PigWatch: early automated detection of tail biting and aggression

Despite decades of intensive research, aggression and tail biting in pigs still persist on many farms. Remedialmeasures are dependent on early diagnosis of these injurious behaviours. The European PigWatch Project (https://pigwatch.net, Anihwa ERA-Net) aims to sensitize stock persons to early behavioural signs of pigs. It also develops 3 automated techniques to record injurious behaviours. To start we developed and tested an on-farm observation protocol for animal handlers, requiring them to observe their pigs differently. Farmers in the 5 participating countries of the project confirmed that the position of the tail (hanging or curled) is a good early indicator. For some the use of the protocol changed the way they look at their animals. Pigwatch also develops technological solutions. A first study focused on increased behavioural activity as a sign of ongoing aggressive acts. A sensor will send an alarm to an app when activity is conspicuous. The first prototype detects 42% of fights, with 62% true positives. Its sensitivity and specificity is still being improved. In a second study, a multispectrum camera was developed to detect blood (Hb) through the use of LEDs emitting 6 different wavelengths, of which the reflection is caught on separate digital photos. The principle was tested with success on fresh and old blood and compared with red ink. It is now applied on group housed pigs. Finally, in a third study, tail length and lesions are automatically detected by camera in-line at the abattoir. The system was used on pigs from 225 herds (250+ carcasses / batch). It can generate a report per herd on the number of pigs, the prevalence of tail lesions and the fraction of short and very short tails

Describing Temperament in an Ungulate: A Multidimensional Approach

Studies on animal temperament have often described temperament using a one-dimensional scale, whereas theoretical framework has recently suggested two or more dimensions using terms like “valence” or “arousal” to describe these dimensions. Yet, the valence or assessment of a situation is highly individual. The aim of this study was to provide support for the multidimensional framework with experimental data originating from an economically important species (Bos taurus). We tested 361 calves at 90 days post natum (dpn) in a novel-object test. Using a principal component analysis (PCA), we condensed numerous behaviours into fewer variables to describe temperament and correlated these variables with simultaneously measured heart rate variability (HRV) data. The PCA resulted in two behavioural dimensions (principal components, PC): novel-object-related (PC 1) and exploration-activity-related (PC 2). These PCs explained 58% of the variability in our data. The animals were distributed evenly within the two behavioural dimensions independent of their sex. Calves with different scores in these PCs differed significantly in HRV, and thus in the autonomous nervous system’s activity. Based on these combined behavioural and physiological data we described four distinct temperament types resulting from two behavioural dimensions: “neophobic/fearful – alert”, “interested – stressed”, “subdued/uninterested – calm”, and “neoophilic/outgoing – alert”. Additionally, 38 calves were tested at 90 and 197 dpn. Using the same PCA-model, they correlated significantly in PC 1 and tended to correlate in PC 2 between the two test ages. Of these calves, 42% expressed a similar behaviour pattern in both dimensions and 47% in one. No differences in temperament scores were found between sexes or breeds. In conclusion, we described distinct temperament types in calves based on behavioural and physiological measures emphasising the benefits of a multidimensional approach

Facial expression and oxytocin as possible markers of positive emotions in horses

Behavioural and physiological markers of discrete positive emotions remain little investigated in animals. To characterise new markers in horses, we used tactile stimulations to induce emotional situation of contrasting valence. In the Gentle grooming group (G, N = 13) horses were gently groomed during 11 sessions on the body areas they appreciated the most. Horses in the Standard grooming group (S, N = 14) were groomed using a fixed procedure, reported to induce avoidance reactions in some horses. At session 11, G horses expressed significantly more contact-seeking behaviours than S horses, which expressed significantly more avoidance behaviours. This result suggests positive emotions in G horses and negative emotions in S horses. Blood cortisol, oxytocin, heart rate and heart rate variability never differed between before and after the grooming session. However, after the 11 sessions, basal oxytocin levels were lower in the G than in the S group. This difference was unexpected, but supports studies showing that a low level of basal oxytocin could be a marker of better well-being. Analyses of facial expressions during grooming revealed significant differences between groups. These expressions appear to be more sensitive than behavioural indicators because they alone enabled differentiating emotions according to the group when horses were re-exposed to neutral grooming one year after the treatment