The Science of Animal Welfare

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 21, 2021

Abstract This book is intended as a guide for anyone who interested in animals and how their welfare can be assessed scientifically. It addresses the question of why, despite growing public interest are treated, it has proved so difficult to arrive at an agreed definition what ‘animal welfare’ then provides answer. A animal ‘health having they want’ easily understood by scientists non-scientists alike, expresses simple words underlies many existing definitions shows evidence we need collect improve practice. Above all, puts animal’s own point view heart assessment its welfare. The also helps us make sense long often confusing list measurements that now use, such ‘stress’ ‘feel-good hormones’, expressive sounds gestures, natural behaviour, cognitive bias stereotypies. Animal sentience (conscious feelings pleasure suffering) discussed context our current knowledge human consciousness. Finally, highlights some key ideas relationship between science ethics closely well-being humans linked together.

Language: Английский

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A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Assess the Welfare Impacts of a New Virtual Fencing Technology

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8

Published: Feb. 23, 2021

Virtual fencing involving the application of audio cues and electrical stimuli is being commercially developed for cattle. has potential to improve productivity through optimized pasture management utilization by grazing animals. The virtual initiates public concern welfare impacts on animals due aversive nature using an stimulus. It therefore important provide assurance livestock. In this paper, we overview assessment validation stages which could be applied other new technologies utilizing novel systems. An understanding stress measures their suitability use in specific contexts discussed, including glucocorticoids measure both acute chronic stress, behavioral responses patterns indicate states. importance individual differences relation learning cognition are also highlighted. Together, multi-disciplinary approach provides a tool kit that may some systems farm

Language: Английский

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Capturing wild animal welfare: a physiological perspective

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 99(1), P. 1 - 22

Published: Aug. 27, 2023

ABSTRACT Affective states, such as emotions, are presumably widespread across the animal kingdom because of adaptive advantages they supposed to confer. However, study affective states animals has thus far been largely restricted enhancing welfare managed by humans in non‐natural contexts. Given diversity wild and variable conditions can experience, extending studies on natural that most experience will allow us broaden deepen our general understanding welfare. Yet, this same makes examining highly challenging. There is therefore a need for unifying theoretical frameworks methodological approaches guide researchers keen engage promising research area. The aim article help advance important area highlighting central relationship between physiology rectify its apparent oversight, revealed current scientific literature animals. Moreover, emphasises including physiological markers assess (e.g. objectivity, comparability, condition range, temporality), well their concomitant limitations only access peripheral with complex relationships states). Best‐practice recommendations replication multifactorial approaches) also provided be used effectively appropriately when assessing habitat. This review seeks provide foundation new distinct vast applied potential: physiology.

Language: Английский

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The impact of cage dividers on mouse aggression, dominance and hormone levels

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(2), P. e0297358 - e0297358

Published: Feb. 7, 2024

Home cage aggression in group-housed male mice is a major welfare concern and may compromise animal research. Conventional cages prevent flight or retreat from sight, increasing the risk that agonistic encounters will result injury. Moreover, depending on social rank, vary their phenotype, these effects seem highly variable dependent context. Interventions reduce aggression, therefore, not only injuries stress, but also variability between mates. Here we housed (Balb/c SWISS, group sizes of three five) with without partial dividers for two months. Mice were inspected wounding weekly home recorded during housing after 6h isolation housing, to assess assign individual ranks. Fecal boli fur collected quantify steroid levels. We found no evidence provision improves mice; The prevalence levels was similar conditions reduced Balb/c strain. However, developed less despotic hierarchies had more stable relationship hormone rank type. Therefore, addition play role stabilizing ranks modulating activation hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes, thus reducing phenotypic different

Language: Английский

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Refining pain management in mice by comparing multimodal analgesia and NSAID monotherapy for neurosurgical procedures

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Aug. 12, 2024

Abstract While neurosurgical interventions are frequently used in laboratory mice, refinement efforts to optimize analgesic management based on multimodal approaches appear be rather limited. Therefore, we compared the efficacy and tolerability of combinations non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug carprofen, a sustained-release formulation opioid buprenorphine, local anesthetic bupivacaine with carprofen monotherapy. Female male C57BL/6J mice were subjected isoflurane anesthesia an intracranial electrode implant procedure. Given multidimensional nature postsurgical pain distress, various physiological, behavioral, biochemical parameters applied for their assessment. The analysis revealed alterations Neuro scores, home cage locomotion, body weight, nest building, mouse grimace scales, fecal corticosterone metabolites. A composite measure scheme allowed allocation individual severity classes. comparison between groups failed indicate superiority regimens over high-dose NSAID In conclusion, our findings confirmed informative value assessment distress following procedures mice. all well tolerated control data suggest that total load should carefully considered perioperative management. Future studies would interest assess potential synergies lower doses carprofen.

Language: Английский

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