Publications

Effects of the individual and pair housing of calves on long-term heifer production on a UK commercial dairy farm

Pair housing of pre-weaning dairy calves has previously demonstrated positive impacts on their growth, health and behaviour, but longer-term effects on production are still relatively unknown. This study followed a cohort of 431 Holstein heifers, recruited from a single UK...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Mahendran, S. A., Wathes, D. C., Booth, R. E. et al. 2024. Effects of the individual and pair housing of calves on long-term heifer production on a UK commercial dairy farm. Animals 14(1), 125.

A multidimensional evaluation of the factors in the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) that are associated with, and predictive of, behaviour disorders in dogs

Behavioural disorders in dogs are common and have severe welfare consequences for dogs. This study aimed to assess the factors that are significant and predictive of behaviour problems in dogs using the animal welfare assessment grid (AWAG) to further understand...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Malkani, R., Paramasivam, S., Wolfensohn, S. 2024. A multidimensional evaluation of the factors in the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) that are associated with, and predictive of, behaviour disorders in dogs. Animals 14(4), 528.

Tactile, auditory, and visual stimulation as sensory enrichment for dairy cattle

Several types of enrichment can be used to improve animal welfare. This review summarizes the literature on the use of mechanical brushes, tactile udder stimulation, music, and visual stimuli as enrichment methods for dairy cows. Mechanical brushes and tactile stimulation...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Mota-Rojas, D., Whittaker, A. L., Domínguez-Oliva, A. et al. 2024. Tactile, auditory, and visual stimulation as sensory enrichment for dairy cattle. Animals 14(9), 1265.

No evidence tube entrapment distresses rodents in typical empathy tests

In the first two experiments an empty tube open at one end was placed in different locations. Male hamsters, tested one at a time, tended to stay close to the tube or in it. During the first minute of the...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Handling, RestraintAnimal Type: Hamster, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Nugroho, D. A. A., Kusrohmaniah, S., Pilz, E. et al. 2024. No evidence tube entrapment distresses rodents in typical empathy tests. Animal Cognition 27(1), 29.

The effect of repeated blood harvesting from pregnant mares on haematological variables

Studies have been carried out on the effect of large-volume blood harvesting from horses, but they were performed on nonpregnant horses of various breeds other than Icelandic horses. This study aimed to investigate the effect on the haematological variables indicating...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Oddsdóttir, C., Jónsdóttir, H. K., Sturludóttir, E. et al. 2024. The effect of repeated blood harvesting from pregnant mares on haematological variables. Animals 14(5), 745.

Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens

The public has expressed growing concern for the well-being of fishes, including popular pet species such as the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). In captivity, male Bettas behave aggressively, often causing injuries and death if housed together. As a result,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Oldfield, R. G., Murphy, E. K. 2024. Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens. Animal Welfare 33, e1.

The influence of water nitrate concentration combined with elevated temperature on rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in an experimental aquaponic setup

Intensive recirculating systems are a fast-developing sector of aquaculture. While several warm-water fish have been reared in aquaponics, almost no data are available for cold-water species. The determination of nitrate toxicity thresholds in recirculating aquaculture is crucial. Different pollutants are...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Trout

Citation: Papadopoulos, D. K., Lattos, A., Chatzigeorgiou, I. et al. 2024. The influence of water nitrate concentration combined with elevated temperature on rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in an experimental aquaponic setup. Fishes 9(2), 74.

Development of a novel primate welfare assessment tool for research macaques

Primates are important species for biomedical research and ensuring their good welfare is critical for research translatability and ethical responsibility. Systematic animal welfare assessments can support continuous programme improvements and build institutional awareness of areas requiring more attention. A multi-facility,...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Paterson, E. A., O'Malley, C. I., Abney, D. M. et al. 2024. Development of a novel primate welfare assessment tool for research macaques. Animal Welfare 33, e3.

Dolphin-WET—Development of a Welfare Evaluation Tool for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under human care

Ensuring high standards of animal welfare is not only an ethical duty for zoos and aquariums, but it is also essential to achieve their conservation, education, and research goals. While for some species, animal welfare assessment frameworks are already in...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Baumgartner, K., Hüttner, T., Clegg, I. L. K. et al. 2024. Dolphin-WET—Development of a Welfare Evaluation Tool for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under human care. Animals 14(5), 701.

Pebble to the metal: A boulder approach to enrichment for Danio rerio

Zebrafish are an established and widely used animal model, yet there is limited understanding of their welfare needs. Despite an increasing number of studies on zebrafish enrichment, in-tank environmental enrichment remains unpopular among researchers. This is due to perceived concerns...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Byrd, K. A., Theil, J. H., Geronimo, J. T. et al. 2024. Pebble to the metal: A boulder approach to enrichment for Danio rerio. PLOS ONE 19(5), e0298657.