For on-farm sheep welfare assessment, a reliable, simple and robust method is required to assess the level of flock lameness. This study examined the level of test agreement for two binary lameness scoring systems for sheep. The first was a group-level lameness assessment of sheep performed on ungathered sheep at pasture and was termed group observation method (GOM). The second method of lameness assessment was performed after gathering of the sheep and involved close observation of the gait of individual sheep in a handling pen and was termed individual animal gait assessment (IAGA). Following individual gait assessment, each sheep was also examined for the presence of specific foot and limb lesions: white line lesions (WL); inter-digital dermatitis (ID); footrot (FR); contagious digital dermatitis (CODD); toe granuloma (TG); and joint swellings (JS). A total of 3,074 sheep were assessed from 40 flocks in North England and Wales by one assessor. Test agreement between the assessment methods was found to be good as judged by linear regression and Bland-Altman plots. The method of group observation identified a slightly higher proportion of lame sheep compared to the individual animal examination and also appeared to be a more feasible on-farm method of observation. Over half of the sample sheep were identified with WL but this did not appear to be associated with a high level of lameness (as assessed by IAGA) with just under 12% of sheep with WL being identified as lame. In contrast, the percentage of lame sheep was most closely associated with CODD and over 80% of animals with this lesion were scored as lame.

Capture-mark-recapture (CMR) repeated at intervals is a commonly used method of population estimation of mammals. Most guidelines for the use of wild mammals recommend adequate measures to ensure a captured animal has food and water available, as needed, until it is released. Small mammals are often highlighted as needing special care, but recommendations are either less clear or absent for medium- and large-sized mammals. We therefore examined the short-term welfare implications of CMR trapping of medium-sized mammals, using the marsupial, brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) as a case study. Possums were caught in cage traps baited with circa 30 g of food and set for three consecutive days at monthly intervals. Timing devices on the traps measured when traps were sprung. Possums were confined in traps for, on average, 89% of each night they were trapped, plus a further 2-6 h between sunrise and the actual time of release from the traps. They lost 3-8% of their bodyweight on average, depending on the number of captures in a trapping session. A recently developed framework for humaneness assessment, based on five welfare domains, gave an overall welfare impact of mild-moderate for cage trapping of possums. The short-term solutions to these welfare impacts would be, at a minimum, to provide trapped possums with adequate additional food and water, and minimise their time spent in the traps. Guidelines for the use of wild animals in research and management could also be more prescriptive regarding the provision of food and water in studies of medium-sized mammals that involve repeated capture.

Chronic pain and distress are universally accepted conditions that may adversely affect an animal's quality of life (QOL) and lead to the humane euthanasia of an animal. At most research institutions and zoological parks in the USA, a veterinarian, who has physically examined the animal and reviewed the clinical records, ultimately decides when an animal has reached a humane endpoint. To aid in the difficult process of interpreting pain and distress, we have developed specific behavioural guidelines, in addition to standard clinical information, to help define unique characteristics and traits of primates to assess and promote discussion of an individual primate's QOL, and thereby, to assist in the decision-making process regarding euthanasia. These guidelines advocate the creation of a QOL team when the animal is diagnosed with a life-threatening or debilitating chronic condition, or at the time the animal is entered into a terminal study. The team compiles a list of characteristics unique to that individual animal by utilising a questionnaire and a behavioural ethogram. This list enables the team to quantitatively assess any deviations from the established normal behavioural repertoire of that individual. Concurrently, the QOL team determines the number of behavioural deviations that are needed to trigger an immediate discussion of the necessity for humane euthanasia of the animal. The team remains intact once created, and revisits the animal's condition as frequently as deemed necessary. This process improves animal welfare by continuing the quest to optimally define QOL for captive primates, and potentially for all captive animals.

This study investigates whether foot problems in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) can be linked to: i) enclosure floor type; and ii) the occurrence of repetitive behaviour. Using a questionnaire, we collected information about floor type(s) in the enclosure, occurrence of repetitive behaviour and occurrence of foot problems for 87 Asian elephants (≥ 12 years) in 32 European zoos. The majority of elephants were housed on sand or concrete. A substantial proportion of the study population displayed repetitive behaviour. Respondents observed foot problems in 59 elephants, of which 53 displayed repetitive behaviour. Data analysis showed that elephants with access to sand flooring had a significantly greater chance of displaying stereotypic behaviour. Displaying this behaviour was also age-dependent with older elephants being more likely to do so. Furthermore, elephants that displayed stereotypic behaviour or that were being kept in an environment with sand or concrete flooring were more likely to have foot problems than others. Further research is required to determine whether the relationships between substrate, stereotypic behaviour and foot problems are of a causal nature.

The effects of short-term road transport on dairy cow welfare have been the focus of very few studies. This study is the first to evaluate whether short-term transport of dairy cows under conditions similar to a typical journey from farm to slaughterhouse can cause nonlame cows to become lame. In total, 203 Danish Holstein cows from 18 different commercial Danish dairy herds were included in the study. In each herd, a large number of cows were locomotion scored and 8-12 non-lame cows were selected for transport. After the initial locomotion scoring, the selected cows were loaded onto a truck and transported on average 84 km (1 h 55 min) using a route simulating a typical transportation of cows to slaughter under Danish conditions. Returning to the herd of origin, the cows were immediately unloaded and locomotion scored by the same observer as prior to transport. Results showed that locomotion score did not change significantly and that no cows became lame as a consequence of the transport.

Conventional bleeding of small laboratory animals is often associated with stress and injuries that can cause haematomas, inflammation and ultimately the death of animals under investigation. Here, we used faecal glucocorticoid metabolites as an indicator of stress imposed on laboratory mice (Mus musculus domesticus) when bled in three different ways: puncture of the tail vein following mechanical immobilisation; puncture of the retro-orbital plexus following chemical immobilisation; and a minimally invasive technique using blood-sucking bugs (Reduviidae, Heteroptera) without any immobilisation. We hypothesised that blood-sucking bugs provoke a lower hormonal stress response than conventional bleeding techniques because laboratory animals are not handled and because the mechanical stimulus of an insect sting is supposedly weak. Each of the 16 mice was bled using one of the three methods at a time in a random order with seven days of recovery between subsequent bleeding events. To monitor the stress hormones, we determined corticosterone metabolites in faecal samples of mice collected one day before, 8 h after and one day after the bleeding event. Concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites increased in all three treatment groups compared with baseline values. However, average concentration of stress hormone metabolites after bleeding was higher by a factor of about 1.5 when conventional bleeding techniques were applied than when bugs were used. We conclude that blood-sucking bugs may offer a gentle alternative for obtaining blood samples from small animals such as mice.

Equestrian sports require the co-operation of two species, horses and humans, but it is unknown to what extent stress responses in the rider affect the horse. In this study, the stress response of experienced and less-experienced horses and riders at showjumping was analysed. Sixteen sport horses were divided into two groups (n = 8 each) by experience and were ridden by highly experienced professionals (n = 8) and less-experienced riders (n = 8). Riders jumped a course of obstacles with an experienced and a less-experienced horse and horses took part with an experienced and less-experienced rider. Salivary cortisol, heart rate and heart-rate variability (HRV) variables, standard deviation of RR interval (SDRR) and root mean square of successive RR differences (RMSSD) were analysed. Cortisol and heart rate increased and HRV decreased in all riders and horses. In less-experienced riders, cortisol release was higher on a less-experienced versus an experienced horse but the horses’ cortisol release was not affected by experience of their riders. Heart rate did not differ between groups of horses and was not affected by experience of the rider but was higher in less-experienced versus experienced riders. The HRV decreased in horses and riders and SDRR was lower in less-experienced versus experienced riders. Thus, lower experience of riders appears not to affect physiological stress parameters in their horses during a showjumping course.

The Indian rhinoceros or greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and, therefore, captive individuals have been subject to the European Endangered Species Programme since 1990. Enhancement of welfare is key in ensuring the breeding success of this species in captivity. Salivary cortisol has been recently used to assess welfare of captive and free-ranging animals. Nevertheless, rhythms of cortisol secretion may fluctuate throughout the year and therefore, knowledge of the circannual pattern of cortisol secretion is essential to evaluate the physiological significance of seasonal variations of cortisol levels as an indicator of stress in animals. Here, we analyse monthly differences in cortisol secretion in two Indian rhinoceros. Saliva samples of two rhinoceros were collected and analysed by radioimmunoassay for the period of one year to determine cortisol concentrations. We found a seasonal pattern of salivary cortisol secretion. The highest cortisol concentrations were found in August and decreased until reaching a nadir in January. Cortisol concentrations in these two animals showed a correlation with temperature and visitor numbers but it is not possible to draw conclusions from this study as to whether the variation in cortisol was due to these or other factors.

Cattle may suffer pain and distress if incorrectly stunned. Regular monitoring of stun quality in abattoirs is now required by EU law. This study aimed to assess stun quality in cattle slaughtered under commercial conditions. A stun protocol was developed to evaluate when inadequate stunning occurred. This included rating of identified symptoms into three levels from highest to lowest risk for inferior animal welfare. Stun to stick interval times, shot accuracy, repeat shots, and stun quality variations between different cattle classes and by different shooters was also investigated. A total of 585 bulls and 413 other cattle classes (306 cows, 58 steers and 49 calves) were studied. Inadequate stunning occurred in 12.5% (16.7% of bulls, compared with 6.5% other cattle). Bulls displayed symptoms rated the highest level for inferior stun quality three times more frequently than other cattle. Despite being shot accurately, 13.6% bulls were inadequately stunned compared with 3.8% other cattle. Twelve percent of cattle were reshot, and 8% were inaccurately shot. Calves were shot inaccurately more frequently (14%) than other cattle. Percentage of cattle shot inaccurately ranged from 19% for the least experienced shooter to 5% for the most experienced. Stun to stick times averaged 105 (± 17) s posing questions for animal welfare, considering the number of cattle inadequately stunned. Stun quality could be improved by using more powerful stunners for shooting bulls, regular servicing of weapons, and use of neck restraints to improve shot accuracy. This study highlights the importance of external monitoring of stun quality at slaughter.

Environmental light-dark cycles play an important role in behavioural and physiological processes. It is essential that laboratory vivaria be designed to properly control the light conditions in which laboratory mice are housed; however, this is not universally the case. Some laboratory vivarium doors are designed with windows, which allow light from the hallways to leak into the housing space during the rodents’ dark phase. Personnel entering and exiting the housing space during the dark phase can also create excessive light leak from brightly illuminated hallways. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that exposure to dim light at night, as commonly experienced in many laboratory rodent housing spaces, alters mouse (Mus musculus) behaviour. We specifically analysed patterns of locomotor activity, anxiety- and depressive-like responses. Exposure to dim (5 lux) light at night altered home-cage locomotor activity and increased anxiety and some depressive responses among laboratory mice. These results suggest that light conditions can alter mouse behaviour and potentially influence experimental outcomes. Increased care should be taken to properly control light-dark conditions for laboratory animals.