Welfare Assessment

The urinary hormonal state of cats associated with social interaction with humans

Research to assess the relationship between cats and humans is in a nascent stage. Some studies have assessed the stress status in cats using physiological indicators, such as the cortisol hormone, but have not focused on the social interaction with...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Human-Animal Interaction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Nagasawa, T., Ohta, M., Uchiyama, H. 2021. The urinary hormonal state of cats associated with social interaction with humans. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8, 680843.

Using the judgment bias task to identify behavioral indicators of affective state: Do eye wrinkles in horses reflect mood?

Identifying and validating behavioral indicators of mood are important for the assessment of animal welfare. Here, we investigated whether horses' eye wrinkle expression in a presumably neutral situation is a measure of mood as assessed in a cognitive judgment bias...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Hintze, S., Schanz, L. 2021. Using the judgment bias task to identify behavioral indicators of affective state: Do eye wrinkles in horses reflect mood? Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8, 676888.

Potential pain in fish and decapods: Similar experimental approaches and similar results

I review studies that examined the possibility of pain experience in fish and note how they provided guidance on general methods that could be applied to other animals such as decapod crustaceans. The fish studies initially reported the occurrence of...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Crustacean, Fish, Invertebrate

Citation: Elwood, R. W. 2021. Potential pain in fish and decapods: Similar experimental approaches and similar results. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8, 631151.

Moving beyond the absence of pain and distress: Focusing on positive animal welfare

For many years, researchers, veterinarians, animal ethics committees, and regulators have focused on minimizing pain and distress as a primary goal of refinement when working with animals in science. More recent publications as well as a shift in animal ethics...

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

Citation: Turner, P. V. 2019. Moving beyond the absence of pain and distress: Focusing on positive animal welfare. ILAR Journal 60(3), 366-372.

Activity budget comparisons using long-term observations of a group of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under human care: Implications for animal welfare

Zoos and aquaria must provide optimal husbandry conditions and the highest welfare standards for their animals. How the welfare state of an animal or a group of animals can be precisely assessed is currently under debate, and new approaches are...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Huettner, T., Dollhaeupl, S., Simon, R. et al. 2021. Activity budget comparisons using long-term observations of a group of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under human care: Implications for animal welfare. Animals 11(7), 2107.

Identification of animal-based welfare indicators in captive reptiles: A Delphi consultation survey

There is an increasing focus on evidence-based welfare assessment by animal care staff in zoos, along with a strong interest in animal welfare by the zoo-visiting public, to the extent that this can influence their choice of institutions to visit....

Year Published: 2021Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile, Snake, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Whittaker, A. L., Golder-Dewar, B., Triggs, J. L. et al. 2021. Identification of animal-based welfare indicators in captive reptiles: A Delphi consultation survey. Animals 11(7), 2010.

Pain management in farm animals: Focus on cattle, sheep and pigs

Pain causes behavioral, autonomic, and neuroendocrine changes and is a common cause of animal welfare compromise in farm animals. Current societal and ethical concerns demand better agricultural practices and improved welfare for food animals. These guidelines focus on cattle, sheep,...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Analgesia, Body Modification/Mutilation, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Steagall, P. V., Bustamante, H., Johnson, C. B. et al. 2021. Pain management in farm animals: Focus on cattle, sheep and pigs. Animals 11(6), 1483.

The interactive stress assessment in basic animal science training

In order to assess the extent to which the legally prescribed training for the acquisition of animal experimentation expertise provides scientific personnel with the necessary competence and expertise to carry out a correct harm-benefit analysis in the context of animal...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General, Guinea Pig, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Sheep

Citation: Manthey, T., Nagel-Riedasch, S., Dülsner, A. 2021. The interactive stress assessment in basic animal science training. Animals 11(7), 2145.

Methods for pain assessment in calves and their use for the evaluation of pain during different procedures—A review

The evaluation and assessment of the level of pain calves are experiencing is important, as the experience of pain (e.g., due to routine husbandry procedures) severely affects the welfare of calves. Studies about the recognition of pain in calves, and...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Body Modification/Mutilation, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Tschoner, T. 2021. Methods for pain assessment in calves and their use for the evaluation of pain during different procedures—A review. Animals 11(5), 1235.

Multi-approach assessment for stress evaluation in rainbow trout females, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792) from three different farms during the summer season

Blood biochemistry parameters are valuable tools for monitoring fish health. Their baseline values are still undefined for a multitude of farmed fish species. In this study, changes in the blood profile of rainbow trout females (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from three farms...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Fish, Trout

Citation: Uiuiu, P., Lațiu, C., Păpuc, T. et al. 2021. Multi-approach assessment for stress evaluation in rainbow trout females, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792) from three different farms during the summer season. Animals 11(6), 1810.