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Using a web-based questionnaire with 29 close- and open-ended questions about 400 self-reported dog-biting incidents in Slovenia, this research investigated the contexts of dog bites, focusing on characteristics of the dogs and the descriptions of the situations to identify the main risk factors for the occurrence of dog bites. Even though it has been suggested that most dog bites occur during initially non-aggressive interactions with the dog (e.g., during petting, playing), in our study we discerned a wide variety of contexts, including those in which the person did not intend to interact with the dog. Most victims reported unprovoked bites during fast movements near the dog, while coming into close proximity, and during incidents without a reason. These incidents more likely occurred in public than private places and were associated with purebred dogs with a history of aggression.

In this perspective analysis, we strive to answer the following question: how can we advance integrative biology research in the 21st century with lessons from animal science? At the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Animal Science, we share here our three lessons learned in the two decades from 2002 to 2022 that we believe could inform integrative biology, systems science, and animal science scholarship in other countries and geographies. Cultivating multiomics knowledge through a conceptual lens of integrative biology is crucial for life sciences research that can stand the test of diverse biological, clinical, and ecological contexts. Moreover, in an era of the current COVID-19 pandemic, animal nutrition and animal science, and the study of their interactions with human health (and vice versa) through integrative biology approaches hold enormous prospects and significance for systems medicine and ecosystem health.

Recently, in many parts of the world, greater importance has been given to lamb meat as well as to the intensive production of lamb and sheep, due to demand for this type of meat at affordable prices. In Serbia, similar to most European countries, the structure of total sheep meat production comprises about 70% lamb meat and 30% sheep meat. This study assessed resource-based measures on 11 dairy sheep farms and investigated, in a total of 30 lambs, the effects of sex, the presence of bruises and pneumonia in carcasses, and carcass and meat quality. Carcass (carcass length, thigh length, croup width, subcutaneous fat thickness, presence of bruises) and meat quality (pH, temperature, drip, thawing and cooking losses, color, and meat quality classes) traits were measured post mortem. The most common deficiencies on farms were high stocking density, poor hygienic conditions, dirty drinkers, and lack of outdoor access. Regarding sex differences, higher prevalences of carcass bruises and severe pneumonia were recorded in male lambs. Meat pH (pH45min), sensory color score, and prevalence of dark, firm and dry (DFD) meat were higher in lambs with carcass bruises. The occurrence of quality defects (DFD meat) was higher in lambs with severe pneumonia. It can be concluded that it is necessary to improve the welfare conditions on the lamb farms and pre-slaughter conditions in order to achieve better lamb meat quality. U mnogim delovima sveta, sve više se daje na značaju jagnjećem mesu kao i intenzivnom načinu gajenja jagnjadi i ovaca, usled velike potražnje za jagnjadima po povoljnim cenama. U Srbiji, kao i u najvećem broju zemalja Evrope, akcenat je stavljan na jagnjeće meso, pri čemu u strukturi ukupne proizvodnje ovčijeg mesa oko 70% čini zaklana jagnjad, a ostatak ovce i ovnovi. U ovom istraživanju, ispitani su uslovi dobrobiti na 11 farmi ovaca na osnovu indirektnih pokazatelja, kao i uticaj pola, prisustva modrica i pneumonije na kvalitet trupa i mesa 30 jagnjadi. Postmortem su određivani pokazatelji kvaliteta trupa (dužina trupa, dužina buta, širina sapi, prekrivenost trupa masnim tkivom, prisustvo pneumonija, konformacija i prisustvo modrica) i mesa tovnih jagnjadi (pH, temperatura, sposobnost vezivanja vode mesa, boja mesa, klase kvaliteta mesa). Najčešći nedostaci na ispitivanim farmama su velika gustina naseljenosti, loši higijenski uslovi, prljave pojilice, kao i nedostatak ispusta. Kod muške jagnjadi utvrđen je veći procenat modrica na trupu i patoloških promena na plućima, u odnosu na žensku jagnjad. Kod jagnjadi sa modricama na trupu utvrđena je viša pH (pH45min) vrednost mesa i senzorna ocena za boju mesa, kao i veća učestalost tamnog, suvog i čvrstog (TČS) mesa. Učestalost TČS mesa bila je veća kod jagnjadi sa teškom pneumonijom. Na osnovu rezultata može se zaključiti da je neophodno poboljšati uslove dobrobiti jagnjadi na farmi i tokom postupanja sa jagnjadima pre klanja, kako bi se dobilo meso boljeg kvaliteta.

We investigated the post-weaning effect of providing additional objects (i.e. rope, ball, tyre) to commercial piglets given straw pre- and post-weaning on behaviour and average daily gain (ADG). Piglets from litters with objects (O,n = 20 in 5 litters) and controls (C,n = 20 in 5 litters) were observed from 24 h post-weaning and during six days. Piglets were weighed at birth, weaning and 11 days post-weaning. O-piglets performed less littermate manipulation (P < 0.05), exploring pen fixtures (P < 0.1) and lying (P < 0.1) but spent more time in the creep post-weaning than C-piglets (P < 0.1). Social or locomotor play was expressed similarly in both treatments. Day strongly influenced the behaviour of pigs post-weaning. O-piglets had significantly lower pre-weaning ADG than C-piglets (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in post-weaning ADG between the treatments. Providing objects to piglets around weaning may reduce some negative behaviours, but may affect weight gain negatively.

Damaging behaviors (DB) such as tail and ear biting are prevalent in pig production and reduce welfare and performance. Anecdotal reports suggest that health challenges increase the risk of tail-biting. The prevalence of tail damage and health problems show high correlations across batches within and between farms. There are many common risk factors for tail-biting and health problems, notably respiratory, enteric and locomotory diseases. These include suboptimal thermal climate, hygiene, stocking density and feed quality. The prevalence of tail damage and health problems also show high correlations across batches within and between farms. However, limited evidence supports two likely causal mechanisms for a direct link between DB and health problems. The first is that generalized poor health (e.g., enzootic pneumonia) on farm poses an increased risk of pigs performing DB. Recent studies indicate a possible causal link between an experimental inflammation and an increase in DB, and suggest a link between cytokines and tail-biting. The negative effects of poor health on the ingestion and processing of nutrients means that immune-stimulated pigs may develop specific nutrient deficiencies, increasing DB. The second causal mechanism involves tail-biting causing poor health. Indirectly, pathogens enter the body via the tail lesion and once infected, systemic spread of infection may occur. This occurs mainly via the venous route targeting the lungs, and to a lesser extent via cerebrospinal fluid and the lymphatic system. In carcasses with tail lesions, there is an increase in lung lesions, abscessation, arthritis and osteomyelitis. There is also evidence for the direct spread of pathogens between biters and victims. In summary, the literature supports the association between poor health and DB, particularly tail-biting. However, there is insufficient evidence to confirm causality in either direction. Nevertheless, the limited evidence is compelling enough to suggest that improvements to management and housing to enhance pig health will reduce DB. In the same way, improvements to housing and management designed to address DB, are likely to result in benefits to pig health. While most of the available literature relates to tail-biting, we suggest that similar mechanisms are responsible for links between health and other DB.

The study was conducted between March and September 2019 in six meat-type turkey flocks with similar management standard procedures using the transect walk method. The concept of the method is based on visual observation of the birds while slowly walking across the entire farm in predetermined transects. Each flock was evaluated at three different times during the fattening cycle: at 3 to 4, 12 to 13, and 19 to 20 weeks of age, and total number of males and females that were immobile or lame, had visible head, vent, or back wounds, were small, featherless, dirty, or sick, had pendulous crop, or showed aggression toward birds or humans were recorded. At each visit, NH3 and CO2 were measured within the facilities. In the first assessment, the most frequently observed welfare indicators were small size (0.87%) and immobility (0.08%). Males showed a significantly higher prevalence of small size (p &lt, 0.01), sickness (p &lt, 0.05), and dirtiness (p &lt, 0.1) compared to females. In the second assessment, the most common findings in both sexes were dirtiness (1.65%) and poor feather condition (1.06%), followed by immobility (0.28%). Males were significantly dirtier (p &lt, 0.001), had more immobile birds (p &lt, 0.01) and birds with vent wounds (p &lt, 0.1), but had fewer sick birds (p &lt, 0.05). In the last assessment, an increase in immobile, lame, sick, and dead birds was recorded, indicating an increase in health problems. Higher CO2 (3000 and 4433 ppm) and NH3 (40 and 27.6 ppm) values were noted only at the first assessment in two facilities. Further analyses showed that slightly elevated NH3 and CO2 levels did not influence the occurrence of welfare indicators. This study is the first description of the welfare of commercial turkey flocks in Slovenia.

Here we present the first welfare assessment of commercial layers conducted in Slovenia. Hens were assessed in four systems at the beginning of the laying period at 22 to 24 weeks and at 50 to 55 weeks of age. These systems were an enriched battery cage system, an aviary, and a litter system with or without outdoor access. Clinical inspections of flocks were performed, and animal-based welfare indicators were scored (e.g., keel bone damage, feather condition, foot pad lesions, beak deformities, and comb and skin wounds). Hens’ fear level was scored using the novel object test and avoidance distance test. Among resource-based measures, selected micro-climate parameters were measured. The results showed no obvious clinical signs related to infectious diseases and suggest that the selected climate conditions were satisfying in all systems. Among animal-based welfare indicators, keel bone damage was shown to be the most serious problem connected with hens’ age and housing systems ( p < 0.05). Enriched cages and aviary system were associated with significantly more keel deformities compared to the litter systems ( p < 0.05). In addition, the least prevalence of foot pad dermatitis together with better feather condition was observed in the litter systems. In the family-owned aviary facility, hens were found to be the most motivated to approach a novel object or a human, and as such were recognized as the least fearful birds, with better human–animal interaction compared to other intensive housing systems. Key words: laying hens; welfare; health; housing system OCENA DOBROBITI V INTENZIVNIH REJAH KOKOA I NESNIC V SLOVENIJI Povzetek: Opravili smo prvo celovito oceno dobrobiti kokoAii nesnic v Sloveniji. V raziskavo smo vkljuAili nesnice iz Aitirih razliAnih sistemov reje in raven dobrobiti ocenili v dveh starostnih obdobjih; na zaAetku nesnosti, v starosti od 22 do 24 tednov in pri 50 do 55 tednih. Nesnice so bile rejene v obogatenih kletkah, v voljerah, v talni reji brez moA¾nosti izpusta in v talni reji z moA¾nostjo izpusta. Ob vsakem ocenjevanju smo jate kliniAno pregledali in s pregledom posameznih A¾ivali ocenili specifiAne indikatorje dobrega poAutja (poAikodbe prsnice, operjenost, poAikodbe podplatnih blazinic, deformacije kljuna in poAikodbe grebena ter koA¾e). PlaAinost kot indikator socialnega obnaAianja smo ocenili s testom novega predmeta in s testom odmika od Aloveka. Spremljali smo tudi mikro-klimatske pogoje reje. Ves Aas spremljanja nismo ugotovili vidnih kliniAnih znakov kuA¾nih obolenj. Rezultati meritev mikro-klimatskih parametrov nakazujejo, da so bili pogoji v rejah dobri. PoAikodba prsnice se je izmed specifiAnih kazalnikov izkazala za najresnejAii problem, na katerega vplivata tako starost kot sistem reje ( p < 0,05). PoAikodbe prsnice so bile znaAilno bolj izraA¾ene pri kokoAiih iz obogatenih kletk in voljer ( p < 0,05) v primerjavi z nesnicami iz talnih rej. KokoAii iz talnih sistemov so bile tudi boljAie operjene in so imele niA¾jo prevalenco poAikodb na podplatnih blazinicah. Nesnice, ki so bile rejene v voljerah na druA¾inski kmetiji, so kazale najveA zanimanja za nove predmete in Aloveka. Te kokoAii so bile ocenjene kot najmanj plaAine in so izraA¾ale boljAio interakcijo Alovek–A¾ival kot kokoAii iz drugih primerjanih sistemov. KljuAne besede: kokoAii nesnice; dobrobit; zdravje; sistem reje

Feather pecking is a behavior that occurs in order to cope with a constrained environment and is a serious problem in the egg production industry. This longitudinal study was conducted under commercial conditions to investigate whether the application of two repellent mixtures, previously suggested as aversive to wild birds, to the plumage of Prelux-R hybrid egg layers is a viable alternative to beak trimming as a solution to discourage feather pecking among laying hens. A total of 180 untrimmed hybrid layers was reared together in a floor pen. At 18 weeks of age they were allocated randomly to three treatments (repellent P, repellent T, control), each consisting of 6 replicated enriched cages with 10 hens in each cage. Hens were evenly sprayed once every 2 weeks for 54 weeks with solution P (dimethyl anthranilate and methyl phenylacetate), solution T (dimethyl anthranilate and geraniol), or distilled water (control). Body weight, plumage condition, behavior, feed intake, and egg quality measurements were taken at five time periods from 26 to 76 weeks of age. Egg production and mortality were recorded daily. The treatments did not affect feather pecking behavior. Hens treated with repellent T tended to perform less cage pecking than the control hens. The use of the repellents did not reduce feather pecking, the plumage was even more significantly damaged in the hens given the repellents compared to the control hens. This suggests the chemicals in the repellents worsened the plumage. No differences in feed intake and daily egg production between treatments were found. Raw and hard-boiled eggs were highly uniform in odor/flavor/taste and no offensive odor absorption related to the chemicals in the repellents was detected. In conclusion, in the present study we did not find any beneficial effect of dimethyl anthranilate-based repellents on feather pecking frequency and plumage/feather condition. Therefore, we do not encourage their use in wider commercial settings.

This study focused on stress physiology by characterizing cortisol responses to stressors in tail biters (n = 10), victims (n = 10), and control pigs (n = 10) of two different breeds (Landrace × Yorkshire, LY; Landrace/Yorkshire × Landrace/Duroc; LYLD) and sexes (females and castrated males). We exposed pigs to 10 min of isolation with a human at the farm and transported them to a controlled environment. There, the behaviour was registered for 10 min during sessions when subjected to a novel object test and to a novel arena test. Sampling times of salivary cortisol were in all the fear tests before testing and 60 min thereafter, while for transportation as well 120 min after the beginning of transportation. We additionally measured cortisol at 7:00 and 16:00 h during three days following transportation. The basal stress axis activity followed a distinct diurnal rhythm between sexes and breeds, with castrated males having higher cortisol level than females and LY pigs higher than LYLD pigs. Following isolation at the farm and transportation, the concentration of salivary cortisol was higher in LY than in LYLD pigs. Pigs considered the exposure to a novel arena, but not to a novel object, stressful by showing a cortisol level after testing higher than before testing. The results suggest a genotypic effect on sensitivity to stress in pigs that have performed tail biting, have been victimized, or have not been involved in tail biting.

We used eight horses 1 to 12 years old to investigate the influence of irregular feeding times on the behavior. The animals were housed in individual boxes, fed with hay ad libitum and barley-oat mixture at three set times; 05:00 (earlier feeding) on Thursdays, 07:00 (delayed feeding) on Saturdays and 06:00 (regular feeding) on other weekdays. Direct observations took place in 10 continuous weeks; they started 1 h prior to feeding and lasted for 2 h. Long-term behaviors (i.e. hay and concentrate consumption, resting) were recorded every 5 min, short-term behaviors (i.e. kicking, pawing the ground, comfort behavior, taking a look toward the door) were recorded continuously. Compared to the regular feeding time, horses spent less time consuming hay, more time resting and less often took a look toward the door during the earlier feeding, whereas during the delayed feeding horses more often performed pawing the ground, kicking, comfort behavior, and took a look toward the door (p < .05). Our results indicate that deviations from the regular feeding schedule affected the behavior of horses and compromised their temporal predictability.

This review presents first ever literature survey on historical development of farm animal welfare indicators and assessment in the Danube region. This area, encompassing European Eastern countries and the Balkans, is to a large extent heterogeneous in terms of culture and language. However, international (English) publications were disproportionally small compared to the amount of research institutions and animal welfare activities present in the region. Therefore, the authors aimed at investigating the published literature, focusing on country level and on native languages. Data were collected for the 1980– 2015 period referring to scientific papers published in international and national journals, papers and abstracts in proceedings of the international and national conferences, reviews, monographs, short communications, Ph.D., Master and Graduation theses. Welfare assessment of all farm animal species was observed including fish. Over 180 papers were in line with the preselected index. Data collected showed that publishing dynamics grew rapidly towards the last decade. Most of the studies were focused on animal welfare indicators such as stress, injuries and mutilations, behaviour, body condition and management practices. Cattle, chickens, pigs and sheep were the predominant species investigated. The study revealed that experts from the region were greatly involved in the studies of animal welfare indicators and assessment, contributing to development of the currently most widely used animal welfare assessment protocols, thus having an important role in animal welfare research and protection.

Early handling of animals including tactile stimulation (TS) has been shown to have beneficial effects on the physical and psychological development of species where considerable maternal interaction, e.g. in the form of licking, already occurs. But little is known about the magnitude of these effects, if any, in species without this natural mechanism. Piglets from 13 litters ( N = 127) were subjected to four treatments: AH – all piglets in a litter received TS; NH – none of the piglets in a litter received TS; 50/50H – half of a litter received TS and 50/50NH – half of a litter did not receive TS. The TS was performed by a human stroking the back of the piglet for 2 min from 5 to 35 days of age. At 4 weeks of age the piglets were tested twice in an open-field/human-approach test, with either a familiar (F) or an unfamiliar person (U). Body weight was measured at birth, 5, 9 and 12 weeks of age. In the tests, AH and 50/50H piglets allowed more physical contact, regardless of the familiarity of the person (AH: 22.5 ± 2.3 F; 24.1 ± 2.3 U, 50/50H: 18.1 ± 2.2 F; 25.3 ± 2.2 U, P = 0.05). Additionally, AH piglets vocalized least and were least often in the perimeter zone (PZ) of the arena (AH grunts: 6.0 ± 0.8, P = 0.002; 12.8 ± 0.8, P = 0.0005; 18.1 ± 0.8, P = 0.08; AH PZ: 3.9 ± 0.8, P = 0.009; 9.1 ± 0.8, P = 0.003; 12.6 ± 0.7, P = 0.004 in isolation, stationary and moving person phase, respectively). In contrast, NH piglets vocalized most and were most often in the PZ. 50/50NH had higher body weights at 12 weeks than 50/50H, whereas AH and NH piglets were intermediate (AH: 36.9 ± 0.9, NH: 35.6 ± 1.0, 50/50H: 34.2 ± 1.3, 50/50NH: 37.8 ± 1.3, P = 0.03). This study suggests that early handling changed the way piglets reacted to challenging situations in that handled piglets showed behaviour suggesting they were less fearful in a novel environment and less fearful of being handled by people in general. Interestingly though, the early handling did not result in the same beneficial effects on the physical development of the piglets, as handled piglets were not heavier. Instead, it was the 50/50NH piglets that were the heaviest, implying that the daily presence of a human moving around in the pen to handle the 50/50H piglets seemed to stimulate weight gain.

Knowledge on the usage of taste deterrents (i.e. repellents) and its association with feather pecking is limited and studies of reduction of feather pecking in commercial flocks of laying hens have not been performed previously. In this study we examined the effect of two dimethyl anthranilate (DA) based repellents on plumage condition and behaviour of 180 non-beak-trimmed laying hens housed in enriched cages (10 birds/cage) with an emphasis on feather pecking. Birds were divided into 3 groups of 60 birds each. From 20 to 40 weeks of age they were sprayed at two-week intervals with 300ml of distilled water (control group – group “C”), a water solution of DA (group “T”) and a propylene glycol solution of DA (group “P”). Hens’ behaviour was recorded by direct observation for 3 days (one, six and 13 days after spraying) in each of the two observation periods starting at hens’ age of 26 and 38 weeks. Feather condition of individual hen was recorded at 20, 26 and 38 weeks of age. Both repellents reduced cage pecking significantly (p

The Slovenian karst region and similar types of land are difficult to cultivate and often exposed to the process of being abandoned and overgrown with shrubs, trees, and brushwood. Co-grazing in a mixed group may be a way to optimize the management of sheep and goat flocks in such areas. To obtain more knowledge of the natural behavior of small ruminants, the experiment was designed on pasture in the mountain karst region. The experimental area was divided in 6 paddocks, of which 3 paddocks were covered with grass, herbs, and legumes (i.e., grassy paddock [GP]). In the other 3 paddocks the area was additionally overgrown with hazel, beech trees, and bushes (i.e., woody paddock [WP]). In a mixed flock of 40 Slovenian local sheep breed (Istrian Pramenka) and 10 crossbreed goats (Saanen × Alpine goat), 10 animals per species were focally observed during daylight (0500-2100 h). The natural behavior was scored on 12 d, 2 consecutive days in each of the paddocks. Animals were rotated between 6 paddocks according to the balanced schedule. They stayed at each paddock for 5 or 6 d. Observations started on the third day after moving the animals into a specific paddock, following 2 d of adaptation. The results indicated that botanically diverse paddock together with climate conditions affected the behavior. Goats were grazing more (P < 0.001) whereas sheep less in the WP (P = 0.05). In sheep, drinking and salt consumption were higher (both P < 0.001) in the WP, suggesting that salt triggered additional water consumption. The WP enabled conditions where more comfort behavior, that is, autogrooming (both species P < 0.001) and object grooming (both species P < 0.001), was performed. On the second day of observation, animals grazed more compared to the first day (both species P < 0.001), most likely due to lower forage availability. Goats drank (P < 0.001) and consumed more salt on the second day (P < 0.001). With higher temperature sheep and goats grazed less (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively) and goats drank more (P < 0.05). Sheep showed more while goats less autogrooming when temperature was lower (both P < 0.001). More autogrooming was shown on the second day of observation but only in goats (P < 0.001). The performed behavior of co-grazing sheep and goats suggests different foraging strategies and adaptation between the species, which may be taken into account for management decisions under specific environmental conditions in the mountain karst region.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T16:40:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-07-28 It is known that tactile stimulation (TS) during ontogeny modifies brain plasticity and enhances the motor and cognitive skills. Our hypothesis was that early handling including TS would increase play and exploratory behaviour in commercial pigs under standardized test conditions. Piglets from 13 litters were subjected to three handling treatments from 5 to 35 days of age: all the piglets were handled (H), none of the piglets were handled (NH) or half of the piglets in the litter were handled (50/50). At 42 days of age, the pigs' behaviour was observed in pairs in a novel pen with a 'toy' (tug rope). The main results were that more locomotor play was performed by pigs from litters where all or half of them had been handled, whereas social exploratory behaviour was more pronounced in pigs from litters where half of them had been handled. Although behaviour was affected by the interaction of treatment with sex or with weight category, we propose that the handling procedure does seem to have acted to increase locomotor skills and that handling half of the piglets in the litter may have triggered a series of socio-emotional interactions that were beneficial for the whole group. Department of Animal Environment and Health Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7068 Animal Science Department São Paulo State University - Unesp, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n Animal Science Department São Paulo State University - Unesp, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n

Since most animal species have been recognized as sentient beings, emotional state may be a good indicator ofwelfare in animals. The goal of this study was to manipulate the environment of nine beagle research dogs tohighlight physiological responses indicative of different emotional experiences. Stimuli were selected to be amore or a less positive food (meatball or food pellet) or social reward (familiar person or less familiar person).That all the stimuli were positive and of different reward value was confirmed in a runway motivation test.Dogs were tested individually while standing facing a display theatre where the different stimuli could beshown by lifting a shutter. The dogs approached and remained voluntarily in the test system. They were testedin four sessions (of 20 s each) for each of the four stimuli. A test session consisted of four presentation phases(1st exposure to stimulus, post exposure, 2nd exposure, and access to reward). Heart rate (HR) and heart ratevariability (HRV) responses were recorded during testing in the experimental room and also when lying restingin a quiet familiar room. A newmethod of ‘stitching’ short periods of HRV data together was used in the analysis.When testing different stimuli, no significant differenceswere observed in HR and LF:HF ratio (relative power inlow frequency (LF) and the high-frequency (HF) range), implying that the sympathetic tone was activated similarlyfor all the stimuli and may suggest that dogs were in a state of positive arousal. A decrease of HF was associatedwith the meatball stimulus compared to the food pellet and the reward phase (interacting with the personor eating the food) was associated with a decrease in HF and RMSSD (root mean square of successive differencesof inter-beat intervals) compared to the preceding phase (looking at the person or food). This suggests that parasympatheticdeactivation is associated with a more positive emotional state in the dog. A similar reduction in HFandRMSSDwas found in the test situation compared to the resting situation. This is congruentwith the expectedautonomic effects related to postural shift i.e. sympathetic activation and parasympathetic withdrawal, duringstanding versus lying, but it cannot explain the parasympathetic deactivation in response to the more positivestimuli since the dogs were always standing in the test situation.Wediscuss the systematic pattern of responses,which support that increased HRand LF:HF ratio are associatedwithemotional arousal, but add the newproposalthat a combined decrease inRMSSD and HFmay reflect a more positively valencedemotional state evenwhen anindividual is already in a positive psychological state. Funding agencies: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences [50200]; Swedish Research Council Formas [221-2010-35]

The aim of the study was to investigate the feeding behaviour differences between Krskopolje pig (KP) and a modern hybrid (MH) pig. The behaviour was recorded during concentrate and hay consumption after the body weight of pigs was 100 kg. Animals (N=24) were observed in a straw-bedded system in eight pens of three pigs. During concentrate consumption, feeding, drinking and displacement at the trough (when a pig changed a feeding place) were directly recorded. During hay consumption, hay chewing, resting, exploring, playing and synchronisation while hay chewing were scored. MH ate faster and drank less than KP; however, they changed their feeding places more often and showed a higher probability to chew hay (overall P

In connection with the development of a test method for the attractiveness and appropriateness of nests for laying hens, we carried out an investigation by using a preference test and motivation measuring with the help of push doors. Hens were offered two different nest sites either consisting of a tray filled with wood shavings (litter tray) or a wooden nest box plus wood shavings (nest box). Hens were individually housed in pens (2.0 m × 2.0 m) and had free access to the nest sites until they laid their 15th egg. From that day the hens had to overcome a push door to reach the nest sites. Resistance for entrance was also increased stepwise at the door leading to the hens’ nest. The experiment ended when a hen stopped to lay in her usual nest site for four consecutive days (postexperimental period). The behaviour during the last hour before oviposition was video taped at a level of resistance of 3.5, 6.0, 7.5 and 10.0 N. The hens were categorized into nest and litter layers depending on nest choice. All but one hen pushed maximum resistances between 11.5 and 18.0 N with no differences between nest and litter layers. Behaviour did not significantly change with increasing levels of resistance, but there were significant differences between nest and litter layers. Nest layers spent more time nesting than litter layers while the latter showed a strong tendency to more exploring behaviour. For litter layers, more entries through the push door leading to their nest site and more unsuccessful pushes were detected than for nest layers. According to our results, two types of layers could be distinguished whereas the two were equally motivated to access their nest site.

When alternative husbandry systems to battery cages are used, a problem may arise whereby eggs are not laid in the nests provided. This leads not only to economic loss, but may also promote the outbreak of cannibalism. However, the choosing of a nest involves complex behavioural patterns and may be influenced, among other things, by exposure to a specific colour at an early age [Huber-Eicher, B., 2004. The effect of early colour preference and of a colour exposing procedure on the choice of nest colours in laying hens. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 86, 63–76]. Chicks exposed to the colours blue, green and red, preferred yellow nests when in lay, whereas exposure to yellow resulted in an indifference towards the colour of nest. In the study reported here, we further investigated this effect of exposure to yellow. During the first 12 days of life, chicks were exposed to either red or yellow and to either a high or low light intensity (four treatment regimes in total). A hen's choice of nest colour was tested at the start of lay (weeks 20–23). We randomly selected 20 hens from each of the four treatment regimes. The 80 chosen hens were then tested in groups of four, each of the four hens coming from a different treatment regime. When given a choice of nests painted in the colours yellow, red, blue or green, hens exposed to red and to a high light intensity at an early age showed a significant preference for yellow nests. Hens exposed as chicks to red and a low light intensity, or to yellow and either high or low light intensity were indifferent towards nest colour. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the effect of early exposure to yellow on reducing the preference for yellow nests later on, is due to the colour yellow per se, and not the higher light intensity that goes with it. However, high light intensity in combination with red increases the preference for yellow nests.

The analysis of horse personality is an important topic in horse breeding. Knowledge of personality enables proper training for a horse, which leads to a better animal welfare. Horse personality can be graded according to four methods: 1) questionnaire-based personality assessment method, 2) personality assessment based on heart rate, 3) and behavioural tests and 4) method of grading the personality by viewing constitutional characteristics. Most widely used is the questionnaire-based method and the method with behavioural tests. The methods with heart rate and constitutional characteristics are showing some potential but more work needs to be done to ensure reliability and to improve results interpretation. This paper presents a short review of the mentioned methods and provides preliminary results of a pilot study where we used the method of grading the personality by focusing on constitutional characteristics of animals´ heads. The method was tested on three Lipizzaner horses. Features of the head of the horses were explained by following the recommendations of Tellington Jones in Taylor (2009). The obtained results were compared to personality grades, provided by horse coaches in a questionnaire. Results matched the questionnaire grades in gelding 77 % while in the mares 80 % and 47 %. Horse personality assessment focusing on constitutional characteristics of horses has a great potential as a reliable method, but more work is needed to be acceptable for a practical use.

Tail-biting is a behavioral abnormality which compromises the welfare of pigs. The goal of this study was to characterize the tail-biting phenotype using behavior and measures of heart-rate (HR) and its variability (HRV) in pigs. Thirty pigs were categorized as tail-biters (n=10), tail-bite victims (n=10), and control pigs (n=10) based on the frequency of tail-biting behavior that they performed or received at the farm. The animals' behavioral responses were registered at the experimental facilities for 10 min during test sessions whereas physiological responses were registered for 10 min prior to (basal) and during sessions when subjected to a novel object test (NOT) and to a novel arena test (NAT). Phenotypes differed in most behaviors during the two tests and in the NOT their physiological responses suggested different regulation of vagal tone. Biters had a reduction from baseline values to values during testing for the root mean square of successive R-R intervals (RMSSD) and the high-frequency band (HF) compared to victims, whose RMSSD and HF increased from baseline to test values. In the low-frequency band (LF), an increase was shown in biters and controls while a decrease in victims. LF was found to be strongly positively correlated with HF and RMSSD in biters. During baseline, victims tended to have lower HF and significantly higher power of the low-frequency component divided by power of the high-frequency band (LF:HF ratio) compared to biters and controls. The activity of the autonomic nervous system, especially the suppression of parasympathetic tone, indicated that both victims and biters may have a dysfunctional autonomic regulation which may indicate psychological disturbance. We provide the first documentation of phenotypic differences between pigs that have performed tail-biting, have been victimized, or have not been involved in tail biting using HRV data.