A high prevalence of deviations and fractures of the keel bone is a widespread welfare problem in laying hens. The aim of this study was to experimentally investigate this multifactorial problem throughout the laying period...
Affect-induced cognitive judgement biases occur in both humans and animals. Animals in a more negative affective state tend to interpret ambiguous cues more negatively than animals in a more positive state and vice versa. Investigating...
The enriched boxes were similar to the bare ones but also contained the following objects: two large red rubbing bungs, a golf ball, a bottle top, two coloured table tennis balls hanging from the cage...
Evidence for the hypothesis that brain-opioids mediate social affect and social attachments is summarized. Opiates and opioids are very effective in reducing social separation-induced distress vocalizations (DVs), in puppies, young guinea pigs and chicks, while...
When young animals are separated from their normal social environment in groups they distress vocalize (DV) less than when isolated alone. Opioid blockade with naloxone (1 mg/kg peripherally, and 1 microgram centrally) increased crying more...
Brightly coloured spherical objects [balls 4-9 cm in diameter] placed in the feed trough are considered to be a promising method of successful environmental enrichment [simulating ground-litter] for caged laying hens. There was no indication...
The results of the present study indicate that specific noise stimulus (90 dB versus 65 dB) causes stress and fear in laying hens and specific classical music stimulus (75 dB versus 65 dB) has a...
A strong preference was found for dustbathing on Astroturf flooring.
These guidelines aim to provide information for investigators, animal care committees, facility managers and animal care staff that will assist in improving both the care given to farm animals and the manner in which experimental...
In the present study, high feather pecking (HFP) and low feather pecking (LFP) birds were used to investigate if the lines differ in their willingness to work for food or feathers in the presence of...