scholarly journals Domestic Foal Weaning: Need for Re-Thinking Breeding Practices?

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 361
Author(s):  
Séverine Henry ◽  
Hrefna Sigurjónsdóttir ◽  
Aziliz Klapper ◽  
Julie Joubert ◽  
Gabrielle Montier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Natural Process ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
Weaning Stress ◽  
Individual Variations

Artificial weaning is a standard practice known to be one of the most stressful events in a domestic foal’s life. Research has mainly focused on ways to alleviate weaning stress. However, there is still a need for more detailed research on what should constitute best practices with respect to animal welfare. The aim of this review is to address this issue by examining the natural weaning process. We first provide an overview of the scientific literature on the natural temporal dynamics of the dam-offspring bond in horses: it is to be noted that the natural process of weaning is little documented, individual variations have been poorly investigated and immediate effects of weaning on the mare–foal relationship remain unexplored. To partly address these gaps, we performed a study around the weaning period on 16 mare–foal pairs kept with minimal human interference. Most foals were weaned spontaneously when 9-10 months old, with individual variations mainly due to the conception rate of mares. Natural weaning induced no stress response in either partner and was performed without clear signs of rejection by the dams either just before or after. We lastly open up the discussion on the need for rethinking weaning practices under domestic conditions.

scholarly journals A Review of the Appropriate Nutrition Welfare Criteria of Dairy Donkeys: Nutritional Requirements, Farm Management Requirements and Animal-Based Indicators

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Raspa ◽  
Laura Cavallarin ◽  
Amy K. McLean ◽  
Domenico Bergero ◽  
Emanuela Valle
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nutritional Requirements ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Donkey Milk ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
Condition Score

Data are available in the scientific literature concerning the quality and usefulness of donkey milk for human consumption. However, there is a lack of studies related to the understanding of the welfare of dairy donkeys. The only attempt, at a European Union level, to assess the welfare of donkeys is that of the Animal Welfare Indicator’s (AWIN) welfare assessment protocol for donkeys, where the appropriate nutrition welfare criteria have been assessed, but only through the evaluation of the body condition score. However, several other indicators that take into account the importance of good feeding welfare principles should be considered for the correct management of dairy donkeys. Therefore, it is hoped that this review of the available scientific literature will be useful to help establish a set of appropriate welfare requirements and indicators for the management of dairy donkeys. The review is aimed at identifying and discussing other requirements and indicators, such as nutritional requirements, farm management requirements and animal-based indicators, which may be important for the correct assessment of the appropriate nutrition welfare criteria and to establish best practices for the feeding of dairy donkeys.

The temporal dynamics of the stress response

1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 775-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Koolhaas ◽  
P. Meerlo ◽  
S.F. de Boer ◽  
J.H. Strubbe ◽  
B. Bohus
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Temporal Dynamics

Promoting Safety and Managing Risks in Arctic Marine Transportation: A Best Practices Approach and the Polar Code

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Parsons ◽  
Maria Progoulaki
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Related Activity ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Marine Transportation ◽  
Polar Code ◽  
Arctic Shipping ◽  
Significant Area

Currently there are no mandatory, internationally accepted rules written specifically to govern ship operations in Arctic waters. The Arctic is recognized by the IMO Guidelines for Ships Operating in Polar Waters as a significant area for international shipping that requires special attention to crew training and operational procedures. A legally binding Polar Code which should identify and unify the commonalities of what it takes, and what is currently enforced by flag states, to safely operate in all Arctic nation waters, is viewed by many as a sensible way forward. This paper presents a synopsis of the results of a funded research project that aimed to identify best practices currently in place by Arctic ship operators. It also aimed to identify possible new ways in which shipping operations in the Arctic could maximize benefits and reduce risks to all stakeholders. A review of the scientific literature clearly highlighted the chasms of knowledge regarding the impacts of marine related activity in Arctic waters. With respect to a methodological approach, a website search was conducted to look for shipping companies informing that they were involved in Arctic operations. The website search of Arctic shipping companies helped with the creation of a questionnaire aimed at identifying “best practices” currently in place with Arctic shipping operators. The questionnaire was administered electronically. Subsequently, a number of companies, identified from the website search and representing a pan-Arctic sample of operators, were contacted by email to inquire if they were interested in taking part in the online questionnaire.

scholarly journals Given the Cold Shoulder: A Review of the Scientific Literature for Evidence of Reptile Sentience

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lambert ◽  
Carder ◽  
D’Cruze
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Open Access Journal ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Welfare Impacts ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Captive Welfare ◽  
Selection Of

We searched a selection of the scientific literature to document evidence for, and explorations into reptile sentience. The intention of this review was to highlight; (1) to what extent reptile capability for emotions have been documented in the scientific literature; (2) to discuss the implications this evidence has for the trade in reptiles; and (3) to outline what future research is needed to maximise their captive welfare needs. We used 168 keywords associated with sentience, to search through four journal databases and one open-access journal. We recorded studies that explored sentience in reptiles and those that recognised reptile sentience in their experiments. We found that reptiles were assumed to be capable of the following emotions and states; anxiety, distress, excitement, fear, frustration, pain, stress, and suffering, in 37 articles. We also found four articles that explored and found evidence for the capacity of reptiles to feel pleasure, emotion, and anxiety. These findings show that reptiles are considered to be capable of experiencing a range of emotions and states. This has implications for how reptiles are treated in captivity, as a better understanding could help to inform a range of different operational initiatives aimed at reducing negative animal welfare impacts, including improved husbandry and consumer behaviour change programmes.

scholarly journals Infant anticipatory stress

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Haley ◽  
Jennifer Cordick ◽  
Sarah Mackrell ◽  
Immaculate Antony ◽  
Maireanne Ryan-Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Stressful Event ◽  
First Year ◽  
Human Infants ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
First Year Of Life ◽  
Pituitary Adrenal Axis

In humans, anticipatory stress involves activation of the limbic–hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, which releases stress hormones such as cortisol in response to an impending stressor. Conditioning of the stress response to anticipate and prepare for future challenges is a hallmark of adaptation. It is unknown whether human infants in the first year of life have developed the neural circuitry to support the anticipation of stressful events in an attachment context. Here, we show that human infants at six months of age produce an anticipatory stress response, as indicated by the release of stress hormones, when re-exposed after 24 h to a context in which they demonstrated a stress response to a disruption in the parent–infant relationship. Although infant stress response (cortisol elevation) was greater to the stressful event (parent unresponsiveness) than to the second exposure to the stress context (room, chair, presence of parent and experimenter, etc.), it was greater in the stress group than in the control group on both days. Results suggest that human infants have the capacity to produce an anticipatory stress response that is based on expectations about how their parents will treat them in a specific context.

scholarly journals Training Environmental Managers to Control Invasive Plants: Acting to Close the Knowing–Doing Gap

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude Lavoie ◽  
Jacques Brisson
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Invasive Plants ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Invasion Biology ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Invasive Species Management ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Factual Information ◽  
Course Material

AbstractMany conservation land managers working with invasive plants rely largely on their own experience and advice from fellow managers for controlling weeds, and rarely take into consideration the scientific literature, a concrete example of a knowing–doing gap. We argue that invasion scientists should directly teach managers best practices for control. In 2013, we created a training program on five invasive plant species, specifically tailored to Québec (Canada) environmental managers. The course material was science-based, and included details on methods and costs. Here, we explain how this idea emerged, how the program was constructed and which types of managers were targeted. With modest resources, we reached 163 managers in less than 18 mo, who collectively oversee invasive species management for 41% of the Québec population. We presented factual information for all control methods, giving the environmental managers the tools to critically and objectively assess various options. Participants especially appreciated the highly practical content of the training and that they could submit their own invasion case for discussion. This program represents significant progress in narrowing the knowing–doing gap associated with the control of invasive plants in Québec, and we encourage such initiatives elsewhere for all fields of invasion biology.

The interaction between perinatal factors and childhood abuse in the risk of developing anorexia nervosa

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 657-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Favaro ◽  
E. Tenconi ◽  
P. Santonastaso
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Low Birthweight ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Stressful Event ◽  
Perinatal Complications ◽  
Perinatal Factors ◽  
Additive Interaction ◽  
Response Systems

BackgroundPerinatal factors seem to be implicated in the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa (AN) and may be involved in the programming of stress response systems in humans. Our aim was to explore one of the possible pathways to explain the association between perinatal complications and a psychiatric disorder. In particular, we tested the hypothesis that neonatal immaturity may confer an enhanced vulnerability to AN after exposure to a severe stressful event, such as childhood abuse.MethodThe sample was composed of subjects who took part in a prevalence study carried out on a representative sample of the general population and cases of AN referred to an out-patient specialist unit. All subjects (n=663) were born in the two obstetric wards of Padua Hospital between 1971 and 1979. We analysed data using both a case-control and a cohort design.ResultsWe found that functional signs of neonatal dysmaturity, but not a low birthweight or prematurity, had a significant additive interaction with childhood abuse in determining the risk for this illness. In normal subjects, but not in subjects with AN, neonatal dysmaturity was associated with being small, short or thin for gestational age at birth.ConclusionsThe synergistic effect of neonatal dysmaturity and childhood abuse in increasing the risk for AN provides evidence for the hypothesis that a prenatal programming of stress response systems can result in an impairment of the individual's resilience to severe stressful events.

scholarly journals Affective Dynamics in Bipolar Spectrum Psychopathology: Modeling Inertia, Reactivity, Variability, and Instability in Daily Life

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Havens Sperry ◽  
Thomas Richard Kwapil
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Experience Sampling ◽  
Bipolar Disorders ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Bipolar Spectrum ◽  
High Arousal ◽  
Affective Dynamics ◽  
Hypomanic Personality Scale

Background: Bipolar psychopathology is characterized by affective dysregulation independent of mood episodes. However, previous research has relied on laboratory-based emotion-eliciting tasks or retrospective questionnaires that do not take into account temporal dynamics of affect. Thus, the present study examined affective dynamics (reactivity, variability, instability, and inertia) of low and high arousal negative affect (NA) and positive affect (PA) in daily life in those at risk for bipolar psychopathology. Methods: Undergraduates (n=135) completed the Hypomanic Personality Scale and experience sampling surveys assessing affective experiences 8 times daily for 7 days. Results: HPS scores were associated with greater reactivity of NA when experiencing negative or stressful events, variability of NA (high and low arousal) and PA (high arousal), and instability of NA and PA (high and low arousal) in daily life. HPS scores were associated with a high probability of acute increases in NA and PA and were unassociated with levels of inertia. Limitations: This study only examined short-term dynamics over 7 days. Future studies should model both short- and long-term dynamics and whether these dynamics predict behavioral outcomes. Conclusions: These results provide evidence that bipolar spectrum psychopathology is characterized by reactivity of NA as well as variability, instability, and acute increases in NA and PA in daily life over-and-above mean levels of affect. Modeling affective dynamics may provide context-relevant information about the course and trajectory of bipolar spectrum psychopathology and should facilitate the use of experience sampling methodology to study and intervene in mood lability in patients with bipolar disorders.

Behavioural stress response and melanin-based plumage colouration in barn swallow nestlings

Behaviour ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 853-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margherita Corti ◽  
Gaia Bazzi ◽  
Alessandra Costanzo ◽  
Stefano Podofillini ◽  
Nicola Saino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Reliable Information ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Barn Swallow ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Individual Ability

Consistent and correlated inter-individual differences in behaviours, the so-called ‘personalities’, have been identified in many vertebrates. The ability to respond to stressful events is part of personalities and can have important fitness consequences, as it determines how individuals cope with environmental challenges. As a consequence of pleiotropic effects of genes involved in several functions, inter-individual differences in behavioural responses can be associated with phenotypic traits, like melanin-based plumage colouration in birds. We examined the association between three proxies of the behavioural stress response and breast plumage colouration in barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) nestlings. We found that nestling behavioural responses were consistent within individuals and similar among siblings, thus suggesting that these behaviours may contribute to define individual ‘personalities’. However, nestling behavioural stress response was not significantly predicted by variation in breast plumage colouration, indicating that in juveniles of this species melanin-based colouration does not convey to conspecifics reliable information on individual ability to cope with stressful events.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document