Prostaglandin F2a Induced Nest Building Behavior in the Non-Pregnant Sow, and Some Welfare Considerations

Nest-building behavior, induced with intramuscular injections of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a), was studied in non-pregnant sows. Acute effects were also recorded, including salivation, scratching, vomiting, defecation, and ataxia. Sows (Large White x Landrace) were housed in two different environments; six in bare pens and six in pens provided with bedding material. All cases except one (bare pen) nest-building sequences of differing intensities were recorded. Welfare suggestions include questioning the justification of using a drug (PGF2a) in pig husbandry, which has unpleasant acute effects, and the suggestion that the provision of bedding material is not necessary for a nest-building sequence to occur

Ethics, Welfare, and Laboratory Animal Management

Animals have been used in medical research from as far back as 129-199 A.D. when Galen, a Greek medical scientist, used a pig for his experiments. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, anatomical dissections were carried out on animals; Galvani used frogs in 1791 for his experiments and the Russian physiologist, Pavlov, carried out his famous dog experiments in the early 1900s. Since this time, large numbers of animals have been used in biomedical and other research. In 1963 the first edition of The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals was published, and the United States Public Health Service began to require all recipients of grants in which animals were used to adhere to these guidelines. There is now worldwide interest in welfare issues, and the ethics of using animals for research has been raised in many countries. The study of ethics is the treating of moral questions and is concerned with right and wrong. There will always be differing opinions on the ethics of animal use which may raise dilemmas for workers. In a practical sense this has often been dealt with by drafting codes for the care and use of experimental animals. Adherence to a code, however, does not exclude the experimenter from actively considering ethical and welfare issues. Three important issues in laboratory animal management are the ethics of using the animals for experimentation, the welfare of the animals being used, and the scientific validity of the selected species and number to be used

Stereotype Behaviour in Sows and Gilts Housed in Stalls, Tethers, and Groups

Observations of sows and gilts in tethers, stalls, and groups showed two distinct types of behaviour: pre-feed behaviour when pigs were anticipating food, and after-feed behaviour. Sows and gilts tethered for the first time do not show pre-feed excitement, but this develops in 42 days which suggests that pre-feed behaviour is not stereotype, as suggested by the literature, but is a conditioned reflex. The question of the importance of after-feeding behaviours which are often called stereotypies is examined. The total time occupied by these behaviours over 24 hours by tethered sows is 14.5 to 29.0%, by tethered gilts 1.4 to 5.6%, by stalled sows 10 to 14%, and 4.2 to 6.3% in stalled gilts. Grouped animals do not show the same behaviours as the stalled and tethered ones. Several examples of true stereotypies are described, but not all tethered or stalled pigs exhibit chronic bar biting. Changes in the environment of two of these sows did not alter the fixed stereotype behaviour. Each individual seems to have an optimum level of environmental stimulation which may account for the great differences in individual behaviours

Stereotype Behaviour in Sows and Gilts Housed in Stalls, Tethers, and Groups

Observations of sows and gilts in tethers, stalls, and groups showed two distinct types of behaviour: pre-feed behaviour when pigs were anticipating food, and after-feed behaviour. Sows and gilts tethered for the first time do not show pre-feed excitement, but this develops in 42 days which suggests that pre-feed behaviour is not stereotype, as suggested by the literature, but is a conditioned reflex. The question of the importance of after-feeding behaviours which are often called stereotypies is examined. The total time occupied by these behaviours over 24 hours by tethered sows is 14.5 to 29.0%, by tethered gilts 1.4 to 5.6%, by stalled sows 10 to 14%, and 4.2 to 6.3% in stalled gilts. Grouped animals do not show the same behaviours as the stalled and tethered ones. Several examples of true stereotypies are described, but not all tethered or stalled pigs exhibit chronic bar biting. Changes in the environment of two of these sows did not alter the fixed stereotype behaviour. Each individual seems to have an optimum level of environmental stimulation which may account for the great differences in individual behaviours

A Different Approach to Horse Handling, Based on the Jeffery Method

A method of horse training is discussed, which is based on an old technique known in Australia as the Jeffery method. It uses several behavioral principles, including understanding horse behavior, reinforcement for desired behavior, and flight distance principles

A Different Approach to Horse Handling, Based on the Jeffery Method

A method of horse training is discussed which is based on an old technique known in Australia as the Jeffery method. It makes use of several behavioral principles, including understanding of horse behavior, reinforcement for desired behavior, and use of flight distance principles

Taking Account of Animal Ethics and Welfare

Animal ethics and welfare, the model codes of practice for the welfare of animals and the bureaucracy which is necessary to make the codes work, are an indulgence of wealthy, developed countries. In many developing countries the main concern of people is their day-to-day survival with little concern for long-term ecological implications or animal welfare issues. Unfortunately many aid programs have been a waste of money with many layers of expensive bureaucracy, and recently organisations have been forced to reconsider their position on the livestock industries in developing countries. Working with the farmers and their indigenous stock, progress can be made with seemingly simple strategies. Just the system of feeding poultry each day and confining them for part of the day and at night can produce more eggs and prevent predation. This means more money, better health for the livestock and the people. The concept of animal welfare could be built into this training with the emphasis on the benefits accruing to the people as well as to the animals

Prostaglandin F2a Induced Nest Building Behavior in the Non-Pregnant Sow, and Some Welfare Considerations

Nest building behavior, induced with intramuscular injections of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a), was studied in non-pregnant sows. Acute effects, which included salivation, scratching, vomiting, defaecation and ataxia, were also recorded. Sows (Large White x Landrace) were housed in two different environments; six sows in bare pens and six sows in pens provided with bedding material. In all cases except one (bare pen) nest building sequences of differing intensities were recorded. Welfare suggestions include questioning the justification of using a drug (PGF2a) in pig husbandry, which has unpleasant acute effects, and the suggestion that the provision of bedding material is not necessary for a nest building sequence to occur

Prostaglandin F2a Induced Nest Building Behavior in the Non-Pregnant Sow, and Some Welfare Considerations

Nest-building behavior, induced with intramuscular injections of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a), was studied in non-pregnant sows. Acute effects were also recorded, including salivation, scratching, vomiting, defecation, and ataxia. Sows (Large White x Landrace) were housed in two different environments; six in bare pens and six in pens provided with bedding material. All cases except one (bare pen) nest-building sequences of differing intensities were recorded. Welfare suggestions include questioning the justification of using a drug (PGF2a) in pig husbandry, which has unpleasant acute effects, and the suggestion that the provision of bedding material is not necessary for a nest-building sequence to occur