Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science最新文献

The welfare of horses depends on the ability of their caretakers to accurately recognize and interpret their affective states. This study evaluates the effectiveness of RAiSE (Recognizing Affective States in Equine), an online educational course designed to enhance horse industry participants' skills in identifying equine emotions. The course content was developed using the Theory of Planned Behavior. The study involved 45 participants who completed pre- and post-surveys assessing their ability to interpret affective states from 20 video clips of horses. Results of the study showed that participants significantly improved in their interpretation of valence (p < 0.05). Findings also indicated a significant improvement in recognizing negative valence states post-course completion, with overall correct assessments increasing from 61% to 69% (p < 0.05). Participants rated the lessons "Identifying Abnormal States" and "Horse-Human Interaction" as particularly impactful. However, the course showed less effectiveness in improving recognition of positive valence states. The RAiSE course demonstrates potential for improving equine welfare through education, contributing to a more informed and humane approach to horse care. Future research should focus on improving the ability to assess positive affective states.

This study aimed to assess the welfare levels of Angora goats in Ankara Province, Türkiye, using the Animal Needs Index (ANI) and Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) methods. The assessment was conducted on 28 farms, a total of 786 goats. By ANI score, the average was 46.8, with no significant difference based on farm size, as large (≥600), medium (300-599), and small (≤299) farms scored 45.6, 46.4, and 48.4 respectively. Using the AWIN Protocol, based on Body Condition Scores, 12.8% of goats were overweight and 11.1% underweight. Poor hair condition was observed in 14.1% of goats, while signs of thermal stress, abscesses, and fecal soiling were present in 1.5%, 1.1%, and 18.6% of goats, respectively; additionally, nasal discharge was detected in 21.2%, ocular discharge in 16.8%, overgrown claws in 18.2%, and udder asymmetry in 13.2% of the goats. The prevalence of dirty goats was observed in 43.6% and anemia (Famacha score 3-4-5) was found in 52.2% of goats. The study emphasizes the positive impact of smaller farm sizes on goat welfare, particularly in terms of locomotion and social interaction.

Aquaculture is expanding rapidly to meet growing protein demands, now providing over 50% of aquatic animal food. Salmon farming is especially important in Chile due to its favorable conditions and cost advantages. However, the industry faces challenges, including environmental sustainability and public perception. This study surveyed 396 people aged 18-65 in Chile's Bio Bio region about their knowledge and views on salmon farming and animal welfare. Results showed limited public understanding: 76% were unaware of information sources, and 52% were unsure of the industry's national role. Many viewed the industry as nontransparent, environmentally harmful, and poorly regulated, though its economic impact led to general acceptance. Knowledge of animal welfare was low-43% reported little or none-but support for better protections was high: 97% favored stronger welfare measures and 94% wanted more information. While 92% showed interest in welfare-certified salmon, only 21% were willing to pay up to 5% more. The study underscores the importance of public education and transparency to foster support for sustainable and welfare-conscious aquaculture.

The natural behaviour of wood-chewing (WC) in horses may, under certain conditions, become excessive or it may precede crib-biting . However, the potential causes of WC, including frustrated foraging motivation) or developmental exploratory or teething behavior are poorly understood. We studied WC in 31 mares and their foals, examining associations with browsing access, stocking density, foal sex and performance of other non-nutritive oral behaviors. Behaviors (counts/hour) were recorded by all-occurrences sampling during focal, continuous observations of grazing,resting and suckling for 20  ×  10 min periods, for three days when foals were 3-5 months of age and kept at pasture with their mares. 17/31 mares and 28/31 foals exhibited WC, with foals performing more WC than mares (Mdn (IQR): foals: 0.95 (0.42,2.26); mares: 0.01 (0,0.19)). Colts exhibited significantly more WC than fillies (F_1,13.07 = 4.855, p = 0.046), possibly because of sex-based differences in exploratory tendencies. The amount of browsing access had a differential effect on mares and foals (F_1,40.29 = 3.720, p = 0.033). However, the amount of browsing access was partially confounded with foal age. Overall, we suggest that WC is associated more with developmental exploration than frustrated foraging access. Experimental work is needed to confirm our findings.

The discourse surrounding stray dogs in Jordan suggests a significant threat to public safety. Intense media coverage precipitated a surge in cruelty that is likely to persist in the absence of compelling counterarguments and serious interventions. While the issue is undeniable, constructing an objective assessment is challenging due to limited data, impeding policy debate and casting doubts on proposed interventions. This study reports results from the first, and ongoing, survey of free-roaming dogs in Jordan designed to establish a baseline and monitor population changes in the city of Irbid. Data collected from November 2021 through November 2023 indicate a decreasing trend in the number of dogs, with an average approaching the bottom of the range observed in other countries. To gain better understanding, we analyzed media reports since 2010 and examined relevant data from the Jordan Ministry of Health. While media reports often cited personal safety as the primary concern, available data do not support the conclusion that stray dogs pose a growing threat. It is likely that the increased media interest and widespread misinformation have contributed to overstating the problem beyond its actual proportions.

In this study, we investigated whether Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a commonly farmed species worldwide, prefer artificial water hyacinth - easy-to-build and inexpensive - as a structural enrichment by investigating if different common farm stocking densities affect such response. We tested juveniles under three stocking densities (12, 16, or 20 fish per aquarium) in both the absence (control groups) and presence (artificial hyacinth treatments) of the structural enrichment for 6 weeks. We filmed fish every week, both when the hyacinth was spread and when it was concentrated in one aquarium section. We then analyzed their preference responses based on the number of fish recorded in each section. Nile tilapia juveniles preferred artificial hyacinth as a structural enrichment, a strong response that may override an initial preference for another area. Although all tested stocking densities showed a preference for the artificial hyacinth, the intensity of this response was stronger at the highest density. These findings indicate that artificial hyacinth is a highly preferred structural enrichment for Nile tilapia juveniles and should be implemented under farming conditions, particularly at higher stocking densities.

Long-term affective states such as mood may best reflect the welfare of an animal. They are likely to depend on how the animal assesses the outcomes of its own behavioral actions. These post-consummatory states are often of low arousal and, accordingly, difficult to observe. Here, we investigated whether the behavior of minipigs shown during the hour following an experimental session differed between a cognitive and physical task. We assumed that differences would allow us to see how the animals assessed the tasks after completing them. The minipigs increased resting, feeding, and drinking behavior after the physical task compared to the cognitive task, indicating the need to make up for energy spent. In addition, foraging was reduced after the cognitive task compared with a control day, whereas non-food-related exploration remained on a similar level. This change in behavior might be interpreted as "leisure." Overall, the approach used seems promising to assess how much an animal likes the outcome of its behavior. These situations in turn cumulatively make up longer-term mood states and are, correspondingly, relevant for the long-term welfare state of animals.

The study employed a tailored questionnaire to assess the knowledge and attitudes of dairy farmers. Over a period of one and a half years, from March 2022 to August 2023, dairy farmers were interviewed using conventional survey methods or via Google-based or hard copy questionnaires. A diverse sample of Indian farmers, totaling 126 farmers, encompassing marginal, small, medium, and large-scale farmers, participated in the survey. The study revealed a widespread lack of awareness among most farmers regarding animal welfare laws. However, there was a shared understanding among participants, irrespective of age or education level, regarding the significance of the "Five Freedoms" in safeguarding animal welfare. Farmers exhibited knowledge about prevalent issues like mastitis, suitable housing, drainage and the provision of light and ventilation. Nevertheless, biosecurity measures tended to be neglected, with the highest level of awareness observed among farmers with a graduation or higher education. As far as our understanding goes, this study marks the first of its kind in this region to compile such diverse information on various facets of animal welfare, management, behavior and related factors.

The management of stray animals and the selection of shelter sites are significant issues in urban areas. To address this, consideration of environmental, social, and economic factors is required. Since those factors can be analyzed holistically with GIS; this study employs GIS methodologies to ascertain the optimal locations for establishing animal shelters in the Karşıyaka district of İzmir. Criteria related to factors such as human health and animal welfare are determined based on environmental sustainability. Each criterion is converted into a suitability map using ArcGIS Pro. Fuzzy SWARA and Fuzzy GRA methods are used for criteria weighting and area ranking. As a result, the "Yamanlar" option was determined as the most suitable area. Thus, GIS-based integrated fuzzy-based methods have shown objective, reliable and less uncertain results in area selection. Findings provide guidance for local governments and policy makers in determining and prioritizing criteria to be considered in the shelter area selection. The methodological approach proposed can be applied to different regions and similar problems, and it can contribute to the development of efficient and humane policies to improve animal welfare.