Publications

Factors affecting the effectiveness of captive-bolt stunning of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) at commercial slaughter in Sweden

Slaughterhouses for all animals, including reindeer, must achieve the goal of high animal welfare. They must carry out regular checks on stunning effectiveness and key parameters to ensure that animals do not display any signs of consciousness, and display the...

Year Published: 2026Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Kautto, A. H., Steen, M., Vågsholm, I. et al. 2026. Factors affecting the effectiveness of captive-bolt stunning of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) at commercial slaughter in Sweden. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 68(1), 12.

Human emotional odours influence horses’ behaviour and physiology

Olfaction is the most widespread sensory modality animals use to communicate, yet much remains to be discovered about its role. While most studies focused on intraspecific interactions and reproduction, new evidence suggests chemosignals may influence interspecific interactions and emotional communication....

Year Published: 2026Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Jardat, P., Destrez, A., Damon, F. et al. 2026. Human emotional odours influence horses’ behaviour and physiology. PLOS ONE 21(1), e0337948.

Participation in a short-term socialization and training program improved kennel-raised dog welfare

Kennel-raised dogs are exposed to more stressors and fewer positive experiences than dogs raised in homes. We created a Dog Socialization and Training class to enrich the environment of university teaching dogs. Undergraduate students (103 total) were assigned a dog...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal Training, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Ing, N. H., Richardson, R., Lamon, T. K. et al. 2026. Participation in a short-term socialization and training program improved kennel-raised dog welfare. Animals 16(3).

Triploid Atlantic salmon are physiologically disadvantaged at larger body sizes

Triploid Atlantic salmon are sterile and used in aquaculture to prevent escapees from breeding in the wild. Meanwhile, triploids suffer poor animal welfare in the latter marine growth phase. Previous experiments have mainly tested smaller fish, and physiological differences between...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Body Modification/MutilationAnimal Type: Fish, Salmon

Citation: Hvas, M., Morin, A., Hansen, T. J. 2025. Triploid Atlantic salmon are physiologically disadvantaged at larger body sizes. Scientific Reports 16(1), 770.

Nutritional insights into octopus diets in aquaria

Common octopus Octopus vulgaris are a popular exhibit in aquaria; however, there is limited research on the nutritional requirements of this species. The current information available is from the aquaculture industry and thus focused on young individuals and maximising growth...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Hunt, K., Freeman, M., Chamberlain, C. et al. 2026. Nutritional insights into octopus diets in aquaria. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 14(1), 25–30.

The use of technology as environmental enrichment in zoos: A scoping review

Technological enrichment, such as motion sensors, touchscreens, and response-independent feeders, offer innovative ways to enhance animal welfare in captivity by promoting species-appropriate behaviours and cognitive stimulation. A scoping review of 22 publications comprising 25 studies identified various technologies, with computers...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Hryhorenko, L., McWhorter, T., Whittaker, A. et al. 2025. The use of technology as environmental enrichment in zoos: A scoping review. Animal Welfare 34, e73.

Biologging assessment of behavioural and physiological responses of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) during stress challenges

Stress significantly impacts fish welfare, and for a comprehensive evaluation, welfare assessment requires an integrative approach. The objective of this study is to gain insight into the physiological and behavioural responses of European sea bass subjected to swimming and crowding...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Hoyo-Alvarez, E., Tomàs-Ferrer, J., Lankheet, M. J. et al. 2025. Biologging assessment of behavioural and physiological responses of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) during stress challenges. Scientific Reports 15(1), 42051.

Evidence of mood states in reptiles

There is increasing evidence that non-human animals experience ‘free-floating’ mood states, but such evidence is lacking in reptiles, hindering the debate as to their affective capacity and with subsequent implications for welfare. Here, we investigated the presence of a mood...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Hoehfurtner, T., Wilkinson, A., Moszuti, S. A. et al. 2025. Evidence of mood states in reptiles. Animal Cognition 28(1), 52.

Refinements in diabetic research – a technician led initiative

A genetically altered diabetic mouse model (Ins2akita) was introduced to the facility two years ago. From information available, it was expected that heterozygous animals would develop hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinemia, polydipsia and polyuria by 3 to 4 weeks old with males exhibiting...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hill, C., Lyons, C. 2025. Refinements in diabetic research – a technician led initiative. Animal Welfare and Technology 24(3), 254–256.

The constructional approach to zoo animal training: Enhancing welfare through emerging evidence-based behavioral science

Animal welfare has become a cornerstone of modern zoo and aquarium animal care practices. This paper introduces the constructional approach to animal training as an evidence-based framework that can enhance the welfare of zoo animals. Developed through decades of behavioral...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Heidenreich, B., Pedersen, A. 2025. The constructional approach to zoo animal training: Enhancing welfare through emerging evidence-based behavioral science. Animals 15(21), 3221.