Individual behavioral correlates of tail biting in pre-finishing piglets

INTRODUCTION: Tail biting is a widespread problem in pig production systems and has a negative impact on both animal welfare and farm income. This explorative study aims to validate how tail biting is related to general behaviors at the individual level and explore whether these behaviors are related to a particular type of tail biting: two-stage, sudden-forceful, obsessive, or epidemic. METHODS: This research was conducted in a standard commercial setting where 89 tail-docked pre-finishing piglets divided into 8 groups were observed 4 days per week from 5 to 8 weeks of age. Each piglet was observed for a total of 160 min using continuous focal sampling. Ten individual behaviors were recorded based on the general behaviors expected to be linked to giving tail biting (PCA1), receiving tail biting (PCA2), and tail biting damage (PCA3). These PCAs were assembled and related to tail biting given, tail biting received, and tail biting lesions. RESULTS: Tail biting did not lead to major damage on the piglets' tail at 8 weeks of age but was observed 420 times, where most of the individuals (72%) were categorized as "biters and victims." When relating PCA1 with tail biting given, piglets that gave more tail biting showed more "active exploration." When relating PCA2 with tail biting received, piglets receiving more tail biting were more "explored while active" and "attacked and explored." When relating PCA2 with tail biting lesions, piglets presenting lesions showed more "agonism." Surprisingly, tail biting lesions were not significantly related to PCA3. The relationship between explorative behaviors and tail biting indicates that the pre-damage stage of two-stage tail biting was the predominant tail biting type, while the damaging stage was likely incipient. The relationship between tail biting and aggression, as well as the minor tail lesions observed suggest that sudden-forceful tail biting was probably present even though it was rarely seen. Obsessive and epidemic tail biting were not observed. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that studying tail biting at the individual level helps to identify the type of tail biting present. This gives directions to farmers for applying appropriate measures to prevent the development of tail biting behavior in piglets

Data from: Implications for welfare, productivity and sustainability of the variation in reported levels of mortality for laying hen flocks kept in different housing systems: a meta-analysis of ten studies.

Data from ten sources comprising 3,851 flocks were modelled to identify variation in levels of mortality in laying hens. The predicted increase with age was curvilinear with significant variation between the seven breed categories. Mortality was higher in loose housing systems than in cages and variable within system, confirming previous reports. Cumulative mortality (CM) was higher in flocks with intact beaks (?2 = 6.03; df 1; p=0.014) than in those with trimmed beaks. Most data were available for free-range systems (2,823 flocks), where producer recorded CM at 60-80 weeks of age averaged 10% but with a range from 0% to 69.3%. Life cycle assessment showed that the main effect of increased levels of hen mortality is to increase the relative contribution of breeding overheads, so increasing environmental burdens per unit of production. Reducing CM to levels currently achieved by the 1st quartile could reduce flock greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 25%. Concurrently this would enhance hen welfare and better meet the expectation of egg consumers. More research to understand the genetic x environment interaction and detailed records of the causes of mortality are required so that improved genotypes can be developed for different systems and different breeds can be better managed within systems.,Mortality data and associated variablesThis is an Excel (.xlsx) file derived from an Access database of cumulative mortality data collected in the field from farm records in the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands. Associated data include housing system, flock size and genotype. See Notes sheet for description of abbreviations.Mortality data PONE-D-15-27282.xlsxData used in the LCA analysis by Cranfield UniversityThe file describes the content, which includes tables of average growth and feed data for the breed B used in the models of the paper plus a table of average mortality data.

Data from: Implications for welfare, productivity and sustainability of the variation in reported levels of mortality for laying hen flocks kept in different housing systems: a meta-analysis of ten studies.

Data from ten sources comprising 3,851 flocks were modelled to identify variation in levels of mortality in laying hens. The predicted increase with age was curvilinear with significant variation between the seven breed categories. Mortality was higher in loose housing systems than in cages and variable within system, confirming previous reports. Cumulative mortality (CM) was higher in flocks with intact beaks (?2 = 6.03; df 1; p=0.014) than in those with trimmed beaks. Most data were available for free-range systems (2,823 flocks), where producer recorded CM at 60-80 weeks of age averaged 10% but with a range from 0% to 69.3%. Life cycle assessment showed that the main effect of increased levels of hen mortality is to increase the relative contribution of breeding overheads, so increasing environmental burdens per unit of production. Reducing CM to levels currently achieved by the 1st quartile could reduce flock greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 25%. Concurrently this would enhance hen welfare and better meet the expectation of egg consumers. More research to understand the genetic x environment interaction and detailed records of the causes of mortality are required so that improved genotypes can be developed for different systems and different breeds can be better managed within systems.,Mortality data and associated variablesThis is an Excel (.xlsx) file derived from an Access database of cumulative mortality data collected in the field from farm records in the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands. Associated data include housing system, flock size and genotype. See Notes sheet for description of abbreviations.Mortality data PONE-D-15-27282.xlsxData used in the LCA analysis by Cranfield UniversityThe file describes the content, which includes tables of average growth and feed data for the breed B used in the models of the paper plus a table of average mortality data.

Data from: Long-term and trans-generational effects of neonatal experience on sheep behaviour

Early life experiences can have profound long-term, and sometimes trans-generational, effects on individual phenotypes. However, there is a relative paucity of knowledge about effects on pain sensitivity, even though these may impact on an individual's health and welfare, particularly in farm animals exposed to painful husbandry procedures. Here, we tested in sheep whether neonatal painful and non-painful challenges can alter pain sensitivity in adult life, and also in the next generation. Ewes exposed to tail-docking or a simulated mild infection (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) on days 3–4 of life showed higher levels of pain-related behaviour when giving birth as adults compared with control animals. LPS-treated ewes also gave birth to lambs who showed decreased pain sensitivity in standardized tests during days 2–3 of life. Our results demonstrate long-term and trans-generational effects of neonatal experience on pain responses in a commercially important species and suggest that variations in early life management can have important implications for animal health and welfare.,Data for Clark et al. (2014) Biology Letters - early experience affects pain responsesData referred to in Clark et al. (2014). Long-term and trans-generational effects of neonatal experience on sheep behaviour. Biology Letters. Data column headings should be self-explanatory, especially with reference to the paper.

Data from: Managing conflict between bats and humans: the response of soprano pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) to exclusion from roosts in houses

Conflict can arise when bats roost in human dwellings and householders are affected adversely by their presence. In the United Kingdom, the exclusion of bats from roosts can be licensed under exceptional circumstances to alleviate conflict, but the fate of excluded bats and the impact on their survival and reproduction is not well understood. Using radio-tracking, we investigated the effects of exclusion on the soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus, a species that commonly roosts in buildings in Europe. Exclusions were performed under licence at five roosts in England in spring, when females were in the early stages of pregnancy. Following exclusion, all bats found alternative roosts and colonies congregated in nearby known roosts that had been used by radio-tagged bats prior to exclusion. We found no difference in roosting behaviour before and after exclusion. Both the frequency of roost switching and the type of roosts used by bats remained unchanged. We also found no change in foraging behaviour. Bats foraged in the same areas, travelled similar distances to reach foraging areas and showed similar patterns of habitat selection before and after exclusion. Population modelling suggested that any reduction in survival following exclusion could have a negative impact on population growth, whereas a reduction in productivity would have less effect. While the number of soprano pipistrelle exclusions currently licensed each year is likely to have little effect on local populations, the cumulative impacts of licensing the destruction of large numbers of roosts may be of concern.,P.pyg exclusion day roost recordsOriginal data collected from the field, showing the locations where radio-tagged bats roosted each day during field experiments, a with additional information on roost categorisation.P.pyg exclusion foraging recordsOriginal data collected from the field. These data were used to determine the fix locations of foraging bats during field experiments.

Data from: Do fish perceive anaesthetics as aversive?

This study addresses a fundamental question in fish welfare: are the anaesthetics used for fish aversive? Despite years of routine general use of many agents, within both scientific research and aquaculture, there is a paucity of information regarding their tolerance and associated behavioural responses by fish. This study examined nine of the most commonly used fish anaesthetic agents, and performed preference tests using adult mixed sex zebrafish (Danio rerio), the most commonly held laboratory fish. Video tracking software quantified swimming behaviour related to aversion for each anaesthetic at 50% of its standard recommended dose compared with clean water in a flow-through chemotaxic choice chamber. Results suggest that several commonly used anaesthetics were aversive, including two of the most commonly recommended and used: MS222 (ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulphate) and benzocaine. For ethical best practice, it is recommended that compounds that are aversive, even at low concentration, should no longer be used routinely for anaesthesia or indeed the first step of humane euthanasia of adult zebrafish. Two agents were found not to induce aversive behavioural responses; etomidate and 2,2,2 tribromoethanol. For the millions of adult zebrafish used in laboratories and breeding worldwide, etomidate appears best suited for future routine humane use.,222Offline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.2PE sinOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.Benz sinOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.CleanOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.EthanolOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.Etom sinOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.HCLOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.Iso sinOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.LidocaineOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.MS222Pro sinOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.Q S BufOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.

Data from: Do fish perceive anaesthetics as aversive?

This study addresses a fundamental question in fish welfare: are the anaesthetics used for fish aversive? Despite years of routine general use of many agents, within both scientific research and aquaculture, there is a paucity of information regarding their tolerance and associated behavioural responses by fish. This study examined nine of the most commonly used fish anaesthetic agents, and performed preference tests using adult mixed sex zebrafish (Danio rerio), the most commonly held laboratory fish. Video tracking software quantified swimming behaviour related to aversion for each anaesthetic at 50% of its standard recommended dose compared with clean water in a flow-through chemotaxic choice chamber. Results suggest that several commonly used anaesthetics were aversive, including two of the most commonly recommended and used: MS222 (ethyl 3-aminobenzoate methanesulphate) and benzocaine. For ethical best practice, it is recommended that compounds that are aversive, even at low concentration, should no longer be used routinely for anaesthesia or indeed the first step of humane euthanasia of adult zebrafish. Two agents were found not to induce aversive behavioural responses; etomidate and 2,2,2 tribromoethanol. For the millions of adult zebrafish used in laboratories and breeding worldwide, etomidate appears best suited for future routine humane use.,222Offline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.2PE sinOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.Benz sinOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.CleanOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.EthanolOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.Etom sinOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.HCLOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.Iso sinOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.LidocaineOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.MS222Pro sinOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.Q S BufOffline analysis of the video recordings was carried out using VideoTrack analysis software (Version 2.5.0.25, ViewPoint, Lyon, France). The data output from VideoTrack was subsequently formatted in Excel (Microsoft office, 2007) and covers the distance moved in exposed/un exposed lanes, movements and time spent.

Dataset for Male Eurasian jays flexibly alter their food sharing in line with partners' choices

This is the raw data for Exp. 1 and Exp. 2 from "Investigating the flexibility of male Eurasian jays' food-sharing behavior' by Rachel C Crosby, Edward W Legg, Katharina F. Brecht, Michael T Mendl, Ljerka Ostojic and Nicola S. Clayton in a machine-readable format. It was previously pre-printed under the title of "Male Eurasian jays flexibly alter their food sharing in line with partners’ choices"

Data from: State-dependent judgement bias in Drosophila: evidence for evolutionarily primitive affective processes

Affective states influence decision-making under ambiguity in humans and other animals. Individuals in a negative state tend to interpret ambiguous cues more negatively than individuals in a positive state. We demonstrate that the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, also exhibits state-dependent changes in cue interpretation. Drosophila were trained on a Go/Go task to approach a positive (P) odour associated with a sugar reward and actively avoid a negative (N) odour associated with shock. Trained flies were then either shaken to induce a purported negative state or left undisturbed (control), and given a choice between: air or P; air or N; air or ambiguous odour (1:1 blend of P:N). Shaken flies were significantly less likely to approach the ambiguous odour than control flies. This ‘judgement bias’ may be mediated by changes in neural activity that reflect evolutionarily primitive affective states. We cannot say whether such states are consciously experienced, but utilisation of this model organism’s versatile experimental tool kit may facilitate elucidation of their neural and genetic basis

Cephalopods in neuroscience: regulations, research and the 3Rs

Cephalopods have been utilised in neurosci- ence research for more than 100 years particularly because of their phenotypic plasticity, complex and centralised nervous system, tractability for studies of learning and cellular mechanisms of memory (e.g. long-term potentia- tion) and anatomical features facilitating physiological studies (e.g. squid giant axon and synapse). On 1 January 2013, research using any of the about 700 extant species of ‘‘live cephalopods’’ became regulated within the European Union by Directive 2010/63/EU on the ‘‘Protection of Animals used for Scientific Purposes’’, giving cephalopods the same EU legal protection as previously afforded only to vertebrates. The Directive has a number of implications, particularly for neuroscience research. These include: (1) projects will need justification, authorisation from local competent authorities, and be subject to review including a harm-benefit assessment and adherence to the 3Rs princi- ples (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction). (2) To support project evaluation and compliance with the new EU law, guidelines specific to cephalopods will need to be developed, covering capture, transport, handling, housing, care, maintenance, health monitoring, humane anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia. (3) Objective criteria need to be developed to identify signs of pain, suffering, distress and lasting harm particularly in the context of their induction by an experimental procedure. Despite diversity of views existing on some of these topics, this paper reviews the above topics and describes the approaches being taken by the cephalopod research community (represented by the authorship) to produce ‘‘guidelines’’ and the potential contribution of neuroscience research to cephalopod welfare