Overlapping attributes of animal welfare and sustainability: potential influence on consumer behaviour

Oral session 1[EN] This study belongs to the first stage of a project aiming to analyze how overlapping attributes might affect purchase decisions for animal products. The main goal is to understand the intersection between two attributes impacting consumer behaviour: sustainability and welfare

“Post-it mapping”: analogical disruption in the classroom

[ES] Educators need to prepare students for an increasingly complex and interconnected world, and traditional teaching methods can fail to help students develop some of the needed skills. We set up to combine flipped-calssroom strategies and mapping techniques with the aim to encourage creativity and adaptability while ensuring deep learning of complex theoretical concepts. A simple analogical disruption was added, in the shape of post-it notes used to build concept maps, to disturb an otherwise heavy technology-based course. Our teaching innovation has been pilot tested in a range of groups and theoretical concepts with preliminary positive feedback being reported by students.They have described the innovation as “an entertaining change”, but also referring to improvements on their information searching and critical thinking skills. Students also found that the analogical mapping activity through post-it notes encouraged participation and an active attitude in class. Overall, they reported an improved understading of complex concepts and to their independent learning skills, which appears to support the literature linking visual representations and summary exercises with high student satisfaction and improvements in meaningful learning.Buil, T.; Delgado, J.; Pinar, JV.; Liste, G. (2020). “Post-it mapping”: analogical disruption in the classroom. En 6th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'20). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. (30-05-2020):317-324. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd20.2020.11048OCS31732430-05-202

The effects of artificial rearing and fostering on the growth, carcass and meat quality of lambs

Lamb rearing is a key point to ensure good quality at the end of the production cycle. Fostering and artificial rearing are techniques commonly used when natural rearing is compromised. However, there is a lack of research investigating their impact on the product´s quality, especially when lambs are slaughtered late, around 6 months of age. The current study investigated the effects of artificially reared and fostered lambs on growth, carcass and meat quality. The three foster methods under study were birth fluids, cervical stimulation combined with birth fluids and restraint. Animals were weaned at 3 months of age, and processed at 6 months of age. Artificially reared lambs presented lower weight gains than ewe reared ones at young ages. They also presented worse conformation scores at the processing plant. No differences could be found for growth rates, carcass or meat quality among the foster methods tested

Phenotype alteration causes long-term changes to the social strategies of victimised birds

Abstract Phenotype alterations can occur naturally during the life span of the domestic fowl. These alterations increase the risk to become a target of aggression and may cause a severe impact on the welfare of affected birds. We analysed the behavioural consequences of sequential phenotype alterations and their long-term effects within stable social groups of adult birds differing in group size. Phenotypically homogeneous groups, with 100% or 0% marked individuals, and heterogeneous groups, with 70%, 50% or 30% marked birds, were housed at constant density in groups of 10, 20 or 40. We applied sequential phenotype alterations to homogeneous groups (by marking or unmarking birds) and compared their behavioural response to heterogeneous groups considered controls. Results show that aggression was greatly affected by phenotype alteration but, unexpectedly, group size did not play any relevant role modulating social responses. Aggression was directed towards the first altered birds and was significantly higher than in control groups. Long term effects were detected, as victimized individuals failed to engage in aggression at any time and adapted their behaviour to minimize aggressive encounters (e.g. high perch use). Therefore, we provide evidence of long-lasting submissive strategies in stable groups of adult domestic fowl, highlighting the relevance of phenotype alteration on the social dynamics of affected birds. Phenotype alterations could help explain much of the targeted aggression observed in producing flocks which severely affects animal welfare

The looks matter; aggression escalation from changes on phenotypic appearance in the domestic fowl

<div><p>Domestic fowl in small groups are assumed to establish hierarchical systems based on individual recognition. Conversely, interactions in large groups are modulated by badges of status. Previous studies suggested that birds differing in phenotypic appearance (PA) became targets for aggression, possibly mistaking altered PA for badges of status. We evaluated the impact of altering PA on 0, 30, 50, 70 or 100% of the birds’ house at three experimental group sizes (GS). Tested GS were 10, 20 or 40 (8 birds/m², 3 pens/GSxPA, 45 total). Thus, for each GS we had groups initially homogenous (100U, U = Unmarked; 100M, M = Marked), or heterogeneous M and U phenotypes coexisting in different proportions: 30M/70U, 50M/50U, and 70M/30U, remaining unchanged until 33 weeks of age. Then, homogeneous groups (100U and 100M) were sequentially altered by marking or unmarking 30, 50 and 70% of birds at 34, 38 and 44 weeks, respectively. Aggressive interactions were observed before applying changes at 27–28 weeks (T0), and after each sequential PA change on week 35–36 (T1), 39–40 (T2) and 45–46 (T3). Frequency of aggressive interactions in altered groups at T1, T2, and T3 were compared with non-altered heterogeneous controls. Results indicate no differences across initial PA and GS treatments (T0; P>0.05). However, aggression escalation was observed at T1 immediately after the first PA manipulation (Tukey P<0.05 altered <i>vs</i> controls). Aggression in altered groups remained high at T2 when compared to controls (Tukey, P<0.05), although by T3 interactions declined to almost initial levels (Tukey, P>0.05 altered <i>vs</i> controls). Aggressive interactions at T1 and T2 were predominantly directed from un-altered towards recently altered birds, irrespectively of their initial phenotype and of the GS. These results demonstrate that a sudden change in PA affects group dynamics. Altered birds were exposed to escalated aggression even in small groups, where individual recognition was presumed.</p></div

Experimental design.

<p>Three different group sizes (GS) were tested (10, 20 and 40) for each original phenotypic appearance (PA) treatment: 100% U (100U), 30% (30M/70U), 50% (50M/50U), 70% (70M/30U), 100% M (100M)). U: Unmarked, M: Marked. Originally heterogeneous groups: 30, 50 and 70% altered from day one were used as controls. Adapted from Marin et al. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0188931#pone.0188931.ref047" target="_blank">47</a>].</p

Directionality of aggressive interactions across time.

<p>M = marked; U = unmarked. Differences between observed and expected aggressive interactions (means ± SE) for each possible interacting pair (MM, MU, UM and UU) and phenotypic appearance (PA) treatment: originally homogeneous (100U, 100M), and controls (30M/70U, 50M/50U, 70M/30U). 3A) T0: 27–28 weeks; 3B) T1: 35–36; 3C) T2:39–40; 3D) T3:45–46. Different letters indicate significant differences among interacting pairs within the same PA treatment.</p

Ethogram defining the aggressive interactions recorded: Aggressive pecks, chases, leaps, threats and fights.

<p>Ethogram defining the aggressive interactions recorded: Aggressive pecks, chases, leaps, threats and fights.</p

Total aggression (interactions per bird/40 min).

<p>Frequency of total aggression per bird at T0 (27–28 weeks; 1A), T1 (35–36 weeks; 1B), T2 (39–40 weeks; 1C) and T3 (45–46 weeks, 1D). Bars represent means ± SE. M = marked; U = unmarked. Phenotypic appearance (PA) treatments: originally homogeneous (100U, 100M) and controls (30M/70U, 50M/50U, 70M/30U). Different letters denote significant differences among PA treatments at <i>P</i><0.05.</p