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Browning H, Veit W. Animal welfare science, performance metrics, and proxy failure. Behav Brain Sci 2024; 47:e70. [PMID: 38738354 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x2300300x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
In their target article, John et al. make a convincing case that there is a unified phenomenon behind the common finding that measures become worse targets over time. Here, we will apply their framework to the domain of animal welfare science and present a pragmatic solution to reduce its impact that might also be applicable in other domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Browning
- Department of Philosophy, University of Southampton, Southampton, UKhttps://www.heatherbrowning.net/
| | - Walter Veit
- Department of Philosophy, University of Reading, Reading, UK , https://walterveit.com/
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Barrett M. New frontiers in animal welfare science: an introduction to (farmed) insects. Vet Rec 2024; 194:344-346. [PMID: 38700172 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.4229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Barrett
- Department of Biology, Indiana University - Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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3
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Broom D, Yeh HM, Peng S. Zoos should focus on animal welfare before claiming to champion conservation. Nature 2024; 629:41. [PMID: 38689049 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-01269-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
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4
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Erratum: Evaluation and Refinement of a Spot-change-only Cage Management System for Mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2024; 63:201. [PMID: 38693635 DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-24-000012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
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Turner JG, Suckow MA, Dauchy RT, Hankenson FC, Reynolds RP, Toth LA. Extrinsic Environmental Variables: The Umwelt of Research Animals and the Implications for the 3Rs and Study Reproducibility. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2024; 63:106. [PMID: 38693637 PMCID: PMC11022942 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-24-000024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy G Turner
- Turner Scientific, Jacksonville, Illinois; jturner@turnerscientific. com
| | - Mark A Suckow
- Research Animal Resources, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Robert T Dauchy
- Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Fiona C Hankenson
- University Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Randall P Reynolds
- Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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Duval E, Lecorps B. The EU must stick to its animal-welfare commitments. Nature 2023; 622:461. [PMID: 37848520 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-03231-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
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Jacobs L, Blatchford RA, de Jong IC, Erasmus MA, Levengood M, Newberry RC, Regmi P, Riber AB, Weimer SL. Enhancing their quality of life: environmental enrichment for poultry. Poult Sci 2022; 102:102233. [PMID: 36351344 PMCID: PMC9647224 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Providing environmental enrichments that increase environmental complexity can benefit poultry welfare. This Poultry Science Association symposium paper is structured around four themes on 1) poultry preferences and affective states 2) species-specific behavior, including play behavior and the relationship between behavior, activity level and walking ability, 3) environmental enrichment and its relationship with indicators of welfare, and 4) a case study focusing on the application of enrichments in commercial broiler chicken production. For effective enrichment strategies, the birds' perspective matters most, and we need to consider individual variation, social dynamics, and previous experience when assessing these strategies. Play behavior can be a valuable indicator of positive affect, and while we do not yet know how much play would be optimal, absence of play suggests a welfare deficit. Activity levels and behavior can be improved by environmental modifications and prior research has shown that the activity level of broilers can be increased, at least temporarily, by increasing the environmental complexity. However, more research on impacts of enrichments on birds' resilience, on birds in commercial conditions, and on slow(er)-growing strains is needed. Finally, incorporating farmers' expertise can greatly benefit enrichment design and implementation on commercial farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Jacobs
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - R A Blatchford
- Department of Animal Science, Center for Animal Welfare, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - I C de Jong
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - M A Erasmus
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IA, USA
| | | | - R C Newberry
- Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - P Regmi
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - A B Riber
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - S L Weimer
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
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Güz BC, de Jong IC, Da Silva CS, Veldkamp F, Kemp B, Molenaar R, van den Brand H. Effects of pen enrichment on leg health of fast and slower-growing broiler chickens. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254462. [PMID: 34941896 PMCID: PMC8700046 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pen enrichment for broiler chickens is one of the potential strategies to stimulate locomotion and consequently contribute to better leg health and welfare. This study was designed to evaluate effects of using a plethora of pen enrichments (barrier perches, angular ramps, horizontal platforms, large distance between feed and water and providing live Black Soldier fly larvae in a dustbathing area) on tibia characteristics, locomotion, leg health and home pen behaviour of fast and slower-growing broiler chickens. The experiment was set up as a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with a total of 840 male broiler chickens in a complete randomized design (7 pens per treatment and 30 chickens per pen) with the following treatments: 1) pen enrichment (enriched pen or non-enriched pen); 2) broiler strain (fast-growing Ross 308 or slower-growing Hubbard JA 757). Home pen behaviour and use of enrichment were observed. At approximately 1400 and 2200 g body weight, two chickens per pen were randomly selected and slaughtered, to investigate tibia morphological, biophysical and mechanical characteristics and leg health. Pen enrichment positively affected tibia biophysical characteristics, e.g., osseous volume (Δ = 1.8 cm3, P = 0.003), total volume (Δ = 1.4 cm3, P = 0.03) and volume fraction (Δ = 0.02%, P = 0.002), in both fast and slower-growing chickens, suggesting that pen enrichment particularly affects ossification and mineralization mechanisms. Accordingly, locomotion and active behaviours were positively influenced by pen enrichment. However, pen enrichment resulted in lower body weight gain in both strains, which might be due to higher activity or lower feed intake as a result of difficulties of crossing the barrier perches. Regarding the strain, slower-growing chickens showed consistently more advanced tibia characteristics and more active behaviour than fast-growing chickens. It can be concluded that pen enrichment may lead to more activity and better bone development in both fast and slower-growing chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahadır Can Güz
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Ingrid C. de Jong
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
| | - Carol Souza Da Silva
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
| | - Fleur Veldkamp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
| | - Bas Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
| | - Roos Molenaar
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
| | - Henry van den Brand
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Cetaceans are long-lived, social species that are valued as ambassadors inspiring the public to engage in conservation action. Under professional care, they are critical partners with the scientific community to understanding the biology, behavior, physiology, health, and welfare requirements of this taxonomic group. The Cetacean Welfare Study was a highly collaborative research effort among zoos and aquariums accredited by the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and/or the Association of Zoos & Aquariums that provided important empirical and comparative information on the care and management of cetaceans. The goal was to identify factors that were related to the welfare of bottlenose dolphins and to develop reference intervals and values for common and novel indicators of health and welfare for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), and Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens). Data were collected from cetaceans at 43 accredited zoos and aquariums in seven countries in 2018 and 2019. This overview presents a summary of findings from the initial research articles that resulted from the study titled "Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums." With multiple related objectives, animal-based metrics were used to advance frameworks of clinical care and target key conditions that were associated with good welfare of cetaceans in zoo and aquarium environments. As a result of this collaboration, species-specific reference intervals and values for blood variables and fecal hormone metabolites were developed and are freely available in an iOS application called ZooPhysioTrak. The results suggested that environmental enrichment programs and social management factors were more strongly related to behaviors likely indicative of positive welfare than habitat characteristics for common and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. These findings can be widely applied to optimize care and future science-based welfare practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa K. Lauderdale
- Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research, Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Jill D. Mellen
- Biology Department, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Michael T. Walsh
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Douglas A. Granger
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Lance J. Miller
- Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research, Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois, United States of America
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10
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Captive bolt device promising for rodent control. Vet Rec 2021; 189:90. [PMID: 34357632 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Abstract
Rats (Rattus norvegicus) bred for research are typically confined with their litters until weaning, but will spend time away from pups when given the opportunity. We aimed to assess how dam welfare is affected by the ability to escape from their pups. Rat dams (n = 16) were housed in cages either with or without an elevated loft. We measured time dams spent in lofts, time spent nursing, and affective states using elevated plus maze and anticipatory behavior testing. We predicted that 1) dams housed with lofts would use them increasingly as pups aged, 2) dams without a loft would spend more time passively nursing (i.e. initiated by pups rather than the dam) and more total time nursing as pups aged, and 3) dams housed with lofts would show evidence of a more positive affective state. Dams housed with lofts spent more time in the loft with increasing pup age; dams spent on average (mean ± SE) 27 ± 5% of their time in the loft when pups were 1 wk old, increasing to 52 ± 5% of their time at 3 wks. When pups were 3 wks old, dams with lofts spent less time passively nursing (10 ± 2% of total time, compared to 27 ± 4% for dams without a loft) and less time nursing overall (36 ± 4% of time versus 59 ± 2% for dams without a loft). Rats without loft access showed increased anticipatory behavior potentially indicative of negative affective state (24.5±1.8 behaviors per minute in wk 3 compared to 18.8±1.0 in wk 1). These findings indicate that rat dams in laboratories choose to spend time away from their pups when provided the opportunity, particularly later in lactation; an inability to do so is associated with increased passive nursing and negative affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S. Ratuski
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Daniel M. Weary
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Loeb J. New pet travel rules 'a good thing' for cats. Vet Rec 2021; 188:405. [PMID: 34086331 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Abstract
Animal welfare scientists have accumulated knowledge and developed interventions to improve livestock welfare, but these are poorly adopted in commercial practice. Animal welfare interventions are rarely tested for economic viability and this limits their uptake. This study employs Stochastic Partial Budgeting (SPB) to determine the viability of animal welfare improvements. Aggression between pigs is used as an example because there is a large literature base from which to draw interventions, and the problem has persisted for decades without resolution. Costs and benefits of three interventions to control aggression (pre-weaning socialisation, synthetic maternal pheromones and large social groups) were estimated by reviewing the academic and industry literature and by conducting a survey of sixteen pig farmers. The net effects were compared to farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for interventions to reduce aggression as identified by recent research. Results are consistent with prior research which indicates that improving animal welfare generally comes at a cost to producers. Nevertheless, pre-weaning socialisation resulted in a neutral or positive net effect 38% of the time and should be central to campaigns promoting the control of aggression in the industry. Exposing pigs to synthetic maternal pheromones did not improve profitability but the net costs were small and within the realms of WTP for a sub-group of farmers with animal welfare goals. The net costs of converting existing buildings in order to house pigs in large social groups were beyond the realms of farmers’ WTP. The approach adopted in this study, of combining SPB with WTP from the sector, should be extended to other animal welfare issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S. E. Peden
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Simon P. Turner
- Animal Behaviour & Welfare, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Research Group, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Camerlink
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Faical Akaichi
- Department of Rural Economy, Environment and Society, Scotland’s Rural College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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15
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Limb M. Innovating on the big issues. Vet Rec 2021; 188:174-176. [PMID: 33666971 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Watched by an online audience, the three finalists in this year's Vet Record Innovation Award recently pitched their ideas to the judging panel. Here, Matthew Limb finds out more about their innovations in the fields of bovine TB, animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance.
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Waters A. 'Love is not enough to provide good welfare'. Vet Rec 2021; 188:165. [PMID: 33667003 DOI: 10.1002/vetr.253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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McGinn R, Fergusson DA, Stewart DJ, Kristof AS, Barron CC, Thebaud B, McIntyre L, Stacey D, Liepmann M, Dodelet-Devillers A, Zhang H, Renlund R, Lilley E, Downey GP, Brown EG, Côté L, Dos Santos CC, Fox-Robichaud AE, Hussain SNA, Laffey JG, Liu M, MacNeil J, Orlando H, Qureshi ST, Turner PV, Winston BW, Lalu MM. Surrogate Humane Endpoints in Small Animal Models of Acute Lung Injury: A Modified Delphi Consensus Study of Researchers and Laboratory Animal Veterinarians. Crit Care Med 2021; 49:311-323. [PMID: 33332817 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000004734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In many jurisdictions, ethical concerns require surrogate humane endpoints to replace death in small animal models of acute lung injury. Heterogenous selection and reporting of surrogate endpoints render interpretation and generalizability of findings between studies difficult. We aimed to establish expert-guided consensus among preclinical scientists and laboratory animal veterinarians on selection and reporting of surrogate endpoints, monitoring of these models, and the use of analgesia. DESIGN A three-round consensus process, using modified Delphi methodology, with researchers who use small animal models of acute lung injury and laboratory animal veterinarians who provide care for these animals. Statements on the selection and reporting of surrogate endpoints, monitoring, and analgesia were generated through a systematic search of MEDLINE and Embase. Participants were asked to suggest any additional potential statements for evaluation. SETTING A web-based survey of participants representing the two stakeholder groups (researchers, laboratory animal veterinarians). Statements were rated on level of evidence and strength of support by participants. A final face-to-face meeting was then held to discuss results. SUBJECTS None. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Forty-two statements were evaluated, and 29 were rated as important, with varying strength of evidence. The majority of evidence was based on rodent models of acute lung injury. Endpoints with strong support and evidence included temperature changes and body weight loss. Behavioral signs and respiratory distress also received support but were associated with lower levels of evidence. Participants strongly agreed that analgesia affects outcomes in these models and that none may be necessary following nonsurgical induction of acute lung injury. Finally, participants strongly supported transparent reporting of surrogate endpoints. A prototype composite score was also developed based on participant feedback. CONCLUSIONS We provide a preliminary framework that researchers and animal welfare committees may adapt for their needs. We have identified knowledge gaps that future research should address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan McGinn
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Blueprint Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Dean A Fergusson
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Blueprint Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Duncan J Stewart
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Arnold S Kristof
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Blueprint Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Critical Care and Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Respirology, Departments of Critical Care and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Departments of Anesthesia, Medicine and Physiology, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Keenan Research Centre - Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Research Animals Department, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Southwater, United Kingdom
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
- Neurosciences Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, and Keenan Research Center, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Departments of Critical Care Medicine, Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School and Medicine and the University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Carly C Barron
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Bernard Thebaud
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lauralyn McIntyre
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Dawn Stacey
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mark Liepmann
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Aurore Dodelet-Devillers
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Haibo Zhang
- Departments of Anesthesia, Medicine and Physiology, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Richard Renlund
- Keenan Research Centre - Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elliot Lilley
- Research Animals Department, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Southwater, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory P Downey
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
| | - Earl G Brown
- Neurosciences Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lucie Côté
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Claudia C Dos Santos
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, and Keenan Research Center, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alison E Fox-Robichaud
- Department of Medicine and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sabah N A Hussain
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Blueprint Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Critical Care and Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Respirology, Departments of Critical Care and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Departments of Anesthesia, Medicine and Physiology, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Keenan Research Centre - Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Research Animals Department, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Southwater, United Kingdom
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
- Neurosciences Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, and Keenan Research Center, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Departments of Critical Care Medicine, Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School and Medicine and the University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - John G Laffey
- Departments of Anesthesia, Medicine and Physiology, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Departments of Anesthesia, Medicine and Physiology, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jenna MacNeil
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Holly Orlando
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Salman T Qureshi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Blueprint Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Critical Care and Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Respirology, Departments of Critical Care and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Departments of Anesthesia, Medicine and Physiology, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Keenan Research Centre - Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Research Animals Department, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Southwater, United Kingdom
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
- Neurosciences Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, and Keenan Research Center, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Departments of Critical Care Medicine, Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School and Medicine and the University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Patricia V Turner
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Brent W Winston
- Departments of Critical Care Medicine, Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School and Medicine and the University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Manoj M Lalu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Blueprint Translational Research Group, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Critical Care and Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Respirology, Departments of Critical Care and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Departments of Anesthesia, Medicine and Physiology, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Keenan Research Centre - Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Research Animals Department, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Southwater, United Kingdom
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
- Neurosciences Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, and Keenan Research Center, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Departments of Critical Care Medicine, Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School and Medicine and the University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Diana A, Lorenzi V, Penasa M, Magni E, Alborali GL, Bertocchi L, De Marchi M. Effect of welfare standards and biosecurity practices on antimicrobial use in beef cattle. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20939. [PMID: 33262402 PMCID: PMC7708642 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77838-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial use (AMU) in livestock species and the associated antimicrobial resistance are a global concern, thus strategies for their reduction and a more judicious use are needed. Previous research has revealed a link between improved animal welfare, biosecurity and AMU reduction in pig and dairy sectors, however, little is known about the beef sector. This study aimed to investigate the impact of welfare standards and biosecurity on AMU in beef cattle. Data on performance traits and AMU were collected over a 3.5 year time from 27 specialised beef farms and a treatment incidence was calculated using the defined daily dose for animals. An on-farm assessment was carried out by assigning a score from 0 (very poor) to 100% (very good) to 3 sections: welfare, biosecurity and emergency management. The highest average score was obtained for the welfare section (76%) followed by emergency management (39%) and biosecurity (24%). This suggests that major focus on strategies for the implementation of biosecurity measures and emergency management is needed, due to the low scores reported. A statistically significant lower AMU was observed with improved level of welfare. These results may be helpful for farm benchmarking and highlight the importance of improved animal welfare for an efficient antimicrobial stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Diana
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), Italy.
| | - Valentina Lorenzi
- Italian National Reference Centre for Animal Welfare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini' (IZSLER), Via Bianchi 9, 25124, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mauro Penasa
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Edoardo Magni
- Italian National Reference Centre for Animal Welfare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini' (IZSLER), Via Bianchi 9, 25124, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni L Alborali
- Italian National Reference Centre for Animal Welfare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini' (IZSLER), Via Bianchi 9, 25124, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luigi Bertocchi
- Italian National Reference Centre for Animal Welfare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini' (IZSLER), Via Bianchi 9, 25124, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo De Marchi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro (PD), Italy
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19
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Zhao B, Jiang Y, Zhang T, Shang Z, Zhang W, Hu K, Chen F, Mei F, Gao Q, Zhao L, Kwong JSW, Ma B. Quality of interventional animal experiments in Chinese journals: compliance with ARRIVE guidelines. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:460. [PMID: 33243206 PMCID: PMC7690085 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02664-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In view of the inadequacy and incompleteness of currently-reported animal experiments and their overall poor quality, we retrospectively evaluated the reporting quality of animal experiments published in Chinese journals adhering to the Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines. RESULTS The databases CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and CBM were searched from inception until July 2018. Two appropriately-trained reviewers screened and extracted articles independently. The ARRIVE guidelines were used to assess the quality of the published reports of animal experiments. The compliance rate of every item was analyzed relative to their date of publication. A total of 4342 studies were included, of which 73.0% had been cited ≤5 times. Only 29.0% (1261/4342) were published in journals listed in the Chinese Science Citation Database. The results indicate that the compliance rate of approximately half of the sub-items (51.3%, 20/39) was less than 50%, of which 65.0% (13/20) was even less than 10%. CONCLUSIONS The reporting quality of animal experiments in Chinese journals is not at a high level. Following publication of the ARRIVE guidelines in 2010, the compliance rate of the majority of its requirements has improved to some extent. However, less attention has been paid to the ethics and welfare of experimental animals, and a number of specific items in the Methods, Results, and Discussion sections continue to not be reported in sufficient detail. Therefore, it is necessary to popularize the ARRIVE guidelines, advocate researchers to adhere to them in the future, and in particular promote the use of the guidelines in specialized journals in order that the design, implementation, and reporting of animal experiments is promoted, to ultimately improve their quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Zhao
- Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, No.199, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou City, 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Yanbiao Jiang
- Second clinical medical college, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, No.199, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou City, 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Zhizhong Shang
- Second clinical medical college, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Weiyi Zhang
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Kaiyan Hu
- School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Fei Chen
- School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Fan Mei
- School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Qianqian Gao
- School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Li Zhao
- School of Nursing, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Joey S W Kwong
- School of Public Health and Primary Medical Care, Jockey Club, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China.
| | - Bin Ma
- Evidence Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, No.199, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou City, 730000, Gansu Province, China.
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20
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Riordan C, Jacquet J, Franks B. Investigating the welfare and conservation implications of alligator wrestling for American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242106. [PMID: 33186369 PMCID: PMC7665580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife tourism attractions (WTA) are popular in the United States, but they may be harmful to the individual animals involved and we question whether they provide benefits to environmental conservation. Most research on the welfare and environmental implications of WTAs focuses on charismatic mammals, with few studies investigating these issues for reptiles. Here we examine alligator wrestling, including its impact on animal welfare and environmental conservation. Using a sample of 94 relevant YouTube videos of alligator wrestling in Florida representing 16 different venues, we coded the environmental and behavioral characteristics evident in each video. We then performed a content analysis of wrestlers’ narration in a subset of 51 videos to analyze the environmental awareness and educational components of alligator wrestling. Our results show systemic welfare harm: 11 venues housed adult alligators together with conspecifics, 96% of alligator wrestling performances facilitated direct contact in the form of physical restraint by one or more human wrestlers, and as many as 96% of the videos did not show a suitable water or waterside features for captive alligators. Furthermore, 12% of performances showed wrestlers flipping alligators onto their backs while 16% showed wrestlers tying alligators’ jaws shut, both of which are known to be acute stressors. Finally, just under half of alligator wrestling commentary (49%) addressed environmental conservation topics, and much of this commentary included contradictory or misleading information that is not likely to benefit alligators in the wild. We argue that alligator wrestling serves no role in promoting positive relationships between humans, animals, and the environment, and instead furthers traditional notions of dominion that undermine welfare and conservation aims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey Riordan
- Department of Environmental Studies, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Jacquet
- Department of Environmental Studies, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Becca Franks
- Department of Environmental Studies, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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21
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Mills P. Editorial note. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2020; 43:519. [PMID: 33165925 DOI: 10.1111/jvp.12915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Akkermans A, Chapsal JM, Coccia EM, Depraetere H, Dierick JF, Duangkhae P, Goel S, Halder M, Hendriksen C, Levis R, Pinyosukhee K, Pullirsch D, Sanyal G, Shi L, Sitrin R, Smith D, Stickings P, Terao E, Uhlrich S, Viviani L, Webster J. Animal testing for vaccines. Implementing replacement, reduction and refinement: challenges and priorities. Biologicals 2020; 68:92-107. [PMID: 33041187 PMCID: PMC7543787 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2020.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Transition to in vitro alternative methods from in vivo in vaccine release testing and characterization, the implementation of the consistency approach, and a drive towards international harmonization of regulatory requirements are most pressing needs in the field of vaccines. It is critical for global vaccine community to work together to secure effective progress towards animal welfare and to ensure that vaccines of ever higher quality can reach the populations in need in the shortest possible timeframe. Advancements in the field, case studies, and experiences from Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) were the topics discussed by an international gathering of experts during a recent conference titled "Animal Testing for Vaccines - Implementing Replacement, Reduction and Refinement: Challenges and Priorities". This conference was organized by the International Alliance for Biological Standardization (IABS), and held in Bangkok, Thailand on December 3 and 4 2019. Participants comprised stakeholders from many parts of the world, including vaccine developers, manufacturers and regulators from Asia, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. In interactive workshops and vibrant panel discussions, the attendees worked together to identify the remaining barriers to validation, acceptance and implementation of alternative methods, and how harmonization could be promoted, especially for LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnoud Akkermans
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sunil Goel
- Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., India
| | - Marlies Halder
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Robin Levis
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA / CBER), USA
| | | | | | | | - Li Shi
- Shanghai Zerun Biotechnology Company, China
| | | | | | - Paul Stickings
- The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), United Kingdom
| | - Eriko Terao
- European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare (EDQM), France
| | | | - Laura Viviani
- Independent Consultant, Humane Society International, Switzerland.
| | - Jim Webster
- World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), New Zealand
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Wensley S, Betton V, Martin N, Tipton E. Advancing animal welfare and ethics in veterinary practice through a national pet wellbeing task force, practice-based champions and clinical audit. Vet Rec 2020; 187:316. [PMID: 32532843 PMCID: PMC7606500 DOI: 10.1136/vr.105484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Veterinary animal welfare advocacy can be undertaken at individual, community, national and international levels. The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a veterinary charity with 48 Pet Hospitals UK-wide, created a consultative staff network to put an explicit organisational focus on animal welfare-focused veterinary practice. METHODS PDSA created a national internal committee-a Pet Wellbeing Task Force-composed of veterinary staff representatives. Together with recruited hospital-based Champions who serve as a focus for animal welfare and ethics within their clinical teams, the resulting staff network has described a vision of animal welfare and ethics within companion animal veterinary practice, with accompanying practice-level actions. These actions have formed the basis for national clinical audit, repeated three times since 2013. RESULTS The audit, alongside targeted interventions, has driven organisational change (eg, new policies), led to measurable improvements in pet wellbeing (eg, improved pain assessment and management) and stimulated collaborative practice-based research with universities. CONCLUSION A dedicated staff network has facilitated organisation-wide communication on animal welfare and ethics; offered a safe space to raise and discuss animal welfare and ethical issues; and fostered leadership, by working towards model veterinary practice with respect to animal welfare and ethics, with benefits for pet patients, staff and the wider veterinary and veterinary nursing professions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Wensley
- Veterinary Department, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), Telford, UK
| | - Vicki Betton
- Veterinary Department, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), Telford, UK
| | | | - Emma Tipton
- Veterinary Department, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), Telford, UK
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24
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Medium- to long-term endemic disease risks associated with flooding events. Vet Rec 2020; 186:275-7. [PMID: 32139627 DOI: 10.1136/vr.m899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
This focus article has been prepared by members of the APHA Surveillance Intelligence Unit and the Veterinary Risk Group.
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25
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Concerns raised about Scottish salmon farms. Vet Rec 2020; 187:e24. [PMID: 32747481 DOI: 10.1136/vr.m3069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Abstract
In human psychology, the link between cognition and emotions is broadly accepted. However, the idea of using the interaction between cognition and emotions as a tool for a better understanding of animal emotions or for welfare assessment is relatively new. The first avian species used in cognitive bias tests was the European starling followed by the domestic chicken and other species. The most frequently used paradigm is the affect-induced judgment bias. There are many variations of the judgment bias tests in birds. The test itself is preceded by discrimination training. Discrimination tasks vary from visual cue discrimination, discrimination of time intervals to spatial location discrimination. During the discrimination training, birds flip or do not flip the lids of the food dishes, and their latency to approach the cues in a straight alley maze, in a two-choice arena, or different locations in spatial judgment task arena are measured. Alternately, the birds fulfill operant tasks in a Skinner box. Before or after the discrimination training phase, birds are subjected to manipulations that are hypothesized to induce positive or negative emotional states. In the last stage, birds are subjected to judgment bias tests. The assumption is that animals in a negative affective state would more likely respond to ambiguous cues, as if they predict the negative event, than animals in a more positive state. However, the results of some avian studies are inconsistent, particularly those studying the effect of environmental enrichment. In starlings, each of the three studies has supplied conflicting results. In poultry, none of the four studies demonstrated a positive effect of environmental enrichment on emotional states. Only the study using unpredictable stressors in combination with environmental complexity showed that animals kept in a more complex environment are more optimistic. Manipulation of the social environment seems to be more effective in judgment bias induction. Conflicting results could be attributable to the design of the tests, the manner of affect induction, or the data analysis. Further optimization and validation of avian cognitive bias tests could help to avoid problems such as the loss of ambiguity. New methods of attention and memory bias testing are promising. However, regardless of the abovementioned complications, a cognitive bias paradigm is a valuable tool, which can help us better understand avian emotions and assess poultry welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ľubor Košťál
- Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Skalná
- Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katarína Pichová
- Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R Huneke
- Drexel University, University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR)
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Skidmore T, Roe E. A semi-structured questionnaire survey of laboratory animal rehoming practice across 41 UK animal research facilities. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234922. [PMID: 32559221 PMCID: PMC7304590 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
If a laboratory animal survives an experiment without lasting compromised welfare, its future must be negotiated. Rehoming may be a consideration. This paper reports on research findings that provide an indication of the uptake of animal rehoming by UK facilities and the associated moral, ethical, practical and regulatory considerations that inform decisions to rehome or not. This research addresses a widely acknowledged gap in the literature to understand both the numbers, and types of animals rehomed from UK research facilities, as well as the main motivations for engaging in the practice, and the barriers for those facilities not currently rehoming. From the ~160 UK research facilities in the UK, 41 facilities completed the questionnaire, giving a response rate of approximately 25%. Results suggest rehoming occurs routinely, yet the numbers are small; just 2322 animals are known to have been rehomed between 2015-2017. At least 1 in 10 facilities are rehoming. There exists a clear preference for the rehoming of some species (mainly cats, dogs and horses) over others (rodents, agricultural animals and primates). Indeed, although 94.15% of species kept in laboratories are rodents, they make up under a fifth (19.14%) of all animals known to be rehomed between 2015-2017. The primary motivation for rehoming is to boost staff morale and promote a positive ethical profile for the facility. Barriers include concern for the animal's welfare following rehoming, high scientific demand for animals that leaves few to be rehomed, and, finally, certain animals (mainly those genetically modified) are simply unsuited to rehoming. The findings of this research will support facilities choosing to rehome, as well as those that are not currently engaging in the practice. By promoting the practice, the benefits to rehoming in terms of improving laboratory animal's quality of life, helping facility staff to overcome the moral stress of killing, and addressing public concern regarding the fate of laboratory animals, can be attained. It is only once an understanding of rehoming from the perspective of UK research facilities has been ascertained, that appropriate policy and support can be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess Skidmore
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Emma Roe
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, England, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Animal welfare within the U.S. slaughter industry continues to prevail as one of the top priorities for livestock producers, businesses, and consumers alike. There are federal regulations that enforce the humane transport, handling, and slaughter of cattle. The journey that cattle must make to the slaughter facility is comprised of many environmental and human factors that can positively or negatively affect animal welfare. Cattle may be exposed to multiple stressors, such as noise, unfamiliar animals and humans, temperature extremes, temporary food/water deprivation, variable transport distances and experiences, and new pen conditions. The animal caretakers involved in these processes attempt to minimize stress and discomfort for the animals, but research is needed to focus on the gaps in knowledge and to support the implementation of strategies known to enhance the human-animal interactions that occur from farm to slaughter. This literature review will provide a summary of fed cattle welfare topics, research, and industry tools that span across the beef animal's journey from the farm/feedlot through the slaughter process. In addition, areas that have had little research focus are identified to highlight the need for future work and development of industry tools. Some of these topics include examining trailer design, the use of trailer slats during weather extremes, the welfare aspects of cattle destined for salvage slaughter, multiple preslaughter factors and interactions, abnormal mobility and nonambulatory cattle, lairage environmental conditions, new stunning methods, and the impact of a well-trained, motivated, and stable workforce on cattle and people welfare. The authors conducted a survey at the 2019 North American Meat Institute Animal Care and Handling Conference, which comprised of stakeholders within the meat packing industry, packing plant employees, and food company employees, educators, and auditors. The survey responses identified training/education and communication as areas of need in animal welfare, whereas the majority of survey responses focused on the aspects of the human-animal interaction as the top challenges for the industry. By continuously identifying, measuring, monitoring, and managing animal welfare challenges within the beef cattle slaughter industry, prioritization and execution of programs and training that improve the welfare of cattle can be achieved as animals move through this final stage of the meat production system.
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Dental disease and obesity cause problems in Chihuahuas. Vet Rec 2020; 186:266-7. [PMID: 32139622 DOI: 10.1136/vr.m894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Georgina Mills discusses new research from VetCompass, which examines the disorders most likely to affect Chihuahuas.
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Abstract
Josh Loeb and Alice Roberts report on new research that is aiming to assess whether preventing birds from flying in captivity is a welfare concern.
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Abstract
Individual housing of dairy calves is common farm practice, but has negative effects on calf welfare. A compromise between practice and welfare may be housing calves in pairs. We compared learning performances and affective states as assessed in a judgement bias task of individually housed and pair-housed calves. Twenty-two calves from each housing treatment were trained on a spatial Go/No-go task with active trial initiation to discriminate between the location of a teat-bucket signalling either reward (positive location) or non-reward (negative location). We compared the number of trials to learn the operant task (OT) for the trial initiation and to finish the subsequent discrimination task (DT). Ten pair-housed and ten individually housed calves were then tested for their responses to ambiguous stimuli positioned in-between the positive and negative locations. Housing did not affect learning speed (OT: F1,35 = 0.39, P = 0.54; DT: F1,19 = 0.15, P = 0.70), but pair-housed calves responded more positively to ambiguous cues than individually housed calves (χ21 = 6.79, P = 0.009), indicating more positive affective states. This is the first study to demonstrate that pair housing improves the affective aspect of calf welfare when compared to individual housing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarína Bučková
- Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 165 21, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Přátelství 815, 104 00 Prague-Uhřínevěs, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Špinka
- Department of Ethology and Companion Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 165 21, Prague 6, Czech Republic
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Přátelství 815, 104 00 Prague-Uhřínevěs, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sara Hintze
- Division of Livestock Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, 1180, Vienna, Austria.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Thousands of injured, stray and relinquished cats are received at the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital each year. A significant and challenging proportion of these cats are confiscated from multicat households by RSPCA Inspectors, due to the owners' inability to care for them. These households share many characteristics of animal hoarding, including poor owner compliance with suggested welfare improvements and recidivism. The relatively poor adoption potential of animals from such households are a perennial problem for the charity. The aim of this study was to determine if offering female cat neutering assistance to multi-cat owners significantly improved colony welfare. RESULTS Ten multicat households with a history of public complaint to the RSPCA were recruited. An RSPCA veterinary surgeon (VS) initially assessed the overall welfare of each household's cat population, individual cat welfare and the living environment. All entire female cats aged over 8 weeks were neutered and basic animal care education provided. Follow up visits were completed two and 12 months later to reassess welfare parameters and population numbers. The total number of cats was 176 across ten households (range 7-33, median 16). All owners consented to having all entire female cats spayed. At the first visit, mean individual cat welfare scores ranged from 5.4-8.7/ 16 across the 10 households, where 16 represented best possible welfare. Overall household mean welfare scores were significantly improved at both the 2 month and 12 month revisits (p = 0.011 and p = 0.01 respectively) when compared to the initial visits. By the end of the study period, three out of the ten households had voluntarily relinquished all of their cats, and overall there was a 40% reduction in the number of cats. CONCLUSIONS Animal hoarding has previously been an intractable welfare concern with little evidence informing intervention techniques. These results show that positive veterinary engagement on site, focused on preventative care and population control, can yield significant improvement in welfare scoring systems in relatively short timescales. Promptly collecting and neutering all female cats at a site, combined with advice and support, show promise in improving welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh Hill
- Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, 411 Eccles New Road, Salford, M5 5NN UK
| | - David Yates
- Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, 411 Eccles New Road, Salford, M5 5NN UK
| | - Rachel Dean
- Centre for Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, College Road, Loughborough, LE12 5RD UK
| | - Jenny Stavisky
- Centre for Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, College Road, Loughborough, LE12 5RD UK
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Friese C, Nuyts N, Pardo‐Guerra JP. Cultures of care? Animals and science in Britain. Br J Sociol 2019; 70:2042-2069. [PMID: 31682001 PMCID: PMC6916317 DOI: 10.1111/1468-4446.12706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
It is becoming increasingly common to hear life scientists say that high quality life science research relies upon high quality laboratory animal care. However, the idea that animal care is a crucial part of scientific knowledge production is at odds with previous social science and historical scholarship regarding laboratory animals. How are we to understand this discrepancy? To begin to address this question, this paper seeks to disentangle the values of scientists in identifying animal care as important to the production of high quality scientific research. To do this, we conducted a survey of scientists working in the United Kingdom who use animals in their research. The survey found that being British is associated with thinking that animal care is a crucial part of conducting high quality science. To understand this finding, we draw upon the concept of 'civic epistemologies' (Jasanoff 2005; Prainsack 2006) and argue that 'animals' and 'care' in Britain may converge in taken-for-granted assumptions about what constitutes good scientific knowledge. These ideas travel through things like state regulations or the editorial policies of science journals, but do not necessarily carry the embodied civic epistemology of 'animals' and 'science' from which such modes of regulating laboratory animal welfare comes.
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Gussgard AM, Weese JS, Hensten A, Jokstad A. Dog-assisted therapy in the dental clinic. Part B. Hazards and assessment of potential risks to the health and safety of the dental therapy dog. Clin Exp Dent Res 2019; 5:701-711. [PMID: 31890308 PMCID: PMC6934346 DOI: 10.1002/cre2.239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A dental therapy dog may help anxious patients in the dental clinic overcome their fear and facilitate the completion of necessary dental care. Dental clinic activities are associated with hazards that may pose potential risks to the health and safety of the dental therapy dog. Objectives To describe potential hazards associated with risks to health and safety to therapy dogs in dental clinics and to present suggestions for risk minimisation by adopting best practices in dental clinic settings. Materials and method Literature searches in Medline, http://Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar for qualitative and quantitative assessments of occupational hazards and risks in dental clinics, in combination with a review of the reference list of the included studies. Identified hazards and risks were analysed relative to their relevance for the health and welfare of a therapy dog present in a dental clinic setting. Results Workplace hazards in the dental clinic that apply to both humans and therapy dogs are allergies, sharps injury, eye injury, stress, rhinitis, hearing impairment, and other hazards. Additional concerns associated with risks for the dental therapy dog are situations involving erratic patient behaviour and threats if the patient is an undisclosed disease carrier. Risks to the health and safety of the dental therapy dog in the clinics are present but are low if the dental clinical staff and dog handlers comply with best practices. Conclusions Best practice includes awareness amongst the clinic staff and the dog handler of all potential hazards in the dental clinic and on how to reduce these hazards as well as adverse events that may scare the dental therapy dog. The dental therapy dog team must be specially trained to work in a dental clinic. Each treatment session has to be exclusively tailored to that specific appointment and the individual patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Gussgard
- Faculty of Health SciencesUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - J. Scott Weese
- Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, Ontario Veterinary CollegeUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntarioCanada
| | - Arne Hensten
- Faculty of Health SciencesUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Asbjørn Jokstad
- Faculty of Health SciencesUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
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No news from Labour on animal testing ban. Vet Rec 2019; 185:641. [PMID: 31780498 DOI: 10.1136/vr.l6729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Kathambi EK, VanLeeuwen JA, Gitau GK, Revie CW. Assessment of farmers' compliance in implementing recommended cow comfort changes and their effects on lying time, stall and cow cleanliness within smallholder dairy farms in Kenya. Prev Vet Med 2019; 172:104784. [PMID: 31593877 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Our study aimed to evaluate farmers' compliance in implementing recommendations of farm-specific cow comfort changes, and the effects of these changes on lying time, stall cleanliness and cow cleanliness using a randomized controlled trial carried out on 100 smallholder dairy farms in Kenya, with 62 and 11 farms remaining in the intervention and control groups, respectively. On the first farm visit, data loggers were attached on lactating cows to determine lying time and questionnaires utilized to collect baseline data. Three days later, stall design and management recommendations were given to the intervention group of farmers orally and in written form. After an average of 39 ± 7 days, data loggers were re-attached, compliance was assessed, and a post-intervention questionnaire was administered to the intervention group on the third visit. Three days subsequent to the first and third visits, data loggers were removed from all cows. Data were analysed in Stata 14.2® using proportion tests and Kruskal-Wallis rank tests to compare cleanliness scores and lying time, respectively. Interaction effects between treatment groups and visits were assessed using multivariable mixed linear and logistic regression models. While 46 of the 62 intervention farmers (74%) made at least one recommended change to cow comfort, 63% of the 324 overall recommendations were implemented. The odds of a recommendation being implemented were significantly higher when:1) major recommendations were given relative to minor recommendations (OR = 6.28); 2) recommendations were related to floor characteristics (floor softness and flatness) in comparison to recommendations related to stall design (OR = 3.14). The odds of compliance were lower on: 1) farms where the farm-hands received the recommendations compared to farms that had the female principal farmer receive the recommendations (OR = 0.01); 2) farms that had recommended changes related to roof, alley and sharps fixes relative to stall design fixes (OR = 0.13). Post-intervention, stall, udder and upper hind-leg cleanliness scores improved significantly (p < 0.0001, p = 0.021 and p = 0.017, respectively) in the intervention farms but not in the control farms. There was no significant difference in lying times between intervention and control farms, with 0.6 and 0.2 h/day increases being recorded in the intervention and control groups, from the 10.9 and 10.4 h/day at baseline, respectively. Giving farm-specific cow comfort recommendations to smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya, and providing them with a participatory role in the formulation and implementation of improvement recommendations ensured good acceptance and a high degree of implementation, and led to a subsequent improvement in cow comfort and cleanliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Kathambi
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
| | - John A VanLeeuwen
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - George K Gitau
- Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Crawford W Revie
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Persian cats and their brachycephalic health issues. Vet Rec 2019; 185:392-3. [PMID: 31582485 DOI: 10.1136/vr.l5847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Georgina Mills discusses new research that looks at health trends in Persian cats in the UK and shows that their flat faces are causing them harm.
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Balansard I, Cleverley L, Cutler KL, Spångberg MG, Thibault-Duprey K, Langermans JAM. Revised recommendations for health monitoring of non-human primate colonies (2018): FELASA Working Group Report. Lab Anim 2019; 53:429-446. [PMID: 31068070 PMCID: PMC6767845 DOI: 10.1177/0023677219844541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The genetic and biological similarity between non-human primates and humans has ensured the continued use of primates in biomedical research where other species cannot be used. Health-monitoring programmes for non-human primates provide an approach to monitor and control both endemic and incoming agents that may cause zoonotic and anthroponotic disease or interfere with research outcomes. In 1999 FELASA recommendations were published which aimed to provide a harmonized approach to health monitoring programmes for non-human primates. Scientific and technological progress, understanding of non-human primates and evolving microbiology has necessitated a review and replacement of the current recommendations. These new recommendations are aimed at users and breeders of the commonly used non-human primates; Macaca mulatta (Rhesus macaque) and Macaca fascicularis (Cynomolgus macaque). In addition, other species including Callithrix jacchus (Common marmoset) Saimiri sciureus (Squirrel monkey) and others are included. The important and challenging aspects of non-human primate health-monitoring programmes are discussed, including management protocols to maintain and improve health status, health screening strategies and procedures, health reporting and certification. In addition, information is provided on specific micro-organisms and the recommended frequency of testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Balansard
- Centre d’Exploration Fonctionnelle et de
Formation, Campus Médecine Santé, Marseille, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Jan AM Langermans
- Animal Science Department, Biomedical
Primate Research Centre, The Netherlands
- Department of Animals in Science &
Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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Bracke MBM, Koene P, Estevez I, Butterworth A, de Jong IC. Broiler welfare trade-off: A semi-quantitative welfare assessment for optimised welfare improvement based on an expert survey. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222955. [PMID: 31574105 PMCID: PMC6772121 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to support decision making on how to most effectively improve broiler welfare an innovative expert survey was conducted based on principles derived from semantic modelling. Twenty-seven experts, mainly broiler welfare scientists (n = 20; and 7 veterinarians), responded (response rate 38%) by giving welfare scores (GWS, scale 0–10) to 14 benchmarking housing systems (HSs), and explaining these overall scores by selecting, weighing and scoring main welfare parameters, including both input and output measures. Data exploration followed by REML (Linear Mixed Model) and ALM (Automatic Linear Modelling) analyses revealed 6 clusters of HSs, sorted from high to low welfare, i.e. mean GWS (with superscripts indicating significant differences): 1. (semi-natural backyard) Flock (8.8a); 2. Nature (7.7ab), Label Rouge II (7.4ab), Free range EU (7.2ab), Better Life (7.2ab); 3. Organic EU (7.0bc), Freedom Food (6.2bc); 4. Organic US (5.8bcd), Concepts NL (5.6abcdef), GAP 2 (4.9bcd); 5. Conventional EU (3.7de), Conventional US (2.9ef), Modern cage (2.9abcdef); 6. Battery cage (1.3f). Mean weighting factors (WF, scale 0–10) of frequently (n> = 15) scored parameters were: Lameness (8.8), Health status (8.6), Litter (8.3), Density (8.2), Air quality (8.1), Breed (8.0), Enrichment (7.0) and Outdoor (6.6). These did not differ significantly, and did not have much added value in explaining GWS. Effects of Role (Scientist/Vet), Gender (M/F) and Region (EU/non-EU) did not significantly affect GWS or WF, except that women provided higher WF than men (7.2 vs 6.4, p<0.001). The contribution of welfare components to overall welfare has been quantified in two ways: a) using the beta-coefficients of statistical regression (ALM) analyses, and b) using a semantic-modelling type (weighted average) calculation of overall scores (CalcWS) from parameter level scores (PLS) and WF. GWS and CalcWS were highly correlated (R = ~0.85). CalcWS identified Lameness, Health status, Density, Breed, Air quality and Litter as main parameters contributing to welfare. ALM showed that the main parameters which significantly explained the variance in GWS based on all PLS, were the output parameter Health status (with a beta-coefficient of 0.38), and the input parameters (stocking) Density (0.42), Litter (0.14) and Enrichment (0.27). The beta-coefficients indicated how much GWS would improve from 1 unit improvement in PLS for each parameter, thus the potential impact on GWS ranged from 1.4 welfare points for Litter to 4.2 points for Density. When all parameters were included, 81% of the variance in GWS was explained (77% for inputs alone; 39% for outputs alone). From this, it appears that experts use both input and output parameters to explain overall welfare, and that both are important. The major conventional systems and modern cages for broilers received low welfare scores (2.9–3.7), well below scores that may be considered acceptable (5.5). Also, several alternatives like GAP 2 (4.9), Concepts NL (5.6), Organic US (5.8) and Freedom Food (6.2) are unacceptable, or at risk of being unacceptable due to individual variation between experts and farms. Thus, this expert survey provides a preliminary semi-quantified decision-support tool to help determine how to most effectively improve broiler welfare in a wide range of HSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc B. M. Bracke
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Paul Koene
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Inma Estevez
- Neiker-Tecnalia Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Andy Butterworth
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, England, United Kingdom
| | - Ingrid C. de Jong
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Abstract
New research finds that if snakes are allowed the space to stretch out, many will do so. Kathryn Clark explains.
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Munoz CA, Coleman GJ, Hemsworth PH, Campbell AJD, Doyle RE. Positive attitudes, positive outcomes: The relationship between farmer attitudes, management behaviour and sheep welfare. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220455. [PMID: 31365546 PMCID: PMC6668801 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined the relationships between the attitudes and the management behaviour of the farmer and the on-farm welfare of their ewes. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating these relationships in extensive sheep farming systems. Thirty-two sheep farmers and 6200 ewes were sampled across Victoria, Australia. Questionnaire interviews and on-farm animal welfare assessments were conducted. The ewes were assessed at two-time points, mid-pregnancy and weaning. To examine relationships between farmer and ewe variables, categorical principal component analyses, correlations and logistic regressions were used. The main findings of this study indicate relationships between farmer attitudes and management behaviour, consistent with findings from other more intensive livestock industries. Farmers were more likely to check the body condition of their ewes (Odds ratio = 2.37, P = 0.03), perform ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis (Odds ratio = 1.16, P = 0.02) and test for egg count before deworming sheep (Odds ratio = 2.88, P = 0.01) if they perceived these activities were important/valuable. In addition, farmers that performed these activities had a more active management style, and ewes in better welfare: fewer lame ewes at mid-pregnancy (r = -0.38 P = 0.04), and fewer ewes in need of further care at mid-pregnancy and weaning respectively (r = -0.47, P = 0.01; r = -0.50, P = 0.01). When combining the qualitative and quantitative analyses, behavioural attitudes (attitudes towards specific management behaviours) and perceived behavioural control (perceived barriers to performing the behaviour) emerged as the two main drivers underpinning farmer management behaviour. The results of this study indicate that the way farmers manage their ewes influences welfare outcomes, and management decisions are influenced by attitudes towards management practices. These findings demonstrate the opportunity to create change in farmer management behaviour and improve sheep welfare via targeted education programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina A. Munoz
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Grahame J. Coleman
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul H. Hemsworth
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Angus J. D. Campbell
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca E. Doyle
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify the main on-farm welfare issues likely to be encountered in extensive sheep farming systems. Thirty-two commercial sheep farms in Victoria, Australia were involved in this study. Of the 32 farms involved, 30 were visited twice (at mid-pregnancy and weaning), and 2 farms only once (both at weaning). In total, 62 visits were conducted and 6,200 ewes (aged 2-5 years) were examined using six animal-based indicators: body condition score (BCS), fleece condition, skin lesions, tail length, dag score and lameness. In addition, the number of ewes that needed further care (such as sick or injured sheep) was recorded and reported to the farmers. Generalised linear mixed models were conducted to investigate associations between welfare outcomes and visit, ewe breed and location, with all three, and their interactions, as fixed factors. In all instances, farm was set as a random factor to account for specific variation between farms. Overall, the welfare of the ewe flocks, based on the six indicators measured, was considered good. A total of 86.9% of the ewes were in adequate BCS (2.5-3.5), 91% had good fleece condition, 69.2% had no skin lesions, 97.1% had low dag scores, and overall lameness was 4.7%. An important and prevalent risk to welfare identified across farms was short tail length; with 85.7% of ewes having tails docked shorter than the third palpable joint. While the welfare of the flock was good, ewes in need of further care were identified at all farms. There were 185 (3.0%) cases needing further care, and the extent of welfare compromise of these animals was considered significant. Main reasons for further care were moderate/severe lameness or foot-related issues, BCS ≤ 2 and active dermatophilosis or broken wool. To our knowledge, this study constitutes the largest assessment of ewes conducted in Australia, and the findings provide valuable insight into the main welfare issues likely to be encountered in extensive sheep farming enterprises. Future studies should develop practical technologies that can assist in the detection of the welfare issues identified in this study. In addition, the thresholds identified here could be used for future comparison and sheep welfare benchmarking programs to assess farm performance and measure continuous improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina A. Munoz
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, North Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Angus J. D. Campbell
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul H. Hemsworth
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, North Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rebecca E. Doyle
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne, North Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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47
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Abstract
Environmental and welfare concerns associated with efforts to farm octopuses commercially have led to a call for an end to investment in this area. Kathryn Clark reports.
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Robbins JA, Roberts C, Weary DM, Franks B, von Keyserlingk MAG. Factors influencing public support for dairy tie stall housing in the U.S. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216544. [PMID: 31063490 PMCID: PMC6504086 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of studies have shown widespread public concern over housing animals in ways that restrict their ability to move freely. Dairy cows housed in tie stall barns are tethered continuously or for part of the day, but no study has assessed public support for this type of housing system. We report two experiments assessing public perceptions of tie stall housing for dairy cattle using a hypothetical referenda format. In Experiment 1, 65% of participants (n = 430) said they would support a ban on tie stalls. The probability of supporting a ban increased as the duration of time that cows were tethered increased. In Experiment 2, information about possible economic consequences was included. Relatively fewer (55%) participants (n = 372) indicated they would support a ban. Supporters of a ban were willing to pay an average dairy product price premium of 68% to see the ban enacted. Indirect measures of support indicated socially desirable responding was greater in Experiment 2 where the economic impacts of voting behavior were made explicit. In both studies, women and liberals were more likely to support a ban. The majority of participants in Experiment 1 (51%) and Experiment 2 (57%) said they had never heard or read anything about tie stalls before participating in our survey. We conclude that current knowledge of the use of tie stalls is low, but if this situation were to change there may be considerable public concern about the use of this housing method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse A. Robbins
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Caitlin Roberts
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Daniel M. Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Becca Franks
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marina A. G. von Keyserlingk
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Baker SW, Tucci ER, Felt SA, Zehnder A, Lentink D, Vilches-Moure JG. A Bird's-Eye View of Regulatory, Animal Care, and Training Considerations Regarding Avian Flight Research. Comp Med 2019; 69:169-178. [PMID: 30764892 PMCID: PMC6591680 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-18-000033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 04/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A thorough understanding of how animals fly is a central goal of many scientific disciplines. Birds are a commonly used model organism for flight research. The success of this model requires studying healthy and naturally flying birds in a laboratory setting. This use of a nontraditional laboratory animal species presents unique challenges to animal care staff and researchers alike. Here we review regulatory, animal care, and training considerations associated with avian flight research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ashley Zehnder
- Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California
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