Pub Date : 2025-11-14DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106870
Rodrigo Mendes Aguiar , Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo , Nicolas Châline
In Brazil, a lower economically developed country (LEDC) with a high proportion of endemic parrot species and strong cultural traditions in parrot keeping, wing clipping remains a widespread practice among caregivers of companion psittacines to limit flight and facilitate handling. Although often justified as a preventive measure, its welfare implications and the motivations guiding its use remain underexplored. This study evaluated the prevalence of wing clipping, caregivers’ perceptions of its effects on welfare, and the sources of information influencing this decision. Importantly, the findings are specific to the Brazilian context and may not be generalized to other countries, where parrot keeping traditions, husbandry practices, and cultural attitudes toward parrots can differ substantially. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze associations between wing clipping and caregiver profiles. Most respondents reported having clipped their birds’ wings at some point, although current use was more evenly distributed. Caregivers who had been advised by veterinarians or breeders were significantly more likely to perform wing clipping compared to those who received information from friends or online sources. While a large proportion of participants acknowledged that flight restriction might compromise psittacine welfare by limiting the expression of natural behaviors, many still considered wing clipping necessary or harmless. Previous exposure to flight training was associated with a lower probability of wing clipping. Overall, the results indicate that caregiver decisions in Brazil are influenced by both traditional guidance and increasing awareness of welfare principles. The prominent role of veterinarians and breeders in shaping caregiver behavior highlights the need for updated, welfare-aligned guidance regarding psittacine management.
{"title":"Wing clipping does not make birds safer: Caregiver perceptions, practices, and associated risks in Brazil","authors":"Rodrigo Mendes Aguiar , Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo , Nicolas Châline","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106870","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106870","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Brazil, a lower economically developed country (LEDC) with a high proportion of endemic parrot species and strong cultural traditions in parrot keeping, wing clipping remains a widespread practice among caregivers of companion psittacines to limit flight and facilitate handling. Although often justified as a preventive measure, its welfare implications and the motivations guiding its use remain underexplored. This study evaluated the prevalence of wing clipping, caregivers’ perceptions of its effects on welfare, and the sources of information influencing this decision. Importantly, the findings are specific to the Brazilian context and may not be generalized to other countries, where parrot keeping traditions, husbandry practices, and cultural attitudes toward parrots can differ substantially. Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze associations between wing clipping and caregiver profiles. Most respondents reported having clipped their birds’ wings at some point, although current use was more evenly distributed. Caregivers who had been advised by veterinarians or breeders were significantly more likely to perform wing clipping compared to those who received information from friends or online sources. While a large proportion of participants acknowledged that flight restriction might compromise psittacine welfare by limiting the expression of natural behaviors, many still considered wing clipping necessary or harmless. Previous exposure to flight training was associated with a lower probability of wing clipping. Overall, the results indicate that caregiver decisions in Brazil are influenced by both traditional guidance and increasing awareness of welfare principles. The prominent role of veterinarians and breeders in shaping caregiver behavior highlights the need for updated, welfare-aligned guidance regarding psittacine management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"294 ","pages":"Article 106870"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145577885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106869
Jeffrey M. Goessling, Gabriel Weikert, Liza Conrad, Michael L. Hilton
Studies concerning the social behaviours of non-avian reptiles have generally lagged behind other taxa, yet many reptiles are among the most globally threatened animal groups, and their behaviours are key to conservation successes. Herein, we utilized a captive-reared cohort of headstart Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) to test if these animals first discern soil type by social familiarity and/or tortoise exposure and then we tested how social familiarity and sibling status affected social behaviours between individuals. We found that headstart Gopher Tortoises preferentially chose familiar soil over soil that had never been in contact with a Gopher Tortoise, but they also preferred soil that had been in contact with non-familiar individuals over familiar soil. Tortoises displayed the social behaviour of sniffing disproportionately to non-familiar individuals, regardless of sibling status, over familiar individuals. Other social behaviours of nipping, chasing, headbobbing, and colliding were performed independently of social familiarity or sibling status. Taken together, this set of experiments demonstrates that Gopher Tortoises have a high degree of social nuance that is built upon familiarity, and these results could have direct effects on how to optimize headstarting protocols for restoring wild populations.
{"title":"Old neighbours, long-lost siblings, and total strangers: Social environment impacts on headstart tortoise behaviours","authors":"Jeffrey M. Goessling, Gabriel Weikert, Liza Conrad, Michael L. Hilton","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106869","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106869","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studies concerning the social behaviours of non-avian reptiles have generally lagged behind other taxa, yet many reptiles are among the most globally threatened animal groups, and their behaviours are key to conservation successes. Herein, we utilized a captive-reared cohort of headstart Gopher Tortoises (<em>Gopherus polyphemus</em>) to test if these animals first discern soil type by social familiarity and/or tortoise exposure and then we tested how social familiarity and sibling status affected social behaviours between individuals. We found that headstart Gopher Tortoises preferentially chose familiar soil over soil that had never been in contact with a Gopher Tortoise, but they also preferred soil that had been in contact with non-familiar individuals over familiar soil. Tortoises displayed the social behaviour of sniffing disproportionately to non-familiar individuals, regardless of sibling status, over familiar individuals. Other social behaviours of nipping, chasing, headbobbing, and colliding were performed independently of social familiarity or sibling status. Taken together, this set of experiments demonstrates that Gopher Tortoises have a high degree of social nuance that is built upon familiarity, and these results could have direct effects on how to optimize headstarting protocols for restoring wild populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"294 ","pages":"Article 106869"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145577993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<div><div>This study evaluates the procedure for collecting saliva to measure salivary cortisol levels in dogs, focusing on the potential stress induced by saliva collection in unfamiliar experimental settings. While salivary cortisol measurement is widely regarded as a non-invasive method for assessing stress in dogs, limited data exist on whether the procedure itself may cause discomfort or stress. By addressing this gap, the study aims to explore welfare-related challenges in interdisciplinary research involving non-human subjects and to contribute preliminary insights toward the development of animal-friendly, standardized methodologies. In addition, it sheds light on the organization of an interspecies study involving both human and non-human actors. The study included 19 companion dogs of various breeds, sizes, and temperaments to ensure diverse representation. Saliva samples were collected from dogs during sociological and psychological interviews, with salivary cortisol levels analyzed at the beginning and end of the session. A standardized saliva collection procedure was employed using SalivaBio Children’s Swabs (Salimetrics, State College, PA, USA). The swabs were placed under the dog’s tongue or inside the cheek pouch for approximately two minutes. The procedure was conducted in a controlled environment (a therapy room at the Institute of Psychology) to minimize external stressors. Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Behavioral observations were conducted via video recordings and analyzed by a zoopsychologist using Capra’s Ethogram (2012) as a reference framework. A total of 38 video recordings were analyzed to assess stress-related behaviors. The findings revealed that, while most dogs displayed mild to moderate stress during saliva collection, no extreme stress reactions were observed. Caregiver presence seemed to play a role in reducing visible signs of stress, with emotional support potentially mitigating dogs’ behavioral discomfort. However, these findings are based on qualitative observations and warrant further empirical investigation. Key challenges included variability in saliva production and occasional gum bleeding, which may exclude some samples from the analysis. These factors should be considered when designing future studies. Despite these challenges, salivary cortisol measurement proved to be a reliable and minimally invasive tool for assessing stress, especially when combined with behavioral observations to contextualize physiological data. This study underscores the necessity of standardized protocols that prioritize animal welfare, offering valuable insights to refine research methodologies and deepen our understanding of canine stress responses. Overall, the study proposes a protocol for saliva collection adapted for social science research involving dogs, with an innovative, structured preparatory stage designed to enhance animal comfort and minimize st
本研究评估了收集唾液以测量狗唾液皮质醇水平的程序，重点关注在不熟悉的实验环境中收集唾液引起的潜在压力。虽然唾液皮质醇测量被广泛认为是一种评估狗压力的非侵入性方法，但关于该过程本身是否会引起不适或压力的数据有限。通过解决这一差距，本研究旨在探索涉及非人类受试者的跨学科研究中与福利相关的挑战，并为动物友好的标准化方法的发展提供初步见解。此外，它还揭示了涉及人类和非人类参与者的物种间研究的组织。这项研究包括了19只不同品种、大小和气质的伴侣狗，以确保多样化的代表性。在社会学和心理学访谈中收集了狗的唾液样本，并在访谈开始和结束时分析了唾液皮质醇水平。采用标准化唾液收集程序，使用SalivaBio儿童拭子（Salimetrics, State College， PA， USA）。将棉签放在狗的舌头下或脸颊袋内约两分钟。这个过程是在一个受控的环境中进行的（心理研究所的治疗室），以尽量减少外部压力。采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）测定唾液皮质醇浓度。行为观察通过录像进行，并由动物心理学家使用Capra 's Ethogram（2012）作为参考框架进行分析。总共分析了38段录像，以评估与压力相关的行为。研究结果显示，虽然大多数狗在唾液收集过程中表现出轻度到中度的压力，但没有观察到极端的压力反应。看护者的存在似乎在减少可见的压力迹象方面发挥了作用，情感上的支持可能会减轻狗狗的行为不适。然而，这些发现是基于定性观察，需要进一步的实证调查。关键的挑战包括唾液产生的变异性和偶尔的牙龈出血，这可能会使一些样本被排除在分析之外。在设计未来的研究时应考虑这些因素。尽管存在这些挑战，唾液皮质醇测量被证明是一种可靠的、微创的压力评估工具，特别是当与行为观察相结合时，生理数据。这项研究强调了优先考虑动物福利的标准化协议的必要性，为改进研究方法和加深我们对犬类应激反应的理解提供了有价值的见解。总的来说，该研究提出了一个适用于涉及狗的社会科学研究的唾液收集方案，该方案采用了一个创新的、结构化的准备阶段，旨在提高动物的舒适度，并最大限度地减少与不熟悉的研究环境相关的压力。
{"title":"Assessing stress in dogs during saliva sampling in socio-psychological research: Preliminary development of animal-friendly practical procedures","authors":"Natalia Treder-Rochna , Elżbieta Chruściel , Magdalena Anita Gajewska , Alicja Dziadosz-Brzezińska , Lucyna Januszewska , Magdalena Żadkowska","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106868","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluates the procedure for collecting saliva to measure salivary cortisol levels in dogs, focusing on the potential stress induced by saliva collection in unfamiliar experimental settings. While salivary cortisol measurement is widely regarded as a non-invasive method for assessing stress in dogs, limited data exist on whether the procedure itself may cause discomfort or stress. By addressing this gap, the study aims to explore welfare-related challenges in interdisciplinary research involving non-human subjects and to contribute preliminary insights toward the development of animal-friendly, standardized methodologies. In addition, it sheds light on the organization of an interspecies study involving both human and non-human actors. The study included 19 companion dogs of various breeds, sizes, and temperaments to ensure diverse representation. Saliva samples were collected from dogs during sociological and psychological interviews, with salivary cortisol levels analyzed at the beginning and end of the session. A standardized saliva collection procedure was employed using SalivaBio Children’s Swabs (Salimetrics, State College, PA, USA). The swabs were placed under the dog’s tongue or inside the cheek pouch for approximately two minutes. The procedure was conducted in a controlled environment (a therapy room at the Institute of Psychology) to minimize external stressors. Salivary cortisol concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Behavioral observations were conducted via video recordings and analyzed by a zoopsychologist using Capra’s Ethogram (2012) as a reference framework. A total of 38 video recordings were analyzed to assess stress-related behaviors. The findings revealed that, while most dogs displayed mild to moderate stress during saliva collection, no extreme stress reactions were observed. Caregiver presence seemed to play a role in reducing visible signs of stress, with emotional support potentially mitigating dogs’ behavioral discomfort. However, these findings are based on qualitative observations and warrant further empirical investigation. Key challenges included variability in saliva production and occasional gum bleeding, which may exclude some samples from the analysis. These factors should be considered when designing future studies. Despite these challenges, salivary cortisol measurement proved to be a reliable and minimally invasive tool for assessing stress, especially when combined with behavioral observations to contextualize physiological data. This study underscores the necessity of standardized protocols that prioritize animal welfare, offering valuable insights to refine research methodologies and deepen our understanding of canine stress responses. Overall, the study proposes a protocol for saliva collection adapted for social science research involving dogs, with an innovative, structured preparatory stage designed to enhance animal comfort and minimize st","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"294 ","pages":"Article 106868"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145577886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106864
Cecilie Ravn Skovlund , Niels Munch Corneliussen , Laura Benoni Kofod , Isabella Thybo Mejlstrup , Peter Sandøe , Björn Forkman
Rabbits are among the most popular companion animals. Despite being a social species, most companion rabbits are solitary housed due to challenges with pairing and cohabitation, which may compromise their welfare. This study therefore aimed to investigate the effects of social housing (solitary vs. social) and dyadic relationships (using a Friendship Index derived from rates of allogrooming and contact) on rabbit welfare. Moreover, dyad-related factors (sex combination, age difference, life stage combination, early socialisation, and neuter status) and resource-related factors (group size, spatial availability, enrichment, raised platforms, and visual barriers) previously linked to social dynamics in farmed and laboratory rabbits, were examined for their impact on dyadic relationships. This was assessed through behavioural observations based on home-pen videos collected by owners (in the morning, 5–10 a.m., and evening, 5–10 p.m.), using behavioural welfare indicators for rabbits. Linear and generalized linear mixed effects models were used to assess welfare outcomes and relationship indices, with ‘owner’ as a random effect. Video material of 122 rabbits from 74 owners were analysed, with approximately five hours per rabbit. Socially housed rabbits spent 21 % of scans in contact and 75 % in proximity to conspecifics. Agonistic interactions were rare. Solitary rabbits expressed significantly less behavioural diversity (P = 0.02) and more awake inactivity (P = 0.04) than socially housed rabbits, indicating improved welfare for the latter group. However, solitary rabbits spent significantly more time on environmental interaction (P = 0.03), plausibly due to their inability to socialise. A higher age difference was found to be significantly associated with a reduced Friendship Index (P = 0.002). Minimising the age difference may therefore be considered for future recommendations regarding pairing of companion rabbits. No significant effects of dyadic relationships on welfare were found; however the sample was biased towards positive relationships. The large housing space available to the rabbits may have contributed to the low level of agonistic behaviour and positive dyadic relationships. In summary, statistical inferences were hindered by data homogeneity and zero-inflation, likely due to convenience sampling, along with a lack of evidence-based welfare indicators for rabbits. Future studies should investigate optimal observation times and durations, as well as assess validity, reliability, and feasibility of existing behavioural welfare indicators for rabbits. Despite methodological limitations, this study provides insights into the social environment and welfare of companion rabbits, emphasizing the benefits of social housing and the potential advantages of minimizing age differences in rabbit dyads.
{"title":"Companionship counts: Investigating social housing conditions and welfare in privately owned rabbits","authors":"Cecilie Ravn Skovlund , Niels Munch Corneliussen , Laura Benoni Kofod , Isabella Thybo Mejlstrup , Peter Sandøe , Björn Forkman","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rabbits are among the most popular companion animals. Despite being a social species, most companion rabbits are solitary housed due to challenges with pairing and cohabitation, which may compromise their welfare. This study therefore aimed to investigate the effects of social housing (solitary vs. social) and dyadic relationships (using a Friendship Index derived from rates of allogrooming and contact) on rabbit welfare. Moreover, dyad-related factors (sex combination, age difference, life stage combination, early socialisation, and neuter status) and resource-related factors (group size, spatial availability, enrichment, raised platforms, and visual barriers) previously linked to social dynamics in farmed and laboratory rabbits, were examined for their impact on dyadic relationships. This was assessed through behavioural observations based on home-pen videos collected by owners (in the morning, 5–10 a.m., and evening, 5–10 p.m.), using behavioural welfare indicators for rabbits. Linear and generalized linear mixed effects models were used to assess welfare outcomes and relationship indices, with ‘owner’ as a random effect. Video material of 122 rabbits from 74 owners were analysed, with approximately five hours per rabbit. Socially housed rabbits spent 21 % of scans in contact and 75 % in proximity to conspecifics. Agonistic interactions were rare. Solitary rabbits expressed significantly less behavioural diversity (P = 0.02) and more awake inactivity (P = 0.04) than socially housed rabbits, indicating improved welfare for the latter group. However, solitary rabbits spent significantly more time on environmental interaction (P = 0.03), plausibly due to their inability to socialise. A higher age difference was found to be significantly associated with a reduced Friendship Index (P = 0.002). Minimising the age difference may therefore be considered for future recommendations regarding pairing of companion rabbits. No significant effects of dyadic relationships on welfare were found; however the sample was biased towards positive relationships. The large housing space available to the rabbits may have contributed to the low level of agonistic behaviour and positive dyadic relationships. In summary, statistical inferences were hindered by data homogeneity and zero-inflation, likely due to convenience sampling, along with a lack of evidence-based welfare indicators for rabbits. Future studies should investigate optimal observation times and durations, as well as assess validity, reliability, and feasibility of existing behavioural welfare indicators for rabbits. Despite methodological limitations, this study provides insights into the social environment and welfare of companion rabbits, emphasizing the benefits of social housing and the potential advantages of minimizing age differences in rabbit dyads.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"294 ","pages":"Article 106864"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145577961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106865
Ribas. J.C.R. , Grajales-Cedeño J.K , Ribeiro. W , Pertile G , Paranhos da Costa M.J.R
Efforts have been made to reduce tail docking in pigs and increase tail length. However, insufficient knowledge is available on the effect of short docking under tropical conditions. This study aimed to assess whether it is possible to raise pigs with only the final part of the tail docked under Brazilian commercial conditions using simple environmental enrichment strategies. A total of 880 pigs of the synthetic Pietran line were randomly assigned to two treatments: NEE = control, no environmental enrichment (n = 439), and WEE = with environmental enrichment (n = 441). All piglets had the final third of their tails docked on the second day of life. Branched chains and sisal ropes were used for environmental enrichment analysis. Behavioral, health, and performance indicators were recorded during the nursery and rearing/finishing phases of the experiment. A contingency plan was implemented when a tail biting outbreak occurred. A higher percentage of pigs preferred to interact with sisal ropes than with branched chains in both phases (p < 0.05). NEE pigs showed a tendency (p = 0.08) towards a higher occurrence of tail-biting during the nursery phase, leading to severe injuries. No WEE pigs exhibited severe injuries from tail biting. The contingency plan was implemented only in the NEE pens during both the nursery and rearing/finishing phases (19.05 % and 52.0 %, respectively). The selection rate of animals suitable for reproduction, final body weight, and average daily weight gain did not differ among the treatments (P > 0.05). We conclude that enriching the pen during the nursery and rearing/finishing phases has beneficial effects on the welfare of pigs raised under Brazilian commercial conditions with the final third of the tail removed.
{"title":"Effects of environmental enrichment on the welfare of pigs raised under Brazilian commercial conditions with the final third of the tail docked","authors":"Ribas. J.C.R. , Grajales-Cedeño J.K , Ribeiro. W , Pertile G , Paranhos da Costa M.J.R","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Efforts have been made to reduce tail docking in pigs and increase tail length. However, insufficient knowledge is available on the effect of short docking under tropical conditions. This study aimed to assess whether it is possible to raise pigs with only the final part of the tail docked under Brazilian commercial conditions using simple environmental enrichment strategies. A total of 880 pigs of the synthetic Pietran line were randomly assigned to two treatments: NEE = control, no environmental enrichment (n = 439), and WEE = with environmental enrichment (n = 441). All piglets had the final third of their tails docked on the second day of life. Branched chains and sisal ropes were used for environmental enrichment analysis. Behavioral, health, and performance indicators were recorded during the nursery and rearing/finishing phases of the experiment. A contingency plan was implemented when a tail biting outbreak occurred. A higher percentage of pigs preferred to interact with sisal ropes than with branched chains in both phases (p < 0.05). NEE pigs showed a tendency (p = 0.08) towards a higher occurrence of tail-biting during the nursery phase, leading to severe injuries. No WEE pigs exhibited severe injuries from tail biting. The contingency plan was implemented only in the NEE pens during both the nursery and rearing/finishing phases (19.05 % and 52.0 %, respectively). The selection rate of animals suitable for reproduction, final body weight, and average daily weight gain did not differ among the treatments (P > 0.05). We conclude that enriching the pen during the nursery and rearing/finishing phases has beneficial effects on the welfare of pigs raised under Brazilian commercial conditions with the final third of the tail removed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"294 ","pages":"Article 106865"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145486399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106863
Oleksandra Topal , Inna Novalija , Dunja Mladenić , Elena Gobbo , Manja Zupan Šemrov
Understanding horse fearfulness is crucial for building strong human–animal relationships, influencing training methods, task selection, and predicting reactions to new stimuli. This interdisciplinary study aimed to identify key characteristics for predicting a horse’s fearfulness. Using classical machine learning, we analyzed anatomical, kinematic, and housing-related data from 49 horses, with fear scores obtained through a standardized behavioral test. To ensure an unbiased evaluation, the leave-one-out cross-validation method was applied. The study’s main contributions are: (1) an iterative feature selection approach that reduces the number of required measurements while maintaining prediction accuracy; (2) a unique dataset on Lipizzan horses, revealing that head and body anatomical characteristics are critical for assessing fearfulness; (3) identification of the Decision Tree algorithm as the most accurate machine learning method for modeling fearfulness; (4) integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate clear, interpretable textual explanations of the Decision Tree, improving the understanding of key predictive features. This study bridges behavioral science and artificial intelligence, offering a novel AI-driven approach to equine behavior analysis, with practical applications in horse training, selection, and welfare management.
{"title":"Predicting equine behavior from small datasets using machine learning with LLM-generated explanations","authors":"Oleksandra Topal , Inna Novalija , Dunja Mladenić , Elena Gobbo , Manja Zupan Šemrov","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding horse fearfulness is crucial for building strong human–animal relationships, influencing training methods, task selection, and predicting reactions to new stimuli. This interdisciplinary study aimed to identify key characteristics for predicting a horse’s fearfulness. Using classical machine learning, we analyzed anatomical, kinematic, and housing-related data from 49 horses, with fear scores obtained through a standardized behavioral test. To ensure an unbiased evaluation, the leave-one-out cross-validation method was applied. The study’s main contributions are: (1) an iterative feature selection approach that reduces the number of required measurements while maintaining prediction accuracy; (2) a unique dataset on Lipizzan horses, revealing that head and body anatomical characteristics are critical for assessing fearfulness; (3) identification of the Decision Tree algorithm as the most accurate machine learning method for modeling fearfulness; (4) integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate clear, interpretable textual explanations of the Decision Tree, improving the understanding of key predictive features. This study bridges behavioral science and artificial intelligence, offering a novel AI-driven approach to equine behavior analysis, with practical applications in horse training, selection, and welfare management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 106863"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145475477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106823
Péter Pongrácz, Irene Camerlink
{"title":"First step after submitting your paper: The preliminary checks done by the editors","authors":"Péter Pongrácz, Irene Camerlink","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106823","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106823","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 106823"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145424616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106793
Cecilie Kobek-Kjeldager , Line D. Jensen , Leslie Foldager , Marianne Kaiser , Karen Thodberg , Mette S. Herskin
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Deck height did not affect behavioural measures of ‘natural movements’ and ‘adequate ventilation’ during 8 h and 23 h transport of weaner pigs” [Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 290 (2025) 106714]","authors":"Cecilie Kobek-Kjeldager , Line D. Jensen , Leslie Foldager , Marianne Kaiser , Karen Thodberg , Mette S. Herskin","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106793","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106793","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 106793"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145412776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-31DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106862
Morgane J.R. Van Belle , Noema Gajdoš Kmecová , Christel P.H. Moons , Frank A.M. Tuyttens , Daniel S. Mills
As tension between housecats can have considerable impact on feline and caregiver welfare, gaining insight into the social behaviour within multicat households is valuable. A standard scientific approach to study behaviour in animals involves video-based behavioural observations using an ethogram. We aimed to develop an ethogram of the intraspecific social behaviour of adult cats in multicat households. The development of the ethogram included (a) selection of behavioural elements relevant for the study of feline social behaviour in multicat households and assessment of consensus across experts (face and content validity), and (b) testing intra- and inter-observer reliability when the ethogram is used for video-based behavioural coding. The Ethogram of Feline Social Interactions (EFSI) consists of four behavioural groups, twenty-three behaviours, and three modifier groups which collectively provide descriptions of feline behaviour during social interactions. Results of the item-based reliability analysis between two observers were around or above the 0.8 acceptance threshold for Krippendorff’s alpha. Videos are provided online to support other researchers or behavioural professionals in using EFSI. The ethogram is intended to facilitate accurate recording of intraspecific social behaviour by professionals as well as lay people. It is therefore not only useful for studies on sociality in companion cats, but potentially also for monitoring social tension in multicat households by veterinary behaviourists and caregivers.
{"title":"Development of the Ethogram of Feline Social Interactions (EFSI) to study intraspecific interactions between cats in multicat households","authors":"Morgane J.R. Van Belle , Noema Gajdoš Kmecová , Christel P.H. Moons , Frank A.M. Tuyttens , Daniel S. Mills","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106862","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106862","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As tension between housecats can have considerable impact on feline and caregiver welfare, gaining insight into the social behaviour within multicat households is valuable. A standard scientific approach to study behaviour in animals involves video-based behavioural observations using an ethogram. We aimed to develop an ethogram of the intraspecific social behaviour of adult cats in multicat households. The development of the ethogram included (a) selection of behavioural elements relevant for the study of feline social behaviour in multicat households and assessment of consensus across experts (face and content validity), and (b) testing intra- and inter-observer reliability when the ethogram is used for video-based behavioural coding. The Ethogram of Feline Social Interactions (EFSI) consists of four behavioural groups, twenty-three behaviours, and three modifier groups which collectively provide descriptions of feline behaviour during social interactions. Results of the item-based reliability analysis between two observers were around or above the 0.8 acceptance threshold for Krippendorff’s alpha. Videos are provided online to support other researchers or behavioural professionals in using EFSI. The ethogram is intended to facilitate accurate recording of intraspecific social behaviour by professionals as well as lay people. It is therefore not only useful for studies on sociality in companion cats, but potentially also for monitoring social tension in multicat households by veterinary behaviourists and caregivers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"293 ","pages":"Article 106862"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145475476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号