Influence of Dermanyssus gallinae and Ascaridia galli infections on behaviour and health of laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus).

(1) The effect of infections with Dermanyssus gallinae (poultry red mite or chicken mite) and Ascaridia galli (roundworm) on the behaviour and health of laying hens was investigated. (2) Six groups of 15 pullets (Isa Brown) were kept in indoor pens from 18 weeks of age. Two groups were artificially infected with D. gallinae, two groups with A. galli and two groups were kept as uninfected controls. The hens were observed for behavioural reactions and physiological changes (weight gain and various blood variables) to the parasitic infections. (3) Infections with D. gallinae resulted in reduced weight gain, anaemia and even death of some of the hens. Behavioural changes were also observed, as the mite-infected hens showed higher self-grooming and head scratching both during the day and night. (4) A. galli resulted in a lower weight gain but no significant changes were seen in blood variables or behavioural activities.

Tail biting in pigs.

One of the costly and welfare-reducing problems in modern pig production is tail biting. Tail biting is an abnormal behaviour, characterized by one pig's dental manipulation of another pig's tail. Tail biting can be classified into two groups: the pre-injury stage, before any wound on the tail is present, and the injury stage, where the tail is wounded and bleeding. Tail biting in the injury stage will reduce welfare of the bitten pig and the possible spread of infection is a health as well as welfare problem. The pigs that become tail biters may also suffer, because they are frustrated due to living in a stressful environment. This frustration may result in an excessive motivation for biting the tails of pen mates. This review aims to summarize recent research and theories in relation to tail biting.

Behavioural, endocrine and cardiac responses in young calves undergoing dehorning without and with use of sedation and analgesia.

Behaviour, plasma cortisol and heart rate were measured in 4-6-week-old calves during and after dehorning with and without the use of sedation and analgesia. Six groups of eight Friesian male and female calves were studied; four groups were dehorned using an electrical cauterizing dehorner, heated to approximately 600 degrees C. In group 1, a cornual nerve block was performed and the animals were sham-dehorned using a cold dehorner. Group 2 was treated similarly but dehorned with the heated dehorner. Group 3 received a mixture of xylazine and butorphanol intramuscularly, and were hot dehorned 20 min after the injection. Group 4 received the same sedatives-analgesics as group 3, and after 5 min also had a cornual nerve block, followed by hot dehorning 15 min later. Group 5 was hot dehorned without any form of sedation or analgesia. A sixth group of calves without any treatment or handling was used as controls for the behavioural observations. Head and leg movements during dehorning were significantly reduced when the cornual nerve was blocked. During the 4 h after dehorning, the behaviour of calves having a cornual block continued to differ from those in group 5. The cornual block prevented short-term increases in plasma cortisol concentrations and the long-term increases in heart rate seen in group 5. It was concluded that routine field use of local analgesia using a cornual nerve block improved the welfare of young calves subjected to dehorning with a hot iron.

Behavioral and pituitary adrenal-axis responses of dairy cows to social isolation and deprivation of lying down.

The behavior and plasma concentrations of ACTH and cortisol were studied in 30 Friesian cows kept in tie stalls and assigned to three treatments: control (C), deprivation of lying down from 0900 to 1600 and 2200 to 0500 (D), and social isolation (I). Behavior of the cows was observed before and after 4 and 8 wk of treatment. The D- and I-cows showed increased frequency of transitions between different behavioral activities (P < .05). In D- and I-cows the frequency of grooming (P < .01) and idling (P < .001), and the amount of leaning (P < .001) increased. In D-cows the frequency of eating was also increased. The behavior and cortisol response to two novel arena tests performed on two consecutive days after 22 d of treatment suggests that social isolation and deprivation of lying change cows' reactions to a novel environment. After 23 d of treatment, concentrations of ACTH and cortisol were measured during 7.5 h. On d 24, cortisol concentrations were determined at time -.5, 0, .5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h after i.v. administration of ACTH. Cortisol concentrations did not differ among treatment groups in the baseline series and after ACTH administration. In D-cows, ACTH concentration was increased in part of the baseline series (P < .05). The results suggest that the socially isolated cows were frustrated or tried to compensate for a lack of stimulation and that repeated deprivation of lying down is aversive to cows.

Histopathology of intact and docked pigtails.

A histological examination was performed on tails from three groups of pigs, comprising 10 amputated tail tips from day-old piglets, 10 tails from undocked fattening pigs and 20 tails from docked fattening pigs. The investigation demonstrated that peripheral nerves could be traced to the tip of the tails of day-old piglets as well as of fattening pigs. In the docked fattening pigs, the peripheral nerves were unevenly distributed and showed regressive changes. In some cases traumatic neuromas were found, indicating an increased sensitivity to pain in the amputation stump. It was, surprisingly, demonstrated that widespread inflammatory reactions could be found in the apparently healthy tails of both categories of fattening pigs, presumably due to pen-mates' chewing activities.

Euthanasia of mink (Mustela vison) by means of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen (N2).

The time periods and the behavioural pattern of mink euthanized with carbon dioxide (CO2), 100% and 70%, carbon monoxide (CO), 4%, and nitrogen (N2), 100%, are described. The time between the placement of the animal in a glass box and the first symptoms of incoordination (phase I), the period of loss of consciousness (phase II), and, finally, the coma phase until cessation of respiration (phase III) using three groups each of 10 pastel male mink each were recorded. Phase I times ranged from 14 s for CO2, 31 s for N2, and 49 s for CO. In phase II, the difference was even more pronounced, being 5 s for CO2, 15 s for CO, and 45 s for N2. In phase III, the time was 58 s for N2, 134 s and 151 s for CO2 and CO respectively. Hence, the critical period from the time when the animals were placed in the glass box till unconsciousness occurred (phase I and II) was 19 s for CO2, 64 s for CO, and 76 s for N2. The total course of euthanasia was 153 s for CO2, 215 s for CO, and 134 s for N2. The following minimum times will be required before it can be judged to be safe to remove the animals: CO2 and N2: 5 min, and for CO: 6.5 min. In a supplementary experiment, involving a mixture of 70% CO2 and 30% atmospheric air, it was not possible within the allotted time to kill adult male mink.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Grooming behaviour of domestic cattle.

Grooming behaviour patterns of domestic cattle on pasture were studied by observation of a small herd of cross-bred cows, their single-suckling calves and a bull. The investigation was accomplished by means of description of directly observed patterns as well as description from SP8 cinematographic recordings. The observed grooming behaviour was classified in the following 8 patterns: Licking, scratching with hindhoof, scratching with horn, shaking, striking one part of the body against another part, rubbing, pawing, social grooming. It is assumed that one function of grooming behaviour may be a merely cleansing one. Another function may be related to the establishment and maintenance of the social structure in the herd.

[Battery-cages as the cause of environmental and behavioural dependent diseases (author's transl)]. / Aeglaegningsbure som årsag til miljø- og adfaerdsbetingede sygdomme.

Bone fragility and increased fat content in the liver of egg-laying hens are more often encountered in birds from traditional battery-cage systems than in those confined in other systems. By reviewing the relevant literature possible explanations of these phenomena are proposed. Clinical and pathological manifestations of the syndromes are described and a number of possible aetiological factors are evaluated. Bone fragility can be seen either as a general weakness of bone tissue or as a clinically manifest disease, Cage layer fatigue. It is concluded, that general restriction of the animal's possibilities to locomote and perform comfort movements are the most important aetiological factors. Fatty liver disease may be seen either as a pathological elevation of the liverfat content or it may be seen as a disease called Fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome. Several factors may cause elevation of the liver fat content. The influence of restricted movement on the animals energy balance, however, like other behavioural disturbances seems to be the most important aetiological factors. It is concluded, that bone fragility and fatty liver in egg-laying hens are diseases caused by an inadequate environment and the restriction of essential behavioural patterns.