures and community perceptions of free-roaming animals.

In a 90 days trial,12 zoo-housed male african lions were divided into four groups: control (CON), zinc (ZT), omega 3 (OT), and zinc omega 3 mixture (ZOT) supplement. OT group received 3 g/kg linseed oil, ZT group received 60 mg/kg, and ZOT group received 3000 mg alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and 60 mg zinc/day/orally. In comparison to control (p < 0.05), the feed additive supplemented groups (ZT, OT, and ZOT) showed substantial improvements in the blood immunological indicators. ZOT showed the highest improvement in hematological parameters and globulin level (p < 0.05), while liver enzyme activity (AST and ALT) showed the lowest improvement (p < 0.05). Fecal cortisol metabolites level was significantly lower in tested groups compared to control with lowest values in case of OT and ZOT groups (p < 0.05). Fecal testosterone metabolite levels were higher dramatically in case of feed additives supplementation with highest level in case of ZOT group (p < 0.05). When compared to other groups, the OT and ZOT groups had significantly higher HDL and lower LDL levels (p < 0.05). in conclusion, we may infer that zinc and omega 3 combination have a synergistic effect in improving immunity, general health and reproductive hormone production in zoo-housed African lions.

Laparoscopy is the preferred technique for artificial insemination (AI) with frozen semen in sheep, given the ovine cervix's anatomical challenges. This study assessed if and when laparoscopic AI alters stress and inflammation markers. Ewes underwent estrus synchronization and were divided into Control (hormonal protocol only; n=4) and LP (laparoscopic AI 54-60 h post-protocol; n=5) groups. Blood samples were collected at D-1 (pre-fasting), 0 h (during AI), 30 min, 60 min, 24 h, and 48 h post-procedure to measure serum cortisol, total protein (TP), albumin, and paraoxonase 1 (PON1). LP ewes showed elevated cortisol (p=0.01) at 0 h and 48 h compared to Controls. Albumin decreased acutely in LP at 0 h, 30 min, and 60 min. PON1 activity and TP remained unchanged, though data variability suggests larger samples for future validation. In conclusion, laparoscopic AI modulates cortisol and albumin, highlighting the need for strategies to reduce procedure-induced stress and inflammation, which can impair reproductive performance.

The Compassion Questionnaire for Animals (CQA) was developed to measure compassion for animals as a multifaceted construct encompassing affective, cognitive, behavioral, and interrelatedness dimensions, each representing skills that can be cultivated through training and practice. Nonetheless, the original 28-item limited its usability in research. This study aimed to address this limitation by developing a shortened version of the questionnaire while preserving its strengths. The CQA underwent an iterative shortening process that was evaluated in a large-scale validation study was conducted to evaluate the shortened questionnaires. The final version comprised 18 items (CQA-18) with high content and valence balance among items. Psychometric analysis indicated that CQ-18 maintained properties similar to the original questionnaire in terms of internal consistency, convergent validity, and discriminant validity, while also presenting an invariant factor structure by gender. CQA-18 represents a significant reduction in length compared to the original version, while maintaining robust psychometric properties. The study findings underscore the theoretical and practical significance of the questionnaire in assessing and cultivating compassion for animals. However, certain limitations warrant consideration, and the implications for research and clinical practice are thoroughly discussed.