Publications

The effects of environmental enrichment on the physiology, behaviour, productivity and meat quality of pigs raised in a hot climate

Some positive effects regarding the use of enrichment material on the stimulation of pig exploration and a reduction in redirected behaviour was reported. This study aims to evaluate the effects of four enrichment materials on the behaviour, physiology/health, performance and...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Fàbrega, E., Marcet-Rius, M., Vidal, R. et al. 2019. The effects of environmental enrichment on the physiology, behaviour, productivity and meat quality of pigs raised in a hot climate. Animals 9(5), 235.

Human-animal interactions in dairy buffalo farms

This study aimed to assess the relationship between stockperson behavior and buffalo behavior. The research was carried out in 27 buffalo farms. The behavior of stockpeople and animals during milking and the avoidance distance at the feeding place were recorded....

Year Published: 2019Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Napolitano, F., Serrapica, F., Braghieri, A. et al. 2019. Human-animal interactions in dairy buffalo farms. Animals 9(5), 246.

Providing effective environmental enrichment to pigs: How far have we come?

Science has defined the characteristics of effective environmental enrichment for pigs. We provide an overview of progress towards the provision of pig enrichment in the three largest global pork producing regions. In the USA, enrichment has not yet featured on...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: van de Weerd, H., Ison, S. 2019. Providing effective environmental enrichment to pigs: How far have we come? Animals 9(5), 254.

Cow lying behaviour and bedding quality changes during five weeks on a stand-off pad

Bedding quality and cow lying time were measured during five weeks in a normal farm practice (NFP) off-paddock system with no bedding refreshment. Two groups of 100 non-lactating dairy cows were compared to groups of 8 cows with fresh bedding...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: O'Connor, C., Dowling, S., Cave, V. et al. 2019. Cow lying behaviour and bedding quality changes during five weeks on a stand-off pad. Animals 9(5), 257.

Validation of a commercial automated body condition scoring system on a commercial dairy farm

Body condition scoring (BCS) is the management practice of assessing body reserves of individual animals by visual or tactile estimation of subcutaneous fat and muscle. Both high and low BCS can negatively impact milk production, disease, and reproduction. Visual or...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Mullins, I. L., Truman, C. M., Campler, M. et al. 2019. Validation of a commercial automated body condition scoring system on a commercial dairy farm. Animals 9(6), 287-287.

Investigations on the influence of floor design on dirtiness and foot pad lesions in growing rabbits

In Germany, an animal welfare ordinance for the housing of rabbits was issued which did not take into account the current investigations on floor design. The aim of the investigations was to study the effects of floor design on dirtiness...

Year Published: 2019Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Masthoff, T., Hoy, S. 2019. Investigations on the influence of floor design on dirtiness and foot pad lesions in growing rabbits. Animals 9(6), 354.

Effects of enrichment type, presentation and social status on enrichment use and behaviour of sows with electronic sow feeding

The goal of this study was to identify practical enrichments for sows in partially or fully slatted pen systems. Four treatments were applied: (1) Constant: constant provision of wood on chain; (2) Rotate: rotation of rope, straw and wood enrichments;...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Roy, C., Lippens, L., Kyeiwaa, V. et al. 2019. Effects of enrichment type, presentation and social status on enrichment use and behaviour of sows with electronic sow feeding. Animals 9(6), 369.

Coping styles in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) and implications for cat welfare

Identifying coping styles in cats may lead to improved health and welfare. The aims of this study were to (1) identify individual differences in response to acute confinement, and (2) to assess the predictability of guardian-rated personality traits on behavior....

Year Published: 2019Topics: PersonalityAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Stella, J., Croney, C. 2019. Coping styles in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) and implications for cat welfare. Animals 9(6), 370.

Effects of environmental enrichment on pig welfare—A review

Good husbandry conditions on farms is of key importance for assuring animal welfare. One of the most important legal documents regulating the rules of maintaining pigs is the Directive 2008/120/EC, which states that group-housed pigs should have access to litter...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Godyń, D., Nowicki, J., Herbut, P. 2019. Effects of environmental enrichment on pig welfare—A review. Animals 9(6), 383.

Characterization of the normal portal and hepatic blood flow of adult Holstein-Friesian cows

Knowledge of physiological portal and hepatic blood flow in cattle is essential for the use of Doppler ultrasound for diagnostic purposes. In this paper, we describe a protocol for the systematic ultrasonography evaluation of the portal and hepatic system in...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Barreiro-Vázquez, J. D., Miranda, M., Barreiro-Vilanova, M. I. et al. 2019. Characterization of the normal portal and hepatic blood flow of adult Holstein-Friesian cows. Animals 9(6), 386.