Publications

The effects of positive human contact by tactile stimulation on dairy cows with different personalities

The understanding of the ways in which cows with different personalities perceive human contact is essential for improving the quality of the human-animal relationship and therefore the welfare of dairy cows. The general objective of this study was to evaluate...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Shahin, M. 2018. The effects of positive human contact by tactile stimulation on dairy cows with different personalities. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 204, 23-28.

Evaluation of visible eye white and maximum eye temperature as non-invasive indicators of stress in dairy cows

The aim of this study was to investigate if visible eye white and eye temperature measurements are feasible non-invasive physiological indicators of acute stress in cows when they are exposed to cattle crush treatment for claw trimming. In the experimental...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Gómez, Y., Bieler, R., Hankele, A. K. 2018. Evaluation of visible eye white and maximum eye temperature as non-invasive indicators of stress in dairy cows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 198, 1-8.

Dairy cows under experimentally-induced Escherichia coli mastitis show negative emotional states assessed through Qualitative Behaviour Assessment

Mastitis and associated pain have been identified as a major health and welfare problem affecting dairy cows, however little is known about how cows emotionally experience this illness. Qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA) is a ‘whole animal' methodology for assessing animal...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Analgesia, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: de Boyer des Roches, A., Lussert, A., Faure, M. et al. 2018. Dairy cows under experimentally-induced Escherichia coli mastitis show negative emotional states assessed through Qualitative Behaviour Assessment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 206, 1-11.

Behavioral preference for different enrichment objects in a commercial sow herd

Increased public concern about farm animal welfare is driving both legislative initiatives and market forces to change how sows are housed and managed. This study investigated the use and preference for enrichment items at a 5600 sows commercial sow farm...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Horback, K. M., Pierdon, M. K., Parsons, T. D. 2016. Behavioral preference for different enrichment objects in a commercial sow herd. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 184, 7-15.

Effects of different enrichment devices on some welfare indicators of post-weaned undocked piglets

Two experimental trials were carried out in order to test the effectiveness of different environmental enrichments in improving the welfare of weaned pigs. A total of 120 undocked piglets was used. In trial one, group C1 received a metal chain...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Nannoni, E., Sardi, L., Vitali, M. et al. 2016. Effects of different enrichment devices on some welfare indicators of post-weaned undocked piglets. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 184, 25-34.

Can clicker training facilitate conditioning in dogs?

In the attempt to verify clicker training efficacy in shaping dogs' novel behaviours, we studied 51 domestic dogs. Learning was evaluated in three different conditions: when the primary reinforcer (food) was presented in association with (a) a clicker; (b) a...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Chiandetti, C., Avella, S., Fongaro, E. et al. 2016. Can clicker training facilitate conditioning in dogs? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 184, 109-116.

Effect of light colour temperature and intensity on the behaviour of male C57CL/6J mice

Light is an important environmental factor affecting laboratory animals' well-being but still there is a range of light parameters in animal research facilities that need further study. Behavioural testing was conducted to study the impact of different conditions of light...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kapogiannatou, A., Paronis, E., Paschidis, K. et al. 2016. Effect of light colour temperature and intensity on the behaviour of male C57CL/6J mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 184, 135-140.

Effect of housing density on growth, agonistic behaviour, and activity in hatchling saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of density on growth rate, agonistic behaviour, activity and use of space by hatchling C. porosus in captivity. Hatchling C. porosus were raised in identical enclosures (1.5m2) at different densities...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Crocodile & Alligator, Reptile

Citation: Brien, M. L., Webb, G. J., McGuinness, K. A. et al. 2016. Effect of housing density on growth, agonistic behaviour, and activity in hatchling saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 184, 141-149.

Does enrichment improve reptile welfare? Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) respond to five types of environmental enrichment

Animal welfare is a high priority for pet owners and accredited zoos and aquariums. Current approaches to measuring welfare focus on identifying consensus among behavioral and physiological indicators of positive and negative emotions. Environmental enrichment is a common strategy used...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Bashaw, M. J., Gibson, M. D., Schowe, D. M. et al. 2016. Does enrichment improve reptile welfare? Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) respond to five types of environmental enrichment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 184, 150-160.

He’s getting under my skin! Comparing the sensitivity and specificity of dermal vs subcuticular lesions as a measure of aggression in mice

Aggression is the leading cause of death in young laboratory mice, representing a major welfare issue. Many of the experimental measures used in traditional aggression research, especially those focusing on territorial aggression (e.g., resident/intruder) are poorly suited to examining dominance...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gaskill, B. N., Stottler, A., Pritchett-Corning, K. R. et al. 2016. He's getting under my skin! Comparing the sensitivity and specificity of dermal vs subcuticular lesions as a measure of aggression in mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 183, 77-85.