| 1. |
- Hedlund, Louise, 1987-, et al.
(författare)
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Can Early Environmental Enrichment Buffer Stress from Commercial Hatchery Processing in Laying Hens?
- 2022
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Ingår i: Poultry. - : MDPI. - 2674-1164. ; 1:2, s. 125-137
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Under commercial conditions, laying hen chicks are exposed to a range of stressful events immediately after hatch. Here, we studied whether environmental enrichment was able to reduce the stress sensitivity of these chicks. A total of 50 hatchery chicks (HC) and 50 control chicks (CC) were raised in enriched pens (E), while 53 HC + 53 CC were raised in standard non-enriched floor pens (NE). HC weighed less on day one, but there was no effect of hatchery treatment at later ages. HC were more pessimistic in a cognitive judgement bias test and emitted more distress calls when socially isolated, indicating that hatchery stress affected behaviour and stress sensitivity. However, enrichment did not affect the behaviour in any of these tests. We found no effects of hatchery stress in a novel environment, but indications that enrichment may have increased fearfulness of HC. The sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis was reduced in HC-E compared to HC-NE, indicating that enrichment buffered the physiological stress sensitivity in HC; however, the opposite pattern was found in CC. In conclusion, our results show complex and somewhat contradictory effects on the ability of enrichment to buffer the consequences of stress in commercial hatcheries.
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| 2. |
- Höglin, Amanda, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term stress in dogs is related to the human-dog relationship and personality traits
- 2021
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Research. - 2045-2322. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previously, we found that dogs belonging to the herding breed group, selected for human cooperation, synchronise their long-term stress levels with their owners. The aim of the current study was to investigate features that could influence long-term stress levels in ancient dog breeds, genetically closer to wolves, and dogs specifically selected to work independently of their owner. Twenty-four ancient breed dogs and 18 solitary hunting dogs were recruited and hair samples were obtained from both dogs and owners from which hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was analysed. Additionally, the owners completed lifestyle surveys, the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS) on human-dog relationship, and both dog and owner personality questionnaires (Dog Personality questionnaire and Big Five Inventory survey). The results from the MDORS indicate that the subscale Perceived cost correlated to the dog HCC of tested breed groups: solitary hunting breeds (chi (2)=4.95, P=0.026, beta =0.055), ancient breeds (chi (2)=2.74, P=0.098, beta =0.027), and herding dogs included from a previous study (chi (2)=6.82, P=0.009, beta=- 0.061). The HCC of the solitary hunting dogs was also related to the owner personality traits Agreeableness (chi (2)=12.30, P<0.001, <beta>=- 0.060) and Openness (chi (2)=9.56, P=0.002, beta =0.048) suggesting a more substantial influence of the owner on the solitary hunting dogs HCC compared to the ancient breeds. No effect of owner HCC on dog HCC was found in either ancient or in solitary hunting breeds. Hence, the long-term stress synchronisation is likely to be a trait in breeds selected for human cooperation. In conclusion, dog HCC is often related to the owners personality, but is primarily influenced by the owner-dog relationship.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Sundman, Ann-Sofie, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term stress levels are synchronized in dogs and their owners
- 2019
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study reveals, for the first time, an interspecific synchronization in long-term stress levels. Previously, acute stress, has been shown to be highly contagious both among humans and between individuals of other species. Here, long-term stress synchronization in dogs and their owners was investigated. We studied 58 dog-human dyads and analyzed their hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) at two separate occasions, reflecting levels during previous summer and winter months. The personality traits of both dogs and their owners were determined through owner-completed Dog Personality Questionnaire (DPQ) and human Big Five Inventory (BFI) surveys. In addition, the dogs activity levels were continuously monitored with a remote cloud-based activity collar for one week. Shetland sheepdogs (N = 33) and border collies (N = 25), balanced for sex, participated, and both pet dogs and actively competing dogs (agility and obedience) were included to represent different lifestyles. The results showed significant interspecies correlations in long-term stress where human HCC from both summer and winter samplings correlated strongly with dog HCC (summer: N = 57, chi(2) = 23.697, P amp;lt; 0.001, beta = 0.235; winter: N = 55, chi(2) = 13.796, P amp;lt; 0.001, beta = 0.027). Interestingly, the dogs activity levels did not affect HCC, nor did the amount of training sessions per week, showing that the HCC levels were not related to general physical activity. Additionally, there was a seasonal effect in HCC. However, although dogs personalities had little effects on their HCC, the human personality traits neuroticism, conscientiousness, and openness significantly affected dog HCC. Hence, we suggest that dogs, to a great extent, mirror the stress level of their owners.
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| 5. |
- van Poucke, Enya, et al.
(författare)
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Breed group differences in the unsolvable problem task : herding dogs prefer their owner, while solitary hunting dogs seek stranger proximity
- 2022
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Ingår i: Animal Cognition. - : Springer Heidelberg. - 1435-9448 .- 1435-9456. ; 25:3, s. 597-603
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The communicating skills of dogs are well documented and especially their contact-seeking behaviours towards humans. The aim of this study was to use the unsolvable problem paradigm to investigate differences between breed groups in their contact-seeking behaviours towards their owner and a stranger. Twenty-four dogs of ancient breeds, 58 herding dogs, and 17 solitary hunting dogs were included in the study, and their behaviour when presented with an unsolvable problem task (UPT) was recorded for 3 min. All breed groups interacted with the test apparatus the same amount of time, but the herding dogs showed a longer gaze duration towards their owner compared to the other groups and they also preferred to interact with their owner instead of a stranger. Interestingly, the solitary hunting dogs were more in stranger proximity than the other groups, and they also showed a preference to make contact with a stranger instead of their owner. Hence, we found differences in contact-seeking behaviours, reflecting the dog-human relationship, between breed groups that might not only be related to their genetic similarity to wolves, but also due to the specific breeding history of the dogs.
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| 6. |
- van Poucke, Enya, et al.
(författare)
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Commercial hatchery processing may affect susceptibility to stress in laying hens
- 2023
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. - 1932-6203. ; 18:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Directly upon hatching, laying hen chicks are exposed to multiple stressful events during large-scale hatchery processing, which may affect their later coping abilities. Commercial hatchery chicks (HC) were compared to chicks that were incubated and hatched simultaneously under calm conditions (CC). After being raised under similar, non-stressful conditions for 36 days, all chicks were exposed to a series of stressors: transportation and introduction into a novel environment followed by a regrouping event in order to characterize long-lasting consequences of hatchery treatment. Tonic immobility, corticosterone levels, and peripheral body temperature were used to assess reactions to the stress events. Tonic immobility was not affected by treatment but was significantly reduced in CC after transport. Corticosterone levels did not differ between treatments when assessed two days before and two days after regrouping. Comb temperature was significantly higher in HC following regrouping, indicating stress-induced hyperthermia. Furthermore, comb temperature dropped more following blood sampling in HC than in CC, indicating a stronger autonomic response to acute stress. In conclusion, the results suggest possible long-term negative effects of commercial hatchery processing, compared to hatching under silent and less stressful conditions, on the coping ability of laying hens to later stressful experiences.
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| 7. |
- van Poucke, Enya, et al.
(författare)
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Play stimulation as a possible means to buffer early stress from commercial hatchery treatment in laying hen chicks
- 2024
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Ingår i: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. - : ELSEVIER. - 0168-1591 .- 1872-9045. ; 274
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In commercial hatcheries, laying hen chicks are exposed to a range of stressors that have previously been shown to induce long-term negative effects on their welfare. It has been suggested that stimulation of play behaviour, a self-rewarding activity associated with positive emotions, may be a way to improve animal welfare. We have previously found that chicks play extensively during their first weeks of life if offered the possibility. Our hypothesis was therefore that stimulating play in chicks could buffer the long-term consequences of stress from commercial hatchery routines. Sixty female Lohmann LSL chicks were hatched at a commercial hatchery and transported for four hours before being randomly allocated to two different treatments. Play-stimulated chicks (PC) were taken out of the home pens and introduced in groups of five into a spacious, object-enriched play arena 3x30 min per week for five weeks starting from 9 days of age. Control chicks (CC) were taken out of the home pens at the same time as PC and placed in cardboard boxes for the same amount of time as PC were allowed to play. Between 46 and 57 days of age,behavioural and corticosterone reactivity tests were conducted. There were no differences between the treatment groups in open field activity, but in a novel object test PC were more active and interacted more with the novel object, indicating reduced fear. There were no differences between the treatment groups in duration of tonic immobility or in corticosterone reaction to a brief restraint. Contrary to our predictions, PC showed a more negative bias compared to CC in a cognitive judgement bias test. In conclusion, play stimulation may reduce fearfulness in early-stressed chickens, but the reason for the opposite reaction in the cognitive judgement bias needs further investigation.
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