scholarly journals Behavioral Observation Procedures and Tests to Characterize the Suitability of Sows for Loose-Housed Farrowing Systems

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2547
Author(s):  
Julia Neu ◽  
Nina Göres ◽  
Jelena Kecman ◽  
Barbara Voß ◽  
Frank Rosner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Partum ◽  
Behavioral Observation ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Novel Object ◽  
Defensive Reactions ◽  
Building Activity ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Chewing Activity ◽  
Lying Down

The objective of the study was to evaluate behavioral observation procedures and tests to characterize sows’ behavior for their suitability for free farrowing systems. Nest building activity (NB), lying-down behavior (LDB), and position after lying down (PLD) were assessed. Four tests were designed to characterize the reaction of sows to a novel object and an unexpected situation (Towel Test, TT), behavior towards humans (Dummy Arm Test, DAT; Trough Cleaning Test, TCT), and behavior towards piglets (Reunion Test, RT). The study was performed on a nucleus farm in 37 batches including 771 purebred landrace sows housed in farrowing pens with short-term fixation. The assessment of NB started 2 days before the expected date of the farrowing. In 56.2% of the observations, the sows showed increased chewing activity on gunnysacks. The LDB and PLD were assessed on days 3 and 19 post partum (p.p.). In 49.1% of the observations, sows showed careful lying-down behavior. In 50.1% of cases, sows preferred the stomach-teats-position when lying down. With the DAT on day 4 p.p., in 89.3% of observations, no or only slight reactions of the sow were documented. The TT and TCT were performed on days 3 and 10 p.p. Strong defensive reactions of animals towards humans were recorded in 4.5% of the observations in the TT, and in 4.0% of the observations in the TCT. In the RT on day 3 p.p., in 61.8%, a joyful response of the sows to the reunion with their piglets was observed. This study showed that the behavioral observation procedures and designed tests are suitable to characterize sows’ behavior towards humans and piglets with regard to traits that are particularly important in systems without fixation.

scholarly journals Intergroup and intragroup dimensions of COVID-19: A social identity perspective on social fragmentation and unity

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Abrams ◽  
Fanny Lalot ◽  
Michael A. Hogg
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Social Fragmentation ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Face ◽  
Political Management ◽  
Psychological Challenge ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
People’S Perceptions

COVID-19 is a challenge faced by individuals (personal vulnerability and behavior), requiring coordinated policy from national government. However, another critical layer—intergroup relations—frames many decisions about how resources and support should be allocated. Based on theories of self and social identity uncertainty, subjective group dynamics, leadership, and social cohesion, we argue that this intergroup layer has important implications for people’s perceptions of their own and others’ situation, political management of the pandemic, how people are influenced, and how they resolve identity uncertainty. In the face of the pandemic, initial national or global unity is prone to intergroup fractures and competition through which leaders can exploit uncertainties to gain short-term credibility, power, or influence for their own groups, feeding polarization and extremism. Thus, the social and psychological challenge is how to sustain the superordinate objective of surviving and recovering from the pandemic through mutual cross-group effort.

scholarly journals Controlled trial of the short- and long-term effect of psychological treatment of post-partum depression

2003 ◽  
Vol 182 (5) ◽  
pp. 412-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Cooper ◽  
Lynne Murray ◽  
Anji Wilson ◽  
Helena Romaniuk
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Postnatal Depression ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Psychodynamic Therapy ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Post Partum Depression ◽  
Maternal Mood ◽  
Long Term Effect

BackgroundPsychological interventions for postnatal depression can be beneficial in the short term but their longer-term impact is unknown.AimsTo evaluate the long-term effect on maternal mood of three psychological treatments in relation to routine primary care.MethodWomen with post-partum depression (n=193) were assigned randomly to one of four conditions: routine primary care, non-directive counselling, cognitive–behavioural therapy or psychodynamic therapy. They were assessed immediately after the treatment phase (at 4.5 months) and at 9, 18 and 60 months post-partum.ResultsCompared with the control, all three treatments had a significant impact at 4.5 months on maternal mood (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS). Only psychodynamic therapy produced a rate of reduction in depression (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM–III–R) significantly superior to that of the control. The benefit of treatment was no longer apparent by 9 months post-partum. Treatment did not reduce subsequent episodes of post-partum depression.ConclusionsPsychological intervention for post-partum depression improves maternal mood (EPDS) in the short term. However, this benefit is not superior to spontaneous remission in the long term.

School Performance and Theophylline

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-125
Author(s):  
MILES WEINBERGER ◽  
SCOTT LINDGREN ◽  
JESSE JOAD
Keyword(s):  
School Performance ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Asthmatic Children ◽  
Term Administration ◽  
Usa Today ◽  
And Behavior

To the Editor.— Dr Rachelefsky and his colleagues reported, first in USA Today (Dec 2, 1986, p 1) and later in Pediatrics (1986;78:1133-1138) that theophylline adversely affected school performance. Specifically, they stated, "Teachers said kids couldn't sit still, they weren't remembering as well, they were acting up, and their handwriting had changed" (USA Today). They concluded that "the short-term administration of theophylline to asymptomatic asthmatic children not receiving oral bronchodilators can adversely affect school performance and behavior" (Pediatrics).

scholarly journals The Effect of Light Intensity, Strain, and Age on the Behavior, Jumping Frequency and Success, and Welfare of Egg-Strain Pullets Reared in Perchery Systems

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3353
Author(s):  
Jo Ann Chew ◽  
Tina Widowski ◽  
Eugenia Herwig ◽  
Tory Shynkaruk ◽  
Karen Schwean-Lardner
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Light Intensity ◽  
Novel Object ◽  
Continuous Sampling ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Effect Of Light

The effects of light intensity (L) are not well studied in pullets. Our research objective was to study the effect of L on navigational success, behavior, and welfare of two pullet strains (S). In two repeated trials, a 3 × 2 × 4 factorial arrangement tested three L (10, 30, 50 lux) and two S (Lohmann Brown-Lite (LB), LSL-Lite (LW)) at four ages. One thousand eight hundred pullets/S (0–16 wk) were randomly assigned to floor pens within light-tight rooms (three pens/S/room, four rooms/L) containing four parallel perches and a ramp. Data collection included jumping frequency and success (24h continuous sampling), novel object tests (fear), heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratios (stress), and behavior (instantaneous scan sampling) during photoperiods. L did not affect injurious behavior, fear, or H/L. Pullets reared at 50 lux spent more time preening than at 10 lux. Pullets reared at 10 lux spent more time wall pecking than at 50 lux. Time spent standing and preening and total number and accuracy of jumping increased with age. Pullets reared at 30 lux had higher jumping frequency than at 10 lux; accuracy was not affected. LW jumped more than LB, but with similar success. LB spent more time exploring and scored higher in the fear and stress assessments, suggesting S differences.

Spatial Preferences of farrowing sows

1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 ◽  
pp. 63-63
Author(s):  
A M Petchey
Keyword(s):  
Nest Site ◽  
Enriched Environment ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Body Width ◽  
Freedom Of Movement ◽  
Building Activity ◽  
High Standards

To satisfy stringent welfare criteria a farrowing pen must meet the sows’ needs for freedom of movement and allow her to exhibit most normal behaviours.Pens must be designed which provide adequate space for the loose housed farrowing sow but which have additional features to promote high standards of pig care. The sow should not be left to farrow indiscriminately within the pen but must be provided with an enriched environment to satisfy both her needs and those of the piglets. Within the pen the sow requires a suitable nest site and material to manipulate immediately pre-farrowing. These features can only be provided when it becomes known what the sows’ find desirable. In previous work it was shown that sows’ preferred to build their nests and farrow within a cubicle rather than in a corner or against a straight but open wall and that sows exhibit intensive nest building activity in the 14 hours before farrowing. In this trial the objective was to determine the farrowing sows’ response to an arrangement of parallel walls spaced 0.55, 0.95 and 1.35 m apart. The rationale behind the measurements was that they approximated to the body width, height and length of a generalised sow. Information about the sows’ response to such a wall arrangement would be useful if pens with walk-through nests were being designed.

scholarly journals Does Asymmetrical Gonopodium Morphology Predict Lateralized Behavior in the Fish Xenophallus umbratilis?

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik S. Johnson ◽  
Mary-Elise Nielsen ◽  
Jerald B. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Mating Preferences ◽  
Novel Object ◽  
Symmetrical Body ◽  
Livebearing Fish ◽  
And Behavior

Why bilaterally symmetrical organisms express handedness remains an important question in evolutionary biology. In some species, anatomical asymmetries have evolved that accompany behavioral handedness, yet we know remarkably little about causal links between asymmetric morphological traits and behavior. Here, we explore if a dextral or sinistral orientation of the male intromittent organ predicts side preferences in male behaviors. Our study addresses this question in the Costa Rican livebearing fish, Xenophallus umbratilis. This fish has a bilaterally symmetrical body plan, with one exception—the male anal fin (gonopodium), used to inseminate females, terminates with a distinct left- or right-handed corkscrew morphology. We used a detour assay to test males for side biases in approach behavior when exposed to four different stimuli (predator, potential mate, novel object, empty tank control). We found that left morph males preferred using their right eye to view potential mates, predators, and the control, and that right morph males preferred to use their left eye to view potential mates and predators, and their right eye to view the control. Males of both morphs displayed no eye bias when approaching the novel object. Our results suggest that there is a strong link between behavior and gonopodium orientation, with right and left morph males responding with opposite directional behaviors when presented with the same stimuli. This presents the intriguing possibility that mating preferences—in this case constrained by gonopodial morphology—could be driving lateralized decision making in a variety of non-mating behaviors.

scholarly journals Deltamethrin Exposure Inhibits Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Causes Deficits in Learning and Memory in Mice

2020 ◽  
Vol 178 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-357
Author(s):  
Muhammad M Hossain ◽  
Abdelmadjid Belkadi ◽  
Sara Al-Haddad ◽  
Jason R Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Object Recognition ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Water Maze ◽  
Cellular Proliferation ◽  
Hippocampal Neurogenesis ◽  
Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis ◽  
Novel Object Recognition ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Novel Object ◽  
Short Term Exposure

Abstract Deficits in learning and memory are often associated with disruption of hippocampal neurogenesis, which is regulated by numerous processes, including precursor cell proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation to mature neurons. Recent studies demonstrate that adult born neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) in the hippocampus can functionally integrate into the existing neuronal circuitry and contribute to hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. Here, we demonstrate that relatively short-term deltamethrin exposure (3 mg/kg every 3 days for 1 month) inhibits adult hippocampal neurogenesis and causes deficits in learning and memory in mice. Hippocampal-dependent cognitive functions were evaluated using 2 independent hippocampal-dependent behavioral tests, the novel object recognition task and Morris water maze. We found that deltamethrin-treated mice exhibited profound deficits in novel object recognition and learning and memory in water maze. Deltamethrin exposure significantly decreased bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells (39%) and Ki67+ cells (47%) in the DG of the hippocampus, indicating decreased cellular proliferation. In addition, deltamethrin-treated mice exhibited a 44% decrease in nestin-expressing neural progenitor cells and a 38% reduction in the expression of doublecortin (DCX), an early neuronal differentiation marker. Furthermore, deltamethrin-exposed mice exhibited a 25% reduction in total number of granule cells in the DG. These findings indicate that relatively short-term exposure to deltamethrin causes significant deficits in hippocampal neurogenesis that is associated with impaired learning and memory.

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