ANIMAL WELFARE

ELISTA Education 2012

Freedom from Discomfort

Environment

Discomfort is opposite to ‘comfort’.What provides comfort?…

Comfort is provided by the environment

Therefore Freedom from discomfort will refer to correct environment

What does environment consist of?

The ‘larger’ scale environment, dependant on type is often referred to as habitat. A more individual environment is the animal’s home.

Animal Homes

Providing Domestic Animal Environments Where look first?…

natural/wild environment

Don’t forget Domestication and Adaptation!!

Gerbils in Mongolian Desert Pet Gerbil in Gerbilarium

Arboreal Snake in wild

requires branches within vivarium

General Environment (Housing) RequirementsTemperature HumidityLight/DarkVentilationSpace requirementsHygienic & SafeSurroundings (objects and other

beings)Location/Placement

Temperature‘about’ for endotherms‘exact’ within range for ectotherms(Temperature gradient

to mimic change in

temperature through

day and option to

monitor own

temperature)

Environment Temp °c

Humidity

Amount of

moisture

in the air

expressed as %Humid

environments

(higher %)

are typically also

warm

Light/DarkTime of Light and Dark

Seasonal changes in Light and Dark

Type of Light

Ventilation

Movement of Air for:

Hygiene

Temperature control

Ventilation not the same as placing in draft!

In animal housing

Hot Air out

                                        

Cooler air comes in

Space Requirements

Absolutely minimum should be stand up, stretch limbs/wings and turn around

Stocking densities

Hygienic & Safe

Easy clean

Not hold pathogens or

pathogen spores

                                 

Other arguments for timber such as warmth

plasticStainless steel

concrete

Timber and gravel

melamine

glass

tiles

Surroundings and other beingsFauna- social/solitaryFlora- leaves, plants, substrates

Location and Placement

FOR MANY ANIMALS: Not in direct sunlight Not in drafty areas Not in overly noisy area Not in overly busy areas Not in the direct sight of a predator or prey animal!

Specific examples-Environment for Leopard GeckoThe native habitat of the leopard gecko is the rocky, dry grassland and desert regions of south-Asian Afghanistan, Pakistan, north-west India, and parts of Iran.

Temperature- 26°c to 32°c

Humidity- 40-60%

Light and Dark- 9-13hrs day light, full spectrum (as from sun)

Ventilation-light

Space Requirements- 65 cm2 , 38litre tank, but depth less important as not arboreal climbers

Hygienic & Safety-glass/plastic terrarium

Surroundings- 1/2 other geckos, sandy/grassy substrate, rocks

Location/Placement- sunny spot, but no where that will change temperate considerably

Specific examples-Environment for Syrian HamsterWithin its native habitat the Syrian Hamster is considered vulnerable due to decline of habitat through construction.Described to be ‘semi-desert’.

Temperature- 0°c to 37°c but as out in evening never experience highest

Humidity- approx 70%

Light and Dark- similar to Ireland, considered nocturnal by crepuscular in wild

Ventilation-light

Space Requirements- more the better roams up to 3 miles in wild!

Hygienic & safety-plastic (and metal) cage

Surroundings- solitary, sandy/grassy substrate, rocks, burrow in wild

Location/Placement- warm location, can hibernate if get too cold

Evaluation of 3 types: images only …

HamsterRabbitBudgieTortoise

In pairs evaluate the three environments for a specific animal. Conclude on which is most suitable and feedback to group.

The general requirements considered so far relate more to the animal, in your evaluation also consider owner/handler requirements e.g cost, ease of access to animal, observation of animal, moving etc

History of Zoo Housing

Animals were first given as gifts, as early as Ancient Egyptians.

In 13th Century first Elephant was brought to UK, a gift for Henry III

In 1800’s came the move from private menageries to public viewings

Jumbo: elephant that came to London Zoo in 1865, later sold to the Circus

History of Zoo Housing

During the 1800’s zoos were little more than museums, as people wondered over species never seen before

1921 pictureSealion Pond

History of Zoo Housing Zoos really took off in the 1950’s, but changes to get

away from the 1800’s buildings have been slow…

1920’s London Zoo

Penguin Pool , gradually adapted from 1900’s structure

New Penguin Pool, 2011

History of Zoo Housing Many older zoos (such as London and Dublin) have had

difficulty in making structural advancements as buildings became ‘listed’

For example the Elephant and Rhino Pavilion

History of Zoo Housing

Besides potential inadequate facilities for the species being held at a zoo (e.g not ideal climate or not ground substrate of choice), what other potential discomfort is there?

Evaluating comfort/discomfort

We can predict that animal may feel ‘uncomfortable’ when being observed by many people.

We do so because we believe it is ‘unnatural’ for them.

How could we aim to prove that being observed is not preferable/causes discomfort?

Preference TestingFOR EXAMPLE: We can evaluate if an animal prefers to be in view or out of view. So long as there is the opportunity to do both we can record the amount of time the animal spends in a location of visibility or not visible.It is important to ensure FAIR evaluation and minimise discrimination or BIAS.

In this example BIAS might be:

Warmer in view than out (e.g sun shining)

Always fed out of view so stays in in

anticipation of being fed.

Preference TestingThere are many different ways of recording and then analysing a preference such as this.

Recording is often known as SAMPLING

Two common sampling methods are

• Scan sampling- this is when you record where the animal is after a regular set duration of time e.g every minute

•Continuous sampling- a continual record of when the animal moves from one place to another

Preference TestingAn example linking to discomfort. If we saw a horse lying on cold concrete we would often think “how uncomfortable” and that the horses welfare must be compromised…but do we know this?

In a preference test we can see if the horse has less of a liking for pair concrete or not, and this can help us to conclude on welfare.

A large stable:

Equally divided

concrete

sand

rubber

wood shavings

Preference TestingThe experimenter/observer must decide when the horse is considered to be recorded. At all times, or just at “rest” or lying.

In addition the observer must decide how much of the horse must be in area to record it i.e all four feet.

The recording would have to be done over many hours over many days, even times of year to reduce bias effect of temperature, light etc.

And each substrate should occur in each area of the stable to ensure it is not a location preference

Where the observer stands should also be considered a bias, a video camera should prevent this

Freedom from Discomfort in Animal Transportation

Animal Transportation is an area in which a lot of research has been conducted.

Initially a lot of research was for the benefit of the meat industry, since it is found that ‘stressing’ an animal during live transportation will affect carcass meat quality

More recent research is welfare related

Welfare groups such as CIWF still seek further research and changes.

Examples of Transport

Freedom from Discomfort in Animal TransportationBecause animals being transported are for human consumption and have an economic value there is a lot of legislation related.

New EU legislation came into force in 2007 in summary it includes:

•Animals that can not be transported

•Transporter Requirements

•Transporter Authorisation

•Transporter Training

•Additional guidelines for horses

Transportation of Animals

Reasons-

Slaughter

Sale

Breeding

Conservation

Transportation for Conservation

Occurs through an agreement between zoos/wildlife park

Rarely for moneyAnimals that are ‘at risk’ must be

transported in accordance with CITES for member states

CITES=convention on international trade of endangered species

Transportation for ConservationCITES

Main points: Countries (states) sign up to regulations of CITES voluntarily CITES controls transportation of certain species by licensing

movement States are legally bound to conform to CITES rules, but it does

not replace national law. CITES controls over 5000 species of animals and 28000

species of plants to prevent further endangerment or extinction of species

Animal groups included are: primates, cetaceans, cats, bears, elephants, rhinos, crocodylians, chelonians, boidae

Animals in these groups not transported through CITES are transported illegally

Freedom to Exhibit Natural Behaviour

Reproduction

Freedom to Exhibit Natural Behaviour

Reproduction

Reproduction: part 1

SexingGeneral rule in mammals: distance between anal and genital gap.

In some the genitals must be exposed a little and the shape indicates sex.

Male longer, female shorter

Reproduction: part 1

SexingGeneral rule in birds and fish is that the male is brighter,

particularly in the breeding season. Sexual dimorphism is event through physical characteristics, although some can only be sexed through DNA tests.

Reptiles are usually more difficult to sex requiring an expert, sometimes sexual dimorphism is evident

Reproduction: part 2

Typical signs of oestrousFemale mammals tend to: Scent mark more with urine Have discharge from vulva Have change in temperament Will exhibit stand reflex More vocal External genitalia swells

Ferrets: genitals swell in spring until mated

Reproduction: part 3

Courtship; this includes, visual, vocal and chemical displays

Reproduction: part 4 Mating. In most cases intromission occurs quickly in

animals. Some animals will ‘tie’ or ‘lock’ thought to be a way of preventing polygamous males mating with same females.

Reproduction: part 5 Alternatives. There are alternatives in animal

reproduction, particularly useful rather than stressing or causing discomfort on an animal to transport them purely for reproductive behaviour.

AI (Artificial Insemination)

Embryo TransferCloning

Reproduction: part 5

Other influences on reproductionFlushing (for synchronising)Changing daylight lengthHormonal ContraceptionNeutering

Question:

Does neutering prevent freedom to exhibit natural behaviour and therefore compromise welfare?

DiscussStructure individual answers approx 1000 words including:

Explanation of statement

Points in for agreeing and disagreeing

Conclusion

A question such as these could be expected in examination.