Does Smart Farming Improve or Damage Animal Welfare? Technology and What Animals Want

Frontiers in Animal Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2

Published: Aug. 23, 2021

“Smart” or “precision” farming has revolutionized crop agriculture but its application to livestock raised ethical concerns because of possible adverse effects on animal welfare. With rising public concern for welfare across the world, some people see efficiency gains offered by new technology as a direct threat animals themselves, allowing producers get “more less” in interests profit. Others major advantages through life-long health monitoring, delivery individual care and optimization environmental conditions. The answer question whether smart improves damages is likely depend three main factors. Firstly, much will how defined extent which politicians, scientists, farmers members can agree what means so come common view judge it impacted technology. Defining combination good themselves want provides unifying animal-centered way forward. It also be directly adapted computer recognition A second critical factor high standards are made priority within systems. To achieve this, necessary both develop algorithms that recognize satisfaction build into control decision-making What matter most end, however, third factor, actually deliver promised improvements when applied real world. An evaluation only technologies more widely deployed commercial farms their full social, environmental, financial implications become apparent.

Language: Английский

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Heifers don't care: no evidence of negative impact on animal welfare of growing heifers when using virtual fences compared to physical fences for grazing

animal, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 16(9), P. 100614 - 100614

Published: Aug. 16, 2022

Virtual fencing (VF) represents a way to simplify traditional pasture management with its high labour and cost requirements for make better use of the 'beneficial' agronomic ecological effects livestock grazing. In this study, VF technology (® Nofence, AS, Batnfjordsøra Norway) was used Fleckvieh heifers investigate possible welfare impacts on animals compared conventionally fenced when they were trained respond correctly system. The Nofence® collars (attached neck heifers) send acoustic signals as warning approach line, which set up by GPS coordinates within Nofence®-App, followed an electric pulse do not stop or return. had no experience prior study. Two treatments (VF versus physical (PF)) applied six groups four each (three per treatment) over three 12-day time replicates. One line separated group into accessible non-accessible area. control PF line. Both equipped (deactivated group). trial took place two adjacent paddocks 1 000 m2 following schedule divided sections: visual support barrier (first 2 days), only virtual border without support, moving (on day 8). Each replicate next successively different new heifers, grazed 5 h daily. During whole experiment, behaviour continuously observed; a.m., p.m. Exclusion effective in our trial. None crossed boundary, i.e. spent exclusion zone zero. received 2.70 ± 2.63 0.30 0.36 pulses (mean SD) heifer hour during all Main cattle affected Live weight gain, herbage consumption faecal cortisol metabolites also revealed significant differences. duration until restarted grazing after from collar significantly shorter than fence. We can summarise that well-being negatively PF.

Language: Английский

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Zoo Animal Welfare Assessment: Where Do We Stand?

Animals, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(12), P. 1966 - 1966

Published: June 12, 2023

Zoological institutions, such as zoos and aquariums, have made animal welfare a top priority, it is not only moral obligation but also crucial for fulfilling their roles in education conservation. There need science-based tools to assess monitor these settings. However, assessing the of zoo animals challenging due diversity species lack knowledge on specific needs. This review aims discuss advantages disadvantages existing methodologies through: (1) A critical analysis main approaches assessment; (2) description most relevant animal-based indicators with particular focus behavioural physiological indicators; (3) An identification areas that require further research.

Language: Английский

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Different Types of Glucocorticoids to Evaluate Stress and Welfare in Animals and Humans: General Concepts and Examples of Combined Use

Metabolites, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1), P. 106 - 106

Published: Jan. 9, 2023

The main glucocorticoids involved in the stress response are cortisol and cortisone most mammals corticosterone birds rodents. Therefore, these analytes currently biomarkers more frequently used to evaluate physiological a stressful situation. In addition, “total glucocorticoids”, which refers quantification of various by immunoassays showing cross-reactivity with different types or related metabolites, can be measured. this review, we describe characteristics assess stress, as well techniques samples for their quantification. analyse studies where at least two were measured combination. Overall, review points out behaviours glucocorticoids, depending on animal species stimuli, shows potential advantages that measurement glucocorticoid have evaluating welfare.

Language: Английский

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Interactions between native and invasive species: A systematic review of the red squirrel-gray squirrel paradigm

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: March 31, 2023

The eastern gray squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis ) has been labeled as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species by IUCN. In Europe, introduced to Britain, Ireland and Italy, its subsequent spread resulted in wide-scale extinction native Eurasian red squirrels vulgaris from areas colonized squirrel. This replacement a an competitor is best documented cases devastating effects biological invasions on fauna. To understand how this occurs, we present systematic review literature competition interactions between squirrels. We describe patterns distribution those parts Europe where occur summarize evidence different processes mechanisms determining outcome including influence predators pathogens. Some drivers behind demise have intensively studied past 30 years, but recent field studies mathematical models revealed that underlying red-gray paradigm are more complex than previously thought affected landscape-level processes. Therefore, consider habitat type multi-species interactions, host-parasite predator-prey relationships, determine interaction two better address control efforts.

Language: Английский

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Effects of weaning age and housing conditions on phenotypic differences in mice

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: July 15, 2020

Abstract Poor reproducibility is considered a serious problem in laboratory animal research, with important scientific, economic, and ethical implications. One possible source of conflicting findings research are environmental differences between facilities combined rigorous standardization within studies. Due to phenotypic plasticity, study-specific conditions during development can induce the animals’ responsiveness experimental treatments, thereby contributing poor results. Here, we studied how variation weaning age (14–30 days) housing (single versus group housing) affects phenotype SWISS mice as measured by range behavioral physiological outcome variables. Weaning age, conditions, their interaction had little effect on stereotypies, well body weight, glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations, behavior elevated plus-maze open field test. These results surprising partly conflict previously published findings, especially respect effects early weaning. Our thus question external validity previous call for further identify sources replicate studies study designs that produce robust reproducible

Language: Английский

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Salivary cortisol as a marker of acute stress in dogs: a review

Domestic Animal Endocrinology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 72, P. 106428 - 106428

Published: Dec. 24, 2019

Language: Английский

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Vitamin D Metabolism and Profiling in Veterinary Species

Metabolites, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(9), P. 371 - 371

Published: Sept. 15, 2020

The demand for vitamin D analysis in veterinary species is increasing with the growing knowledge of extra-skeletal role plays health and disease. circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25(OH)D) metabolite used to assess status, benefits analysing other metabolites complex pathway are being discovered humans. Profiling by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) facilitates simultaneous multiple a single sample over wide dynamic ranges, this method now considered gold-standard quantifying metabolites. However, very few studies report using LC-MS/MS species. Given complexity similarities roles disease between humans companion animals, there clear need establish comprehensive, reliable that comparable human clinical practice. In review, we highlight differences metabolism measuring beyond 25(OH)D. Finally, discuss analytical challenges profiling focus on methods.

Language: Английский

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The stress of being alone: Removal from the colony, but not social subordination, increases fecal cortisol metabolite levels in eusocial naked mole-rats

Hormones and Behavior, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 121, P. 104720 - 104720

Published: Feb. 25, 2020

Language: Английский

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Individual Variation in Glucocorticoid Plasticity: Considerations and Future Directions

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 60(1), P. 79 - 88

Published: Feb. 20, 2020

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates the secretion of glucocorticoids, hormones with diverse roles ranging from regulating daily metabolic demand to coping sudden perturbations. As a result, glucocorticoids are thought help vertebrates track their changing environments and coordinate plasticity in phenotypes. While this endocrine system is highly plastic-where one individual can produce multiple phenotypes across varying environmental conditions-little understood about degree which individuals, populations, or species differ circulating glucocorticoid plasticity. Empirical research quantifying variation has increased recent years, though complex HPA-axis make it challenging generalize extent exists. I provide an overview current findings on plasticity, outline types researchers should consider future work advance our understanding causes consequences

Language: Английский

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