Schedule-induced and operant mechanisms that influence response variability: A review and implications for future investigations
Response variability, a fundamental characteristic of behavior, may be in some cases an induced effect of reinforcement schedules. Research on schedule-induced response variability has shown that continuous reinforcement results in less variability than intermittent reinforcement schedules. Studies on the effects of intermittency of reinforcement, periodicity of reinforcement, and type of schedule have resulted in mixed […]
Should stress management be part of the clinical care provided to chronically ill dogs?
As a consequence of their physical and/or psychological effects, on-going diseases may have the potential to induce chronic stress in dogs. Chronic stress may contribute to disease progression and negatively affect welfare. By investigating whether on-going illnesses cause chronic stress in dogs and exploring the relationship between hair cortisol and potential disease-dependent and disease-independent stressors, […]
Effects of space allowance in the waiting area on agonistic interactions and heart rate of high and low ranking horned dairy cows
One possible alternative to avoid the disbudding of calves is to keep the cows horned. This, however, requires adapted housing conditions. An important aspect to reduce agonistic interactions that may lead to injuries is to provide appropriate space allowances in all parts of the stable. This study investigated the influence of three different space allowances […]
An assessment of animal welfare for the culling of peri-urban kangaroos
Context Shooting is used to reduce the abundance of kangaroo (Macropus sp.) populations in many peri-urban areas in Australia, but there is uncertainty surrounding the animal welfare outcomes of this practice. Aim We assessed the animal welfare outcomes of night shooting for peri-urban eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus). We quantified the duration of stress for: […]
Scientific evaluation of animal emotions: Brief history and recent New Zealand contributions
The idea of animals having emotions was once rejected as being anthropomorphic and unscientific. However, with society’s changing views and advances in scientific knowledge and technology, the idea of animal emotions is becoming more accepted. Emotions are subjective internal experiences that can’t be measured directly. Animal welfare scientists must infer emotions by measuring the behavioural, […]
The development of a non-invasive behavioral model of thermal heat stress in laboratory mice (Mus musculus)
Background: Many behavioral and physiological studies of laboratory mice employ invasive methods such as radio telemetry to measure key aspects of behavior and physiology. Radio telemetry requires surgical implants, which may impact mouse health and behavior, and thus reduce the reliability of the data collected. New method: We developed a method to measure key aspects […]
Assessing stress in dogs during a visit to the veterinary clinic: Correlations between dog behavior in standardized tests and assessments by veterinary staff and owners
A visit to a veterinary clinic can be very stressful for the dog, and stress may interact with pain. The aim of this study was to observe the behavior of dogs in a veterinary clinic and to correlate it with subjective stress assessments by different persons. Systems have already been developed to assess pain in […]
Acupuncture Needle Stimulation on Some Physiological Parameters After Road Transport and Physical Exercise in Horse
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture (AG) treatment on some hematochemical parameters in five Thoroughbred horses after road transport and exercise. Horses competed in two official races. For each race, animals were transported from their stables to the racetrack. Horses transported and competed in the first race represent the […]
Initial outcomes of a harmonized approach to collect welfare data in sport and leisure horses
A truthful snapshot of horse welfare conditions is a prerequisite for predicting the impact of any actions intended to improve the quality of life of horses. This can be achieved when welfare information, gathered by different assessors in diverse geographical areas, is valid, comparable and collected in a harmonized way. This paper aims to present […]
Rehabilitation program for urban free-ranging dogs in a shelter environment can improve behavior and welfare
The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of a rehabilitation program on improving behavior and welfare of a group of urban free-ranging dogs kept in a dog shelter. In this study, a rehabilitation protocol including training and adaptability to home environment was applied to 8 urban free-ranging dogs kept in a […]