Animals in Society: (Welfare Assessment & Stereotypical/ Abnormal Behaviours)

Question 1

Learning Outcomes

What is animal welfare?

• Good welfare
• Poor welfare
• Abnormal behaviour
• Assessing welfare

Question 2

Define: What is poor welfare?

Answer 2

the prevention of display of normal behaviour

Question 3

How can poor welfare be identified?

Answer 3

1. Research and knowledge needs to be available on species normal behaviour
   * data has to come from conditions where the animal can allocate its time and energy exactly how it chooses.

Question 4

List examples of what poor welfare may result from:

(5 answers)

Answer 4

1. Frustration
2. Absence of important stimuli
3. Insufficient stimulation
4. Overstimulation
5. Too much unpredictability

Question 5

Define: What is good welfare?

Answer 5

Associated with a wide range of normal behaviours being displayed

Question 6

Assessing Welfare

A good assessment of welfare should measure both (1)__________ and (2)_________

Answer 6

1. behaviour
2. physiology

Question 7

Assessing Welfare: Behavioural & Physiological (image)

Behavioural

1. Startle reflex/ response
2. Abscense of behaviour
3. Occurance of abnormal behaviour

Physiological

1. Heart rate
2. Respiratory rate
3. Body Temperature
4. Hormones (e.g. glucocorticoids)
5. Neurotransmitters (e.g. adrenalin)

Answer 7

*image

Question 8

Welfare Assessment: General Principles

Animal welfare can be assessed by the use of indicators,

(i.e. of variables that can be measured objectively

Question 9

Evidence of poor welfare is usually taken from the presence of other indicators,

therefore the absence of a particular behaviour may be simply a consequence of something else

e.g. lack of hormonal state or the animal may not want/need to display the (normal) behaviour.

True or False?

Answer 9

True

Question 10

Welfare indicators are divided into two groups:

List them

Answer 10

1. animal-based.
2. environment-based

Question 11

Group the animal-based indicators into four main categories.

Answer 11

1. Indicators related to the behaviour of animals.
2. Indicators related to the appearance of animals.
3. Physiological indicators.
4. Indicators obtained from the records of zoological institutions, such as the life expectancy of animals and the prevalence and incidence of diseases.

Question 12

Define environment-based indicators

Answer 12

variables that are not measured in the animals but in their environment.

Question 13

List 3 examples of environment-based indicators

Answer 13

1. size and design of facilities where animals are kept.
2. the quantity and quality of food they receive.
3. the temperature at which they are exposed.

Question 14

The occurrence of abnormal behaviour is often used to _____ welfare.

Answer 14

assess

Question 15

Why perform abnormal behaviour? (1-3)

1. Inability to perform a behaviour
2. Under or over stimulation
3. Abnormal behaviour as a coping mechanism

Question 16

Name 2 types of abnormal behaviour

Answer 16

1. Displacement behaviour
2. Rebound behaviour

Question 17

1.) Inability to perform a behaviour

Displacement behaviour

1. If (a)_______ by intense (b)_______ and then restricted.
2. Appears to (a)_______ intensity of (b)________ feelings in animals.
3. (a)________ displacement behaviours.
4. (a)___________ aggression may occur in (b)__________ situations – directed to others or (c)__________.

Answer 17

1. (a) aroused, (b) stimulus
2. (a) reduce, (b) unpleasant
3. (a) Human
4. (a) Increased, (b) frustrating, (c) themselves

Question 18

1.) Inability to perform a behaviour

Why does displacement activity occur in animals?

Displacement activities occur when an animal experiences:

1. (1)____ (2)________ for (3)___ or more (4)_________ behaviours, the resulting displacement activity is usually (5)________ to the competing (6)__________.
2. Displacement activities may also occur when animals are (1)________ from performing a (2)______ behaviour they are (3)_______ motivated for.

Answer 18

1. (1) high, (2) motivation, (3) two/2, (4) conflicting, (5) unrelated, (6) motivations
2. (1) prevented, (2) single, (3) highly

Question 19

1.) Inability to perform a behaviour

Examples of displacement behaviour

• Birds, may peck at grass when uncertain whether to attack or flee from an opponent
• A human may scratch their head when they do not know which of two options to choose.

Question 20

In the (a)__________ of animal welfare, displacement (b)________ are sometimes used as (c)________ that an animal is highly (d)_________ to perform a behaviour that the (e)___________ prevents.

Example:

when hungry hens are trained to eat from a particular food dispenser and then find the dispenser blocked, they often begin to pace and preen themselves vigorously.

• These actions have been interpreted as displacement activities, and similar pacing and preening can be used as evidence of frustration in other situations.

Answer 20

(a) assessment
(b) activities
(c) evidence
(d) motivated
(e) environment

Question 21

1.) Inabilty to perform a behaviour

Rebound Behaviour

Definition:

When an animal is (a)________ from performing a particular (b)_____ designed to satisfy a particular behavioural (c)_____.

Answer 21

(a) prevented
(b) action
(c) need

Question 22

1.) Inabilty to perform a behaviour

Rebound Behaviour: Characteristics and examples

Animals will usually (a)______ a (b)____ time to this (c)_____ when it becomes (d)_______ again.

• e.g. Animal deprived of food will eat more than usual when given access

Answer 22

(a) devote
(b) long
(c) action
(d) available

Question 23

1.) Inability to perform a behaviour

Rebound Behaviour: Characteristics and examples

Lying behaviour and activity can be used as (a)_______ (b)________ for (c)________ animals

Rebound behaviour suggests a build-up of motivation resulting from deprivation.

Answer 23

(a) welfare
(b) indictators
(c) domestic

Question 24

1.) Inability to perform a behaviour

Rebound Behaviour: Characteristics and examples

Rebound behaviour suggests a (a)____-__ of (b)________ resulting from (c)_________.

Answer 24

(a) build-up
(b) motivation
(c) deprivation

Question 25

**1.) Inability to perform a behaviour** An animal may display these _abnormal behaviours_ if it has a **lack of resources:** *(example: if deprived of important dietary compenents.)* 1. Eating or chewing random materials 2. Pica when deficient in phosphorus 3. Sows in stalls may chew bars *\*\*\*Pica:* Symptoms of *phosphorus deficiency* include _pica_ (an appetite for *non-food* substances), **stunted growth**, **bones that fracture easily** and **infertility.**

Question 26

**2.) Under or Over stimulation** The (a)\_\_\_\_\_\_ of (b)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ required is dependent on the (c)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and (d)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 26

(a) level (b) stimulation (c) individual (d) species

Question 27

**2.) Under or Over stimulation** **Incorrect levels of stimulation in captivity** may present in: * Stereotypic behaviours * Learned helplessness

Question 28

**2.) Under or Over stimulation: Stereotypic behaviours** *_Stereotypical Behaviour: Definition and Classification_* **Stereotypies are defined in two ways:** 1. _Repetitive_, **invariant** behaviour **without apparent immediate function.** 2. _Repetitive_ behaviours caused by the animal’s **repeated attempts to adapt to its environment** or by a **dysfunction** of the central nervous system **(CNS)**.

Answer 28

**_Additional Reading:_** * Both definitions agree that stereotypies are **repetitive behaviours.** The **second definition**, however, includes behaviours that despite being repetitive **are not always performed in exactly the same way**. * Moreover, it **does not assume that stereotypies lack a functional role;** this is particularly relevant because it has been suggested that some stereotypies **could facilitate the adaptation of animals to an unsuitable environment.**

Question 29

**2.) Under or Over stimulation: Stereotypic behaviours** *Simple definition:*

Answer 29

Prolonged, obsessive performance of apparently purposeless activity

Question 30

Stereotypic behaviour is _not_ seen in animals in the _(_1)\_\_\_\_ and is understood to be (2)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and is therefore a (3)\_\_\_\_\_\_ factor in conservation (4)\_\_\_\_\_\_ breeding.

Answer 30

1. wild 2. abnormal 3. negative 4. captive

Question 31

**2.) Under or Over stimulation: Stereotypic behaviours** _List_ examples of **stereotypical behaviours** (10 possible answers)

Answer 31

Examples of stereotypical behaviors include: 1. COPROPHILIA & COPROPHAGIA (playing with or eating faeces) 2. vomiting and regurgitating (form of bulimia) 3. pacing & circling **(locomotory sterotypie)** 4. head bobbing, weaving & swaying 5. rocking 6. neck twisiting 7. swimming in circles 8. excessive sleeping 9. self-mutilation (including feather picking and excessive grooming) 10. mouthing cage bars/ biting bars ***(oral sterotypie)*** 11. Source: (STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIOUR: ZOOCHOSIS (bornfree.org.uk)

Question 32

**2.) Under or Over stimulation: Stereotypic behaviours** Stereotypic behaviours could relate to _previous_ welfare state. **True or False?**

Answer 32

True

Question 33

If there is *no current welfare issue*, these behaviours should however *gradually disappear* - (but could be a result of habitat or addiction) **True or False?**

Answer 33

True

Question 34

What does the term **Zoochosis** describe? *\*Fun Fact: In 1992, Bill Travers MBE, (Co-Founder of Born Free), first coined the term.*

Answer 34

the term zoochosis is used to describe **obsessive, repetitive behaviour**, and **described zoo animals behaving abnormally as *zoochotic***.

Question 35

**2.) Under or Over stimulation: Learned Helplessness** Learned Helplessness presents as a (a)\_\_\_\_ of (b)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to stimuli.

Answer 35

(a) loss (b) responsiveness

Question 36

**2.) Under or Over stimulation: Learned Helplessness** Learned helplessness is (a)\_\_\_\_\_\_ and not (b)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 36

(a) unnatural (b) beneficial

Question 37

**2.) Under or Over stimulation: Learned Helplessness** Learned Helplessness occurs after (a)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ period of time being denied the (b)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to perform (c)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ actions - designed to achieve (d)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (ex. food)

Answer 37

(a) prolonged (b) opportunity (c) constructive (d) pleasure

Question 38

**2.) Under or Over stimulation: Learned Helplessness** Learned helplessness can be seen in companion animals with loss of companion and zoo/ farm animals. **True or False?**

Answer 38

True

Question 39

**2.) Under or Over stimulation: Learned Helplessness** Animals experiencing learned helplessness may be using **endogenous opioids** as a **coping mechanism.** The endogenous opioid system *(EOS*) plays a vital role in *regulating* myriad *physiologic functions* like: * pain relief (analgesia), * euphoria induction * stress resilience * cardiovascular protection * food intake control (etc)

Question 40

**2.) Under or Over stimulation: _Lack of Social or Sexual Partners_** **_Social_** * Calves housed individually, show more self-licking and repetitive tongue rolling, than those in social housing **_Sexual_** * Abnormal sexual behaviour * Rejection of young or poor parental care

Question 41

**3.) Abnormal behaviour as a coping mechanism** **The prescence of abnormal behaviour may be _________ in some scenarios.** * stereotyped behaviour may have a calming effect from simple repetition = self-enrichment) _Examples:_ HIGH ACIDITY IN STOMACH ----\> CRIB-BITING ----\> INCREASES SALIVA FLOW ----\> REDUCES ACIDITY CHAIN-PULLING IN SOWS ----\> REDUCES CORTISOL LEVELS ----\> RELEASES ENDORPHINS

Question 42

**3.) Abnormal behaviour as a coping mechanism** If an animal is using behaviour as a (a)\_\_\_\_\_\_ mechanism then treating a (b)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ problem, without solving the (c)\_\_\_\_ of the problem, may result in even more compromised (d)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 42

(a) coping (b) behavioural (c) root (d) welfare)

Question 43

**Companion Animals: Behaviour** Behaviour problems in pets can be (a)**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.** Some animals may have a (b)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ disposition to behavioural problems.

Answer 43

(a) subjective (b) genetic

Question 44

**Companion Animals: Behaviour** **True or False?** companion animals require a slightly different approach/ method addressing and identifying their behaviours.

Answer 44

True

Question 45

**Companion Animals: Behaviour** **True or False?** Most behavioural problems in companion animals are **normal from an animals point of view.**

Answer 45

True

Question 46

**Companion Animals: Behaviour** **True or False?** In the home we (humans) often **prevent** pets from **carrying out their normal behaviours.**

Answer 46

True

Question 47

**Companion Animals: Behaviour** Example of abnormal behaviour encouraged/ designed by humans: * dogs have been bred in a way that encourages them to behave as puppies long into adulthood

Question 48

**Companion Animals: Behaviour** *_How do we identify a behavioural problem?_* **(1) Correct \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_** and **(2)\_\_\_\_\_ of problem needs to be identified** _before_ problem can be attempted to be further *prevented or rectified.*

Answer 48

(1) diagnosis (2) root