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Utilising spatial distribution in two-tank systems to investigate the level of aversiveness to crowding in farmed rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss
Contributor(s):: Laursen, Danielle Caroline, Andersson, Madelene Åberg, Silva, Patricia Isabel Mota, Petersson, Erik, Höglund, Erik
In aquaculture, fish are exposed to a range of unfavourable environmental conditions. Amongst these, stocking density has attracted considerable attention as inappropriate densities may compromise welfare and negatively impact production. However, the recommendations for stocking remain elusive....
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Social interactions, cortisol and reproductive success of domestic goats (Capra hircus) subjected to different animal densities during pregnancy
Contributor(s):: Vas, Judit, Chojnacki, Rachel, Kjøren, Marte Flor, Lyngwa, Charlotte, Andersen, Inger Lise
Although goats in many countries are kept indoors in the winter season, during gestation and kidding, recommendations and regulations regarding available space per goat are highly variable. The effects of different housing conditions on the welfare and behaviour are understudied in this species....
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Does stocking density modify affective state in pigs as assessed by cognitive bias, behavioural and physiological parameters?
Contributor(s):: Scollo, Annalisa, Gottardo, Flaviana, Contiero, Barbara, Edwards, Sandra A.
Recent studies suggest that emotional state can affect cognitive abilities of humans and non-human animals, determining biases in information processing. Negative mental states, such as anxiety or depression, induce pessimistic judgments of ambiguous stimuli. These assumptions may be used to...
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Social network analysis of the behavioural interactions that influence the development of fin damage in Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) held at different stocking densities
Contributor(s):: Cañon Jones, Hernán Alberto, Noble, Chris, Damsgård, Børge, Pearce, Gareth P.
Social network analysis of behavioural interactions was used to quantify the effect of high (HD, 30kgm−3) and low (LD, 8kgm−3) stocking densities on the frequency and severity of fin damage in Atlantic salmon. Dorsal fin damage (erosion, splits, fin index) was significantly higher in HD compared...
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Simulations of the social organization of large schools of fish whose perception is obstructed
Contributor(s):: Kunz, Hanspeter, Hemelrijk, Charlotte K.
Individual-based models have shown that simple interactions among moving individuals (repulsion, attraction and alignment) result in travelling schools that resemble those of real fish. In most models individuals interact with all neighbours within sensory range which usually includes almost all...
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Feather performance, walking ability, and behavioral changes of geese in response to different stocking densities
Contributor(s):: Yin, Luyao, Yang, Haiming, Xu, Lei, Zhang, Jun, Xing, Hao, Wang, Zhiyue
In recent decades, goose production has become more specialized and widespread, and rearing geese in plastic wire-floor pens is common in China. This type of rearing pattern is more productive than other rearing patterns since it allows for more birds per square meter. However, it brings some...
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Effects of culture densities on feed demand, behavioural tests and on the hepatic and cerebral oxidative status in tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)
Contributor(s):: Sánchez-Muros, María J., Sánchez, Belén, Barroso, Fernando G., García-Mesa, Sergio, Rufino-Palomares, Eva E., Lupiáñez, José A., Sanz, Ana
The present study examines whether fish density affects behavioural tests, feed demand, and different parameters indicative of the oxidative status of the liver and brain of Orechromis sp. to identify welfare indicators for fish culturing. The fish were maintained at two commercial densities (5.6...
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Effect of housing density on growth, agonistic behaviour, and activity in hatchling saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)
Contributor(s):: Brien, Matthew L., Webb, Grahame J., McGuinness, Keith A., Christian, Keith A.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of density on growth rate, agonistic behaviour, activity and use of space by hatchling C. porosus in captivity. Hatchling C. porosus were raised in identical enclosures (1.5m2) at different densities (3.3, 6.7, 13.3 and 20.0hatchlings/m2; or...
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Effects of space allowance and simulated sea transport motion on behavioural and physiological responses of sheep
Contributor(s):: Navarro, Grisel, Col, Ramazan, Phillips, Clive J. C.
Transporting sheep by sea exposes them to some prolonged floor motions, and their responses may depend on their space allowance. We simulated sea motion in a crate with a moveable and programmable floor, to measure behaviour and physiological responses. Nine sheep were exposed in groups of 3 for...
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Tail posture as a detector of tail damage and an early detector of tail biting in finishing pigs
Contributor(s):: Larsen, Mona Lilian Vestbjerg, Andersen, Heidi Mai-Lis, Pedersen, Lene Juul
The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relation between the tail posture of finishing pigs and tail damage with the aims to use tail posture as (1) a detector of tail damage, (2) an early detector of tail biting to possibly predict and prevent bleeding tail damage. Tails of each...
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Exploration Feeding and Higher Space Allocation Improve Welfare of Growing-Finishing Pigs
Contributor(s):: Herman M Vermeer, Nienke CPMM Dirx-Kuijken, Marc BM Bracke
Lack of environmental enrichment and high stocking densities in growing-finishing pigs can lead to adverse social behaviors directed to pen mates, resulting in skin lesions, lameness, and tail biting. The objective of the study was to improve animal welfare and prevent biting behavior in an...
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Toward an understanding of beaver management as human and beaver densities increase
Contributor(s):: Siemer, William F., Jonker, Sandra A., Decker, Daniel J., Organ, John F.
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Stocking density affects welfare indicators of growing pigs of different group sizes after regrouping
Contributor(s):: Fu, Lingling, Li, Huizhi, Liang, Tingting, Zhou, Bo, Chu, Qingpo, Schinckel, Allan P., Yang, Xiaojing, Zhao, Ruqian, Li, Pinghua, Huang, Ruihua
In recent years, the concept of animal welfare began to be accepted by the Chinese people. On some intensive pig farms, the stocking density for growing pigs is too great, leading to decreased animal welfare. In order to study the relationships between stocking density and welfare indicators and...
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On-farm evaluation of the Salmon Welfare Index Model (SWIM 1.0): theoretical and practical considerations
Contributor(s):: Folkedal, O., Pettersen, J. M., Bracke, M., Stien, L. H., Nilsson, J., Martins, C., Breck, O., Midtlyng, P. J., Kristiansen, T.
The present study investigated the operational feasibility of the recently developed Salmon Welfare Index Model (SWIM 1.0) designed for Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L) in production cages. Ten salmon farms containing spring smolts were visited twice, first between May and June the first year in...
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The contribution of broiler chicken welfare certification at farm level to enhancing overall animal welfare: the case of Brazil
Contributor(s):: Souza, A. P. O., Molento, C. F. M.
The intensification of farm animal welfare debate has led to an increasing number of certification schemes covering this issue; however, there are concerns about the contribution of these schemes in improving welfare. The aims of this study were to identify certification schemes for broiler...
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Agonistic behaviour, skin lesions and activity pattern of entire male, female and castrated male finishing pigs
Contributor(s):: Bunger, B., Schrader, L., Schrade, H., Zacharias, B.
Fattening of intact boars is the least invasive alternative to the detrimental welfare effects of surgical castration of piglets. However, beside problems such as boar taint the divergent agonistic and sexual behaviour of boars may impair the pigs' welfare during fattening. To evaluate the effect...
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Effects of under- and overstocking freestalls on dairy cattle behaviour
Contributor(s):: Winckler, C., Tucker, C. B., Weary, D. M.
Freestall availability affects cattle behaviour and most studies in this area have focused on overstocking. We studied the effects of three levels of stall availability, including both over- and understocking on the time budgets and agonistic interactions in 36 dairy cattle in four stable groups....
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The ethics of a co-regulatory model for farm animal welfare research
Contributor(s):: Phillips, C. J. C., Petherick, J. C.
Standards for farm animal welfare are variously managed at a national level by government-led regulatory control, by consumer-led welfare economics and co-regulated control in a partnership between industry and government. In the latter case the control of research to support animal welfare...
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Stakeholder attitudes toward farm animal welfare
Contributor(s):: Heleski, C. R., Mertig, A. G., Zanella, A. J.
We developed a survey to measure attitudes toward farm animal welfare, then targeted two US groups considered highly influential in this area: veterinary college faculty members with large animal/food animal emphasis (VCF) and animal science faculty members (ANS). The survey was conducted via...
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Ranging characteristics of the domestic cat ( Felis catus) in an urban environment
Contributor(s):: Thomas, R. L., Baker, P. J., Fellowes, M. D. E.
In many countries, high densities of domestic cats ( Felis catus) are found in urban habitats where they have the potential to exert considerable predation pressure on their prey. However, little is known of the ranging behaviour of cats in the UK. Twenty cats in suburban Reading, UK, were fitted...
