Applied Animal Behaviour Science最新文献

{"title":"Olfactory awareness in lambs assessed through habituation-dishabituation and approach-withdrawal tests","authors":"Izïa Larrigaldie ,&nbsp;Fabrice Damon ,&nbsp;Bruno Patris ,&nbsp;Benoist Schaal ,&nbsp;Alexandra Destrez","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106734","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106734","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assessing olfaction in lambs presents methodological challenges due to their precocial development and extreme sensitivity to isolation and novelty. Previous research studied lambs’ olfactory reactivity, particularly to odors from conspecifics, their responses to other odor sources remaining underexplored. To begin addressing this gap, we implemented two tests to evaluate olfactory discrimination in lambs using two distinct odors: dog feces odor (DO) and ovine wool odor (OO). First, after validating the procedure on 10 Suffolk ewes with the same odorous stimuli, a habituation-dishabituation (H-D) test run on 6-day-old lambs (Suffolk, n = 26, 14 females) consisted in repeating 4 times one odor for habituation, followed by a single presentation the other, novel odor for dishabituation (presentation order of OO/DO being counterbalanced across animals). The ewes and lambs habituated to both odors, exhibiting a significant decline in sniffing duration; they also dishabituated to novel odors, attesting their clear discrimination between them. Second, an approach-withdrawal test using boxes scented with these same stimuli was run a group of lambs p (Suffolk, age: 24-day, n = 21). In the approach test, lambs spent significantly more time near objects scented with unfamiliar conspecific wool than those scented with canine feces. Both tests confirmed that lambs clearly discriminate both odors. While the habituation-dishabituation test proved effective in assessing odor discrimination, interpretation of the approach test results was more complex under the given experimental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 106734"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144548392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Could restricting horses' REM sleep improve dressage performance?","authors":"Ângela Perrone Barbosa ,&nbsp;Tiago Marcelo Oliveira ,&nbsp;Sarah Raphaela Torquato Seidel ,&nbsp;Paula Keiko Anadão Tokawa ,&nbsp;Fernando Mosquera Jaramillo ,&nbsp;Neimar Vanderlei Roncati ,&nbsp;Raquel Yvonne Arantes Baccarin","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106740","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106740","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The relationship between athletic performance and sleep deprivation is well-described in human medicine. Little is known about whether sleep deprivation affects the horses’ athletic performance. Previous studies show how changing environment, such as hospitals, can alter sleep patterns in horses, decreasing their total rapid eye movement (REM) during sleep time. Periods of REM sleep deprivation are frequently encountered in the management of athletic horses, particularly during transportation and temporary stabling at competitions. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether an association exists between athletic performance, welfare, and sleep deprivation in horses subject to potential REM sleep deprivation. The horses in this study were placed in a simulation of a competition setting, in which the horses did not laydown. A randomized crossover study simulating a competition outside from home was performed using ten dressage athletes Lusitano Pure Breed horses, aged 4–7 years, divided into two groups: sleep deprivation and control. All animals were observed in both conditions. REM sleep deprivation was accomplished by preventing horses from entering sternal or lateral recumbency for three consecutive days (72 h). The Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) was used in the morning and afternoon. Salivary cortisol was collected once daily at 10 a.m. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured once daily for 7 min using a frequency meter. After 72 h, the horses participated in a voluntary approach test and a test competition, with scores from judges based on FEI young horses test competition and a questionnaire for riders. Sleep deprivation did not affect horses’ physical performance when comparing the judges’ scores. Judges’ scores in the dressage competition had weak reliability. The riders were not able to identify with accuracy sleep deprived animals; however, some riders described their horses with lower level of focus or tired when sleep deprived. HGS is a valuable tool in the measurement of acute pain in horses, but it is not sufficiently sensitive to identify REM sleep alteration. HRV and salivary cortisol concentration did not change in horses subjected to REM sleep deprivation. Irritability and reluctance in horses with sleep deprivation should be further investigated in larger groups. There were no marked alterations in the parameters evaluated regarding REM sleep interference in horses, and there was no notable change in test competition scores, indicating that short sleep pattern interference does not affect their athletic performance. However, sleep pattern interference may link to changes in their focus during exercise.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 106740"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144563340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of human presence as social buffer for dairy cattle","authors":"Alfredo Di Lucrezia ,&nbsp;Samuel Bagnato ,&nbsp;Valeria Iervolino ,&nbsp;Biagio D’Aniello ,&nbsp;Claudia Pinelli ,&nbsp;Pietro Lombardi ,&nbsp;Maria Elena Pero ,&nbsp;Vincenzo Mastellone","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106739","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106739","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates whether the presence of an unfamiliar human can alleviate stress responses in cows, acting as a social buffer. We assessed behavioral and physiological stress indicators in ten lactating Italian Red Pied cows using the isolation paradigm. Two conditions were tested: Isolation (cow alone) and Social (cow with a human present). Behavioral responses were observed ethologically, and stress levels were also measured via plasma cortisol concentrations before and after each test. We divided the 15-minute test into 30 consecutive 30-second bins, yielding 30 time-series points per behavioral variable. Data were analyzed using Gamma-distributed GLMMs with Condition and Condition×Interval as fixed effects and Subject ID as a random intercept. Separate models were run within each condition to assess time-related trends. Stress-related behaviors were higher under Isolation than Social conditions, with differing temporal fluctuations but no consistent linear trend in either condition. Locomotion was higher in Isolation; both conditions exhibited a significant linear decrease over time, though at different rates. Proximity to human did not differ overall but increased linearly over time only in the Social condition. Exploration showed no condition effect; it declined significantly in Social and marginally in Isolation. Standing showed neither condition differences nor linear time trends. Stranger-directed behaviors, recorded only in Social, increased linearly over time. A significant increase in cortisol levels was observed only in the Isolation condition. Overall, the data suggest that human presence can reduce stress in cows subjected to isolation stress. This study has practical applications for improving animal welfare and productivity in farming systems, for example by reducing stress-related behaviors and enhancing animals’ ability to cope with challenging situations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 106739"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144548391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mule ducks’ (Cairina moschata x Anas platyrhynchos) behavioural reactions to overfeeding show the impact of housing conditions during the ‘foie gras’ production stage","authors":"Mathilde Stomp ,&nbsp;Chloé Monestier ,&nbsp;Anthony Legeard ,&nbsp;Sarah Lombard ,&nbsp;William Massimino ,&nbsp;Séverine Laban-Mele ,&nbsp;Aurélia Warin","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106738","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106738","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ‘foie gras’ production sector faces various challenges, among which overfeeding and housing conditions are particularly determinant for the future to meet social expectations. Achieving significant advancements in farm animal welfare requires scientifically validated assessments. To date, determining the real impact of housing conditions during the overfeeding period on mule ducks’ health and welfare appears difficult. The scientific literature still lacks a behavioural assessment methodology to monitor the overfeeding phase in ‘foie gras’ farms. Our study aims to (1) develop and implement an objective measure of behavioural responses in ducks during overfeeding and (2) assess the impact of two housing systems – elevated collective pens (ECP) <em>vs.</em> collective floor pens (CFP) – on ducks’ welfare before and during the overfeeding meal. The developed measure is based on two specific indicators characterising ducks’ reactions – struggling and overall agitation profile – to overfeeding and toward the feeder. In addition to these indicators, data on behaviour and health were also collected. Trials were conducted on commercial farms at two separate sites (hereafter “site A” and “site B”) and repeated with two batches on both sites. Behavioural and health data were recorded for 1226 male mule ducks (<em>Cairina moschata</em> x <em>Anas platyrhynchos</em>) 1.5 h before overfeeding and then during overfeeding meals, three times throughout the overfeeding phase. Ducks housed in ECP showed more discomfort behaviours, while ducks housed in CFP expressed more natural behaviours before overfeeding meals. Ducks housed in ECP were also more agitated and struggled more during overfeeding than ducks housed in CFP. Moreover, the thighs (in both sites) and livers (in site A) of ducks housed in CFP were heavier than those of ducks housed in ECP. The results obtained before and during overfeeding meals align and complement each other, providing strong support for the development of new behavioural metrics for mule ducks’ reactivity. Our results also suggest that mule ducks housed in CFP exhibit a more effective coping strategy in response to stressful situations. This strategy is supported by the increased opportunity to explore their environment and engage in species-specific behaviours within this housing system. Finally, the results obtained with the ducks housed in CFP align with the 'one welfare' concept, as CFP enhances not only the well-being of the ducks but also the farmer’s well-being, with the ducks struggling less and being less agitated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 106738"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144571800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sexual attractivity and receptivity in tailed and docked ewes","authors":"Jocelyn M. Woods,&nbsp;Sarah J.J. Adcock","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106733","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106733","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Removing a portion of the tail, also known as tail docking, is commonly performed in sheep. However, there is evidence that females of small ruminant species use their tails to communicate in sexual contexts. The objective of this study was to test whether a ewe’s tail status affected the mating behavior of ewes and rams. Within 18 Polypay female twin pairs, one lamb was docked between 24 and 36 h of age by placing a constrictive rubber ring on the tail while her sister’s tail was left undocked (n = 18 lambs/treatment). The estrous cycles of the ewes were synchronized when they reached 7–8 months of age, and 9 groups of 4 ewes (2 twin pairs/group) were each exposed to a single unfamiliar virgin ram (n = 9; 7–8 months of age) for 48 h. Behavioral interactions were video recorded over the first 2 h and analyzed to determine the ram’s latency to investigate each ewe’s perineal region and to mount her, the duration of perineal investigation, the number of headbutts and mounting attempts towards the ewe, and the proportion of mounts that the ewe accepted out of the total attempted mounts. We used real-time location sensors to record the <em>x, y</em> location of ewes and rams every second, from which we determined each ewe’s total distance traveled and average distance to the ram. Undocked ewes tended to be mounted sooner by the ram and, when mounted, tended to accept more mounts compared to docked ewes. No differences were observed between docked and undocked ewes in any of the other behaviors. These findings suggest that tail docking neonatal ewe lambs may reduce sexual attractivity and receptivity later in life, with potential implications for reproductive success.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 106733"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Learning and cognitive flexibility in two-choice visual discrimination tasks are similar in juvenile and adult sheep","authors":"Kathryn L. Gatford ,&nbsp;A. Jennifer Morton ,&nbsp;Sebastian D. McBride","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106735","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106735","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The sheep is a valuable species for studying neurodevelopment. The two-choice visual discrimination-reversal task is a widely used set-shifting task assessing function of fronto-striatal brain networks but whether lambs can complete this task has not yet been evaluated. Here we compared cognitive performance in mature adult Texel ewes (n = 12, 1.4–6.4 years old at start of training) and their weaned Texel lambs (n = 5 females, n = 8 non-castrated males, 4.1–5.5 months old) during training and testing in visual attention and two-choice discrimination-reversal tasks within a semi-automated operant system. Adult ewes completed the visual attention task in fewer sessions than lambs (<em>p</em> = 0.030) and a greater proportion of ewes than lambs completed the visual attention task within 10 training sessions (ewes: 8/12; lambs: 3/13; <em>p</em> = 0.028). Numbers of trials taken to reach the learning criterion in the two-choice visual discrimination-reversal task, however, did not differ between adult ewes and lambs during the first acquisition (<em>p</em> = 0.494), or the first (<em>p</em> = 0.955) or second reversal (<em>p</em> = 0.314) phases. Adult ewes completed the second acquisition phase in fewer trials than lambs (<em>p</em> = 0.031). This study confirms that learning and cognitive flexibility can be evaluated using a two-choice visual discrimination-reversal task in growing lambs as well as adult ewes, but that visual attention may take longer to achieve in lambs. This allows longitudinal assessment of the impacts of pregnancy exposures and responses to interventions in sheep models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 106735"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144489858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamics of behaviour and habitat-use of black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata) in a captive zoo environment","authors":"De Cai ,&nbsp;Fidelma Butler ,&nbsp;Paul.S. Giller ,&nbsp;Declan O’Donovan ,&nbsp;Ruth Mary O’Riordan","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106722","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106722","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Black-and-white ruffed lemurs (<em>Varecia variegata variegata</em>) are critically endangered animals, which highlights the urgent need to establish backup populations within zoos and promote their animal welfare and breeding potential. However, studies have shown captive <em>Varecia</em> are more inactive than their wild counterparts. The present research focuses on a year-long study (2022–3) of the behavioural patterns and habitat preferences of a successfully breeding captive group of ten <em>Varecia</em> under naturalistic conditions at Fota Wildlife Park, Cork, Ireland. Focal and scan sampling were used to examine the effects of a series of factors such as time, daylight duration, temperature and visitors on the behavioural repertoire and activity budget to help elucidate which factors may influence behaviour and thereby enhance management options and breeding success. The results reveal that the activity budget of this captive <em>Varecia</em> group was similar to that of their wild counterparts, with the exception of a higher level of self-directed (9 %) and affiliative behaviours (20 %). Juveniles engaged in affiliative behaviours 112 % more than subadults, while adults spent 60 % more time being inactive than juveniles. Behaviours of the group changed significantly across the day and also across the year, with locomotion significantly decreasing as daylight hours lengthened and affiliative behaviours decreasing as temperatures rose. The most utilized area of the captive <em>Varecia</em> was the naturalistic island (39 %) and an out-door mesh tunnel (33 %). Locomotion was significantly higher on the island, while the tunnel had greater occurrences of affiliative behaviours. Visitor numbers had a significant influence on the utilization of all habitats, with higher visitor numbers near the island and tunnel increasing the use of the tunnel, while higher visitor numbers near the viewing window prompted greater utilization of this inside off-exhibit cage. These data contribute to our understanding of the dynamics of the behaviour of <em>Varecia</em> in a captive environment and can potentially offer insights into enhancing natural behaviours of this species within complex zoo settings, whilst also providing valuable guidance for future husbandry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 106722"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144522828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The influence of an unfamiliar person’s presence on shelter use, feeding, and exploratory behavior in domestic rabbits during animal-assisted interventions","authors":"Michaela Součková ,&nbsp;Lucie Přibylová ,&nbsp;Martina Frühauf Kolářová ,&nbsp;Hana Vostrá-Vydrová ,&nbsp;Helena Chaloupková","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106721","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106721","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rabbits have been increasingly used in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) in recent years. The issue of their welfare during these interventions, however, remains insufficiently explored. The common practice of holding a rabbit on the client’s lap often leads to signs of stress. An alternative could be the use of a therapeutic table which allows for partial movement and provides a hiding place. This study aimed to analyze rabbits’ behavior during AAI and determine whether the therapeutic table represents an appropriate compromise for ensuring their well-being, or whether a no-contact approach with the client would be more suitable. The study included 9 female domestic rabbits habituated to human handling and 4 children, aged 9–11 years, unknown to the rabbits. A randomized controlled within-subject design with repeated measures was used. Each rabbit was tested twice in two different conditions: either on a specially adapted table with a hiding place in the presence of a child or without the presence of a child. A total of 36 sessions, each lasting 10 min, were conducted. The use of the hiding place, exploratory behavior, and feed intake were monitored, with all sessions video-recorded and later analyzed using Observer XT software. Statistical analysis was performed using R software (version 4.3.3; unction <em>glmer</em> in lme4 package and <em>nlme</em> package). The results showed that the rabbits spent on average three times more in the shelter during therapeutic sessions when a child was present compared to sessions without a child (F_1,34 = 2.051; p = 0.051). Rabbits displayed exploratory activity significantly less (F_1,34 = 6.308; p &lt; 0.0001) in the presence of a child, whereas in his absence, this time increased. Additionally, we observed a significant reduction in feed intake: in the presence of a child, the rabbits ate in less than 20 % of the observation time, while in the control group, feed intake was recorded in more than 80 % of the observation time (F_1,34 = 2.709; p = 0.007). The findings suggest that even though the therapeutic table provided hiding opportunities and allowed for movement, it did not fully mitigate the negative impact of the unfamiliar child’s presence on the rabbits’ welfare during AAI. These insights must be considered when planning and conducting these interventions, taking into account the welfare of the participating animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"291 ","pages":"Article 106721"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144502822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The ability to interpret affective states in horses' body language is associated with experience with animals","authors":"Moritz Nicolai Braun ,&nbsp;Sina Bülow ,&nbsp;Alicia Müller-Klein ,&nbsp;Ulrike Link-Dorner ,&nbsp;Tanja Michael ,&nbsp;Johanna Lass-Hennemann","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106716","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106716","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In light of an increasing interest in the human ability to read equine emotions, Braun et al. (2024) recently showed that horse-experienced individuals performed better in interpreting affective states in horses’ body language than horse-inexperienced individuals. Further, individuals with a high emotion recognition ability performed better in interpreting horses’ affective states than individuals with a low emotion recognition ability. The authors operationalized the ability to interpret affective states from horses’ body language by means of the behavior identification test (BIT). In the BIT, participants are presented with 32 photographs of horses that express different affective states and, for each photograph, are asked to choose which out of eight affective states the depicted horse expresses in its body language. In the present study, we scrutinized the replicability and the robustness of these findings. Further, we tested the idea that a better ability to interpret affective states in horses’ body language is associated with experience with animals in general but even more so with horses in particular. We did so by employing the design by Braun et al. (2024) in a novel sample, expanded by a number of quasi-experimental variables (i.e., animal/horse contact while growing-up; current pet/horse ownership; contact with animals/horses during work). We directly replicated the effect reported by Braun et al. (2024) that horse-experienced individuals outperform horse-inexperienced individuals in the BIT. Further, we demonstrated that a higher emotion recognition ability was associated with a better ability to interpret affective states in horses’ body language. Moreover, we found strong evidence in support of the notion that a better ability to interpret affective states in horses’ body language is associated with experience with animals in general and, more strongly, with horses in particular, be it during childhood or currently. We call future research to test the idea that the ability to interpret affective states in horses’ body language can be trained through contact with horses or other animals by means of experimental designs to identify a potential causal relation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 106716"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144335853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Escape patterns of companion parrots kept in Brazilian Households","authors":"Rodrigo Mendes Aguiar ,&nbsp;Cristiano Schetini Azevedo ,&nbsp;ChalineNicolas Châline","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106700","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Uncontrolled escapes of pet psittacine birds present significant risks to individual welfare, public health, and local ecosystems. In Brazil, a country with a strong cultural tradition of parrot keeping, such events are frequent and often poorly managed. This study aimed to describe the dynamics of escape, assess preventive strategies, and evaluate recovery efforts following escape events. An online questionnaire collected data from 865 respondents, yielding 1053 individual bird records. A high escape incidence was reported (63.6 %), with most events occurring indoors, often due to open or unscreened windows. Although 67.4 % of birds had undergone wing clipping at some point, 70.6 % of those that escaped had fully regrown feathers at the time of the event. Birds with clipped wings exhibited a significantly higher escape probability (OR = 7.60, 95 % CI [3.33, 18.37]), possibly due to reduced caregiver vigilance. None of the prevention strategies such as window netting or enclosure confinement were fully effective, and escape rates remained high even in households that reported combined efforts. A total of 57.2 % of escaped birds were recovered, most within 12 h. Recovery was more likely when owners engaged in active search methods, while wing clipping and low effort were associated with delayed retrieval. Thirteen percent of recovered birds were found ill, injured, or died shortly after,reinforcing the need to replace restrictive practices with ethical, behaviorally sound alternatives. These findings highlight the urgency of improving husbandry standards, promoting caregiver education, and adopting science-based, welfare-centered strategies for the management of companion psittacines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"290 ","pages":"Article 106700"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144306815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}