Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Melitta Csepregi, Marta Gacsi
Summary: The study found that breed function, training experience, and owner-reported social motivation level are associated with successful dog-owner cooperation. Dogs with high training levels and high social motivation are more attentive and cooperative. Therefore, future research should consider the subjects' training background and social motivation.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Olivia Pickersgill, Daniel S. Mills, Kun Guo
Summary: Understanding the emotions of pet dogs and cats is challenging, but important for the well-being of the animals and safety for humans. In this survey, pet owners were asked about their perceptions of 22 different emotions in their pets. Owners believed dogs can feel more emotions than cats, and they use different behavioral cues to identify these emotions. The number of reported emotions increased with the owner's personal experience with dogs, but decreased with professional experience. Cat owners believed cats can feel fewer emotions than owners who only have cats. These findings provide a starting point for further research on animal emotions.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Francesca Bandoli, Jenny Mace, Andrew Knight
Summary: This study assessed the integrated impact of environmental conditions and human presence on the behaviour of zoo-housed Asian small-clawed otters. The otters displayed species-specific behaviours and generally had positive welfare states. However, they engaged less in locomotion, food-related and affiliative behaviours, and more in vigilance compared to previous captive studies. Visitor presence and background noise did not affect behaviour, but time of day and animal identity did. The results provide meaningful information for improving husbandry practices and highlight the importance of multivariate analysis to assess animal welfare.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Danila D'Angelo, Andrea Chirico, Luigi Sacchettino, Federica Manunta, Maurizio Martucci, Anna Cestaro, Luigi Avallone, Antonio Giordano, Francesca Ciani
Summary: The SARS-CoV2 pandemic had a significant impact on social contacts and interpersonal relationships worldwide. A national survey was conducted to assess the human-dog relationship during the first lockdown, revealing a stable interaction but an increase in perceived dog costs and anxious behavior in dogs.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Adele Tuozzi, Christine Arhant, Kristina Anderle, Jessica Backes, Catherine Cords, Viola Magierski, Jean-Loup Rault, Ines Windschnurer
Summary: The study found that the presence of a human and playing a prerecorded reading induced greater interest in shelter dogs and cats compared to just audio stimulation.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tadeusz Jezierski, Irene Camerlink, Rachel S. E. Peden, Jen-Yun Chou, Joanna Marchewka
Summary: The study found that dog owners who underwent lockdown or quarantine were more likely to report behavioral and health changes in their dogs, with most behavioral changes in dogs during the pandemic being positive. Dog owners generally perceived their dogs as a source of tension reduction during the pandemic.
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Robotics
Michele Scandola, Emily S. Cross, Nathan Caruana, Emmanuele Tidoni
Summary: The future of human-robot collaboration depends on people's understanding and prediction of robots' actions. The appearance of robots and contextual information may influence people's ability to anticipate robot behavior. Our research investigated how spatial cues and task instructions modulate people's ability to understand robot actions. The findings suggest that biasing attention towards objects that a robot can interact with can improve people's understanding of humanoid robot behavior.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ROBOTICS
(2023)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Sharmaine L. Miller, James A. Serpell, Kathryn R. Dalton, Kaitlin B. Waite, Daniel O. Morris, Laurel E. Redding, Nancy A. Dreschel, Meghan F. Davis
Summary: Investigations of therapy dog welfare have primarily focused on physiological and behavioral measures, but have not fully considered the continuum of welfare. This review proposes using objective measurements of the HPA axis and behavioral observations to evaluate positive welfare in therapy dogs. The role of oxytocin and questionnaire data are also discussed. However, to date, no studies have comprehensively measured these factors to assess therapy dog welfare.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tracey McLennan
Summary: Predatory behaviour in pet dogs is considered undesirable due to the risks it poses to livestock, protected wildlife, and other pets, as well as potential risks to humans. However, these traits are desirable for certain purposes such as hunting or managing vermin populations. This creates a dilemma for pet owners, as some dogs have a natural inclination towards predatory behavior.
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Kurt Kotrschal
Summary: A good relationship with humans is essential for the welfare of dogs, and it also benefits the mental and physical health of their human masters. The social partnership between humans and wolves in the Palaeolithic era led to the domestication of wolves into dogs. Humans and other animals share a common social brain and physiology, making it possible to empathize with dogs and meet their social needs. Anthropomorphizing dogs based on informed human empathy is not as negative as previously thought, and it can contribute to a good partnership for mutual wellbeing.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lauren E. Samet, Helen Vaterlaws-Whiteside, Naomi D. Harvey, Melissa M. Upjohn, Rachel A. Casey
Summary: This study reviewed the measurement of the human-dog bond through questionnaires and found a lack of questions related to the dog's investment in said bond. In order to rectify this, twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with dog guardians to investigate their views on how their dogs showed that they shared a bond. The themes that emerged provide a foundation for designing new questions that better represent a dog's investment in the bond.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Paula Perez Fraga, Linda Gerencser, Melinda Lovas, Dora Ujvary, Attila Andics
Summary: Dogs exhibit more human-oriented behaviors when facing an unsolvable problem compared to miniature pigs, possibly due to species predispositions in communicative behavior.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Danielle Stephens-Lewis, Amber Johnson, Nia Turley, Rebecca Naydorf-Hannis, Laura Scurlock-Evans, Kimberley Caroline Schenke
Summary: This research investigates how humans understand the term "reactivity" through an online survey and proposes a preliminary framework to conceptualize this complex concept.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL WELFARE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Brigita Zakareviciute, Dalia Juodzente, Birute Karveliene, Vita Riskeviciene
Summary: Recruiting canine blood donors remains a challenge due to low awareness and fear among dog owners. Strategies to improve recruitment should focus on dispelling myths, improving communication, and managing fear towards canine blood donation. Motivational strategies should be secondary to addressing these key issues.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Serenella D'Ingeo, Gabriele Ferlisi, Michele Minunno, Giovanni L. Palmisano, Gianluca Ventriglia, Marcello Siniscalchi, Angelo Quaranta
Summary: Interactions with dogs have a positive effect on human sociality and health, especially during stressful periods. However, there has been an increase in human dysfunctional interventions towards dogs in Southern Italy. This study investigates the psychological characteristics of humans involved in animal shelter work or stray dog protection and analyzes the impact of psychological training on their helping behavior. The findings suggest that intervention can improve physiological features of volunteers, potentially enhancing human management and dog welfare.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Janja Sirovnik, Bernhard Voelkl, Linda Jane Keeling, Hanno Wuerbel, Michael Jeffrey Toscano
Summary: The ideal free distribution theory predicts how organisms distribute themselves to maximize their payoff. Deviation from the ideal distribution may occur when resources are scarce or abundant, with different mechanisms responsible for the deviations in each case.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lena Skanberg, Cecilie Bramgaard Kjaersgaard Nielsen, Linda J. Keeling
Summary: The study found that different types of litter have an impact on chick behavior, and wide rope perches are more popular in the early stages.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Elke Hartmann, Therese Rehn, Janne Winther Christensen, Per Peetz Nielsen, Paul McGreevy
Summary: This study examined the responses of horses to novelty and handling, aiming to determine whether horse-human relationships reflect criteria of an attachment bond. The results showed that familiarity of the person or training method did not significantly impact the horses' behavioral responses in post-tests. However, horses exhibited decreased heart rates between pre- and post-tests, suggesting potential habituation or calming effects of the familiar trainer during challenging situations. Further research is needed to enhance our understanding of horse-human relationships.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Else Verbeek, Johan Dicksved, Linda Keeling
Summary: The study demonstrated that while the control group exhibited increased vigilance behavior in response to threat, the probiotics group did not show the same increase. Despite the increased vigilance in the control group, they paid less attention to the threat compared to the probiotics group. The supplementation of Lactobacillus may be a promising strategy to reduce anxiety, encourage a more appropriate response to challenges, and ultimately enhance welfare.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Franco Nicolas Nazar, Lena Skanberg, Kirste McCrea, Linda Jane Keeling
Summary: This small-scale experimental study found that giving chicks the possibility to express choices between different variants of the same resource could improve their ability to cope with challenges and make the most of new opportunities. Chicks with access to different types of litter and perches were found to be less fearful, less chronically stressed, and better prepared to cope with pathogenic challenges. Additionally, they exhibited improved learning ability. These findings suggest that providing chicks with access to variation in relevant resources could enhance their adaptive capacities and resistance to infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anne Hamlaoui, Linda Keeling, Oliver Burman, Else Verbeek
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the measurement of attentional scope as a measure of emotional state in animals and found that emotional states can alter attentional scope in animals. The results justify further investigation of this approach for use in animal welfare assessment, although additional studies are needed to refine predictions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Catherine Ollagnier, Claudia Kasper, Anna Wallenbeck, Linda Keeling, Giuseppe Bee, Siavash A. Bigdeli
Summary: Tail biting is a harmful behavior that affects the welfare and health of pigs. This study aimed to develop a machine learning algorithm using feeding behavior data to detect upcoming tail biting outbreaks in real-time. Seven machine learning algorithms were evaluated, and the K-nearest neighbor algorithm achieved a prediction accuracy of 96%, correctly predicting 78% of upcoming events when previous data was available. These findings suggest that machine learning models could be implemented in automatic feeder systems for real-time prediction of tail biting events.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lena Skanberg, Ruth C. Newberry, Inma Estevez, Linda J. Keeling
Summary: Standard rearing of laying hen chicks in non-changing environments with limited choices impairs their ability to learn new routines, use new equipment, and exploit new resources. However, rearing in a changing environment that offers a choice of resource variants improves spatial skills, exploration, and reduces fear response in novel environments. The combination of environmental change and choice does not have a greater impact on adaptability potential compared to providing one or the other alone.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lidija Arapovic, Yi Huang, Elin Manell, Else Verbeek, Linda Keeling, Li Sun, Rikard Landberg, Torbjoern Lundh, Jan Erik Lindberg, Johan Dicksved
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of early supplementation with oat beta-glucan on the gut microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acid concentrations, and gut physiological markers in suckling piglets. The results showed that piglet age had a greater influence on the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in plasma and the microbiota composition than the supplement. There were significant differences in microbiota composition between litters, and correlations between short-chain fatty acid concentrations and specific microbial taxa were observed. Overall, beta-glucan supplementation did not have a clear impact on the gut environment in suckling piglets, while an age-related pattern emerged.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Arianna Comin, Anita Jonasson, Ulrika Rockstroem, Arja Helena Kautto, Linda Keeling, Ann-Kristin Nyman, Ann Lindberg, Jenny Froessling
Summary: Before using meat inspection data, it is crucial to ensure consistency in registering post-mortem findings across different abattoirs. A study conducted in Sweden examined the variations in the most frequent findings in official meat inspections of pigs and beef cattle. The results showed that some findings, such as liver parasites and abscesses, had low variation between abattoirs, while others, like injuries and nonspecific findings, had higher variation. Calibration and training of meat inspection staff are necessary for accurate conclusions and fair deductions for producers.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Soren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortazar Schmidt, Mette S. Herskin, Miguel Angel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler, Inga Tiemann, Ingrid de Jong, Sabine Gabriele Gebhardt-Henrich, Linda Keeling, Anja Brinch Riber, Sean Ashe, Denis Candiani, Raquel Garcia Matas, Michaela Hempen, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Cristina Rojo Gimeno, Yves Van Der Stede, Marika Vitali, Elea Bailly-Caumette, Virginie Michel
Summary: This Scientific Opinion examines the welfare of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) in relation to meat production, specifically broilers. It covers the care of day-old chicks, broiler breeders, and broiler chickens. The opinion identifies 19 welfare consequences (WCs) such as bone lesions, stress, feeding disorders, movement restrictions, and sensory stimulation issues. It provides detailed descriptions of these WCs and their animal-based measures (ABMs). Furthermore, it offers recommendations for preventing or mitigating the hazards associated with different husbandry systems and proposes indicators for monitoring broiler welfare at slaughter.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Linda Marie Backeman Hannius, Linda Keeling, Patricia Ask-Gullstrand, Else Verbeek, Anna Wallenbeck
Summary: This study investigated the behavior of female piglets intended for breeding in terms of activity, preferred pen location, and social interactions. The results showed that piglets who had access to the neighboring pen spent more time there and spent less time lying down before weaning compared to those without access. After weaning, piglets without access to the neighboring pen increased their time in the piglet corner and spent less time lying down. The study confirmed the positive effects of early social mixing on piglets' behavioral responses to weaning, even when the sows are individually loose-housed.
ACTA AGRICULTURAE SCANDINAVICA SECTION A-ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Anders Glimskar, Jan Hultgren, Matthew Hiron, Rebecka Westin, Eddie A. M. Bokkers, Linda J. Keeling
Summary: This study evaluates the attitudes of Swedish farmers towards sustainable grazing and its impact on grassland preservation and sustainability. It suggests that environmental payment schemes should be targeted towards the most valuable grasslands, emphasizing the need for better classification of grasslands. The study also highlights the need for more accurate methods to monitor the preservation of semi-natural grasslands due to insufficient quality of official statistics.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Linda J. Keeling, Elizabeth A. Marier, Gabriela Olmos Antillon, Harry J. Blokhuis, Birgitta Staaf Larsson, Leopoldo Stuardo
Summary: This study analyzes data from key stakeholders and organizations in animal welfare to examine the impact of improving animal welfare on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and vice versa. It confirms the expected co-benefits of improving animal welfare and achieving the SDGs. The study also identifies regional and economic differences in these associations. The findings can guide organizations interested in improving animal welfare to identify potential allies for strategic partnerships and facilitate policy implementation.
FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jan Hultgren, Matthew Hiron, Anders Glimskar, Eddie A. M. Bokkers, Linda J. Keeling
Summary: This study evaluated the relationship between environmental quality and animal welfare on Swedish farms. The results showed that cattle farms that received agricultural environmental scheme (AES) payments for special value grasslands were more likely to comply with animal welfare standards. The presence of Natura 2000 habitats on cattle farms was also associated with higher compliance. However, these associations could not be observed in sheep farms.