Publications

The effect of supplementary ultraviolet wavelengths on broiler chicken welfare indicators

Qualities of the light environment are important for good welfare in a number of species. In chickens, UVA light is visible and may facilitate flock interactions. UVB wavelengths promote endogenous vitamin D synthesis, which could support the rapid skeletal development...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: James, C., Asher, L., Herborn, K. et al. 2018. The effect of supplementary ultraviolet wavelengths on broiler chicken welfare indicators. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 209, 55-64.

Growing without a mother during rearing affects the response to stressors in rams

Early maternal care contributes to the normal development of the physiological, social and emotional functions of the offspring. As sheep are a strongly gregarious species, separation and isolation of an individual from the flock provokes fear and, consequently a stress...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Damián, J. P., Hötzel, M. J., Banchero, G. et al. 2018. Growing without a mother during rearing affects the response to stressors in rams. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 209, 36-40.

Lighting environment: What colour of light do male C57BL/6J prefer?

Environmental factors applied in animal research facilities need to be regulated accurately not only for the welfare of laboratory animals but also for the reliability of the experimental results. However, the effect of lighting environment and its characteristics on animals...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Paronis, E., Kapogiannatou, A., Paschidis, K. et al. 2018. Lighting environment: What colour of light do male C57BL/6J prefer? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 209, 99-103.

Attenuation of fear through social transmission in groups of same and differently aged horses

Transmission of fear and attenuation of fear within groups of farm animals remain relatively unexplored, despite the importance for human and animal safety. This paper reports the results of two separate experiments, aiming to explore social transmission of habituation in...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Rørvang, M. V., Christensen, J. W. 2018. Attenuation of fear through social transmission in groups of same and differently aged horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 209, 41-46.

Implication and impact of straw provision on behaviour, lesions and pen hygiene on commercial farms rearing undocked pigs

According to the European Union Council Directive 2008/120EC, measures to minimise the risk for tail biting shall be taken before practicing tail docking, e.g. provision of manipulable material. Still, >90% of the pigs within EU are tail docked. Thus, management...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Wallgren, T., Larsen, A., Lundeheim, N. et al. 2019. Implication and impact of straw provision on behaviour, lesions and pen hygiene on commercial farms rearing undocked pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 210, 26-37.

Domestic piglets (Sus scrofa domestica) are attentive to human voice and able to discriminate some prosodic features

Vocal communication is of major social importance in pigs. Their auditory sensitivity goes beyond the intraspecific level; studies have shown that domestic pigs are sensitive to and can learn to recognise human voices. The question of which prosodic features (intonation,...

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

Citation: Bensoussan, S., Tigeot, R., Lemasson, A. et al. 2019. Domestic piglets (Sus scrofa domestica) are attentive to human voice and able to discriminate some prosodic features. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 210, 38-45.

Be kind to others: Prosocial behaviours and their implications for animal welfare

Social interactions are central to the health and psychological well-being of domestic animals. Until now, research has overwhelmingly focused on negative social behaviours such as aggression or the lack of social interactions such as social separation and isolation. This contradicts...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Rault, J.-L. 2019. Be kind to others: Prosocial behaviours and their implications for animal welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 210, 113-123.

Does grouping environmental enrichments together affect the way they are used by commercially housed broiler chickens?

Identifying the most attractive ways of presenting environmental enrichments in commercial broiler housing may encourage use and optimise their effectiveness. This study investigated the effect of grouping straw bales (SB), oat hulls (OH; as a dustbathing substrate) and pecking chain...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Baxter, M., O'Connell, N. E. 2019. Does grouping environmental enrichments together affect the way they are used by commercially housed broiler chickens? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 210, 52-59.

Testing two behavioural paradigms for measuring post-handling cat aversion behaviour

Owned, shelter, and laboratory cats undergo handling and restraint throughout their lifetime for routine health examinations and necessary procedures. Many cats display fear and aggressive behaviour during health examinations, and there is potential for these behaviours to result in incomplete...

Year Published: 2019Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Moody, C. M., Mason, G. J., Dewey, C. E. et al. 2019. Testing two behavioural paradigms for measuring post-handling cat aversion behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 210, 73-80.

Examining affective structure in chickens: valence, intensity, persistence and generalization measured using a Conditioned Place Preference Test

When measuring animals' valenced behavioural responses to stimuli, the Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) test goes a step further than many approach-based and avoidance-based tests by establishing whether a learned preference for, or aversion to, the location in which the stimulus...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Paul, E. S., Edgar, J. L., Caplen, G. et al. 2018. Examining affective structure in chickens: valence, intensity, persistence and generalization measured using a Conditioned Place Preference Test. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 207, 39-48.