scholarly journals Associations between Dairy Herds’ Qualitative Behavior and Aspects of Herd Health, Stockperson and Farm Factors—A Cross-Sectional Exploration

Animals ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 182
Author(s):  
Asja Ebinghaus ◽  
Katharina Matull ◽  
Ute Knierim ◽  
Silvia Ivemeyer

The affective state is an integrated aspect of farm animal welfare, which is understood as the animals’ perception of their living environment and of their internal biological functioning. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore animal-internal and external factors potentially influencing dairy cows’ affective state. For this purpose, qualitative behavior assessments (QBA) describing the animals’ body language were applied at herd level on 25 dairy farms. By means of principal component analysis (PCA), scores of PC1 (QBAscores) were determined for further analyses. From monthly milk recordings (MR) one year retrospectively, prevalences of udder and metabolic health impairments were calculated. Factors of housing, management, and human-animal contact were recorded via interviews and observations. A multivariable regression was calculated following a univariable preselection of factors. No associations were found between MR indicators and QBAscores. However, more positive QBAscores were associated with bedded cubicles or straw yards compared to raised cubicles, increased voluntary stockperson contact with the cows, and fixation of cows during main feeding times, the latter contributing to the explanatory model, but not being significant. These results underline the importance of lying comfort, positive human-animal relationship and reduction of competition during feeding for the well-being of dairy cows.

Author(s):  
Emily Shoesmith ◽  
Luciana Santos de Assis ◽  
Lion Shahab ◽  
Elena Ratschen ◽  
Paul Toner ◽  
...  

Background: Companion animals may be a positive presence for their owners during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the welfare of a companion animal is strongly influenced by the behaviour of their owners, as well as their physical and social environment. We aimed to investigate the reported changes in companion animal welfare and behaviour and to examine the association between these changes and companion animal owners’ mental health. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of UK residents over 18 years of age was conducted between April and June 2020 (n = 5926). The questionnaire included validated, bespoke items measuring outcomes related to mental health, human-animal bonds and reported changes in animal welfare and behaviour. The final item of the survey invited open-ended free-text responses, allowing participants to describe experiences associated with human-animal relationships during the first UK lockdown phase. Results: Animal owners made up 89.8% of the sample (n = 5323), of whom 67.3% reported changes in their animal’s welfare and behaviour during the first lockdown phase (n = 3583). These reported changes were reduced to a positive (0–7) and negative (0–5) welfare scale, following principal component analysis (PCA) of 17 items. Participants reported more positive changes for cats, whereas more negative changes were reported for dogs. Thematic analysis identified three main themes relating to the positive and negative impact on companion animals of the Covid-19 pandemic. Generalised linear models indicated that companion animal owners with poorer mental health scores pre-lockdown reported fewer negative changes in animal welfare and behaviour. However, companion animal owners with poorer mental health scores since lockdown reported more changes, both positive and negative, in animal welfare and behaviour. Conclusion: Our findings extend previous insights into perceived welfare and behaviour changes on a very limited range of species to a wider a range of companion animals. Owner mental health status has a clear, albeit small, effect on companion animal welfare and behaviour.


Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1236
Author(s):  
Ana Paula Cardoso ◽  
Vanessa Ferreira ◽  
Marcela Leal ◽  
Manuela Ferreira ◽  
Sofia Campos ◽  
...  

This study analysed the perceptions about healthy eating as well as some emotional factors conditioning eating behaviour in a sample of people from Portugal, Brazil and Argentina. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study involving a non-probabilistic sample of 2501 participant. Data was collected through a questionnaire applied to adult citizens residing in their respective countries. For data analysis chi-square tests were used, and associations were evaluated by Cramer’s coefficients. Moreover, a tree classification analysis was conducted for variables related with perceptions about healthy eating and emotional conditioning of eating behaviour. The results revealed that participants’ perceptions are generally in agreement with healthy eating. However, significant differences were found between countries (p = 0.018) and by levels of education (p < 0.0005), with a more accurate perception for Portugal and at the university level. The existence of statistically significant associations between all sociodemographic variables considered and the conditioning of eating behaviour by emotional motivations should be noted. Tree classification analysis showed that the most important discriminant sociodemographic variable for perceptions about healthy eating was education, followed by professional area and country, while the most relevant discriminants for emotional conditioning of eating behaviour were country and then living environment and sex. Thus, it is important to consider these variables in initiatives that aim to promote adherence to behaviours that contribute to the health and well-being of the population.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuel Garcia ◽  
Jan Hultgren ◽  
Pontus Fällman ◽  
Johanna Geust ◽  
Bo Algers ◽  
...  

Full signalling of oestrous behaviour is vital for proper timing of AI and good reproductive performance, currently jeopardized by shorter observations of oestrus behaviour. Alternative indicators including progesterone (P4) recordings on-farm are tested. Oestrous intensity of 37 heifers (H) and 30 1st-parity dairy cows (C1) either Swedish Red (32) or Swedish Holstein (35) with high genetic potential for milk production, was studied in relation to AI. P4-levels in blood or milk were monitored on-farm at 0, 7, and 20 d post-AI with a portable ELISA reader (eProCheck800). Avoidance distance and body condition were scored at day 7, and pregnancy diagnosed by P4(day 20) and trans-rectal palpation (day 50). More heifers (46%) than C1-cows (10%) showed standing oestrus (strongest intensity,P<0.05), leading to higher pregnancy rate at d50 (72% versus 37% for C1,P<0.01) and calving rate (H: 64%, C1: 33%,P<0.05). Avoidance distances were short (<1 m), reflecting good human-animal interaction. Visually-recorded standing oestrus yielded 4.8 fold higher odds of pregnancy, respectively 4.6-fold higher odds of calving. On-farm P4-recordings had complementary value yet less accuracy. Intensity of oestrus signalling relates to animal well-being, reflected in pregnancy-to-term being a good indicator for optimal welfare in high-producing dairy cattle.


Author(s):  
R Soltani Shal ◽  
F Saadatbin Javaheri ◽  
A Zebardast

Introduction: Mental health problems is common among nurses, because they have to deal with to workplace stresses such as work-rest cycle problems, overload responsibility, financial problems, lack of vacation time, pressures of work, patient communication frameworks  and painful experiences of patients. These factors can decrease their wellbeing, but there is not brief and practical scale to assess psychological resiliency among nurses. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the hospital nurses’ well-being at work scale. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 194 nurses. The hospital nurses’ well-being at work was administered. The hospital nurses’ well-being at work is composed of 67 items and psychometric properties were examined through the Face validity, Content Validity, Concurrent validity, Construct validity. The data were analyzes by SPSS software. Results: Face and content validity were approved by five psychologists. The KMO index and Bartlett's Cruity Index indicated that correlation matrix was suitable for performing exploratory factor analysis. Factor analysis with Principal Component Analysis extracted one factor with 67.06% total variance. Internal consistency was confirmed by a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.957. According to the findings of the present study, 2.1% of nurses experienced very low well-being, 6.7% experienced low, 66.6% experienced moderate and 22.7% experienced high one. Conclusion: This study showed that the hospital nurses’ well-being at workplace had appropriate psychometric properties and is a valid and reliable screening index to measure well-being of nurses. This index could facilitate the assessing Well-Being in brief and practical way among nurses.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Kelly Fehlberg ◽  
M Guimarães Lima ◽  
P Alvarenga Santini ◽  
M Berti de Azevedo Barros

Abstract Background Bruxism is a relevant topic in public health, as it represents an increasingly frequent parafunctional activity and also for presenting musculoskeletal and dental effects affecting the health and well-being of the affected population. The reviewed literature shows that bruxism is associated with some health problems, but with multimorbidities has not yet been investigated. Objective To identify the association of bruxism with a multimorbidity pattern. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample composed of 1986 adults (≥20 years of age). This study used data from the Third Health Survey of the City of Campinas conducted in 2014 and 2015 (ISACamp 2014/15). A principal component analysis was performed to identify in which multimorbidity pattern, present in the population, bruxism is included. From this pattern, the variable number of diseases was created (0; 1; 2 to 4; 5 or more). The prevalence of bruxism was established according to this variable and associations were tested using the Rao-Scott chi-square test and Poisson regression. Results The factor analysis revealed three relevant patterns of multimorbidity in the population of Campinas. Bruxism was part of the pattern also composed of: asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis, allergy, migraine/headache, emotional/mental problem, dizziness/vertigo and back pain. The prevalence of bruxism increased more than fivefold in the concomitant presence of five or more of these conditions (PR = 5.35;95%CI:3.35 to 8.45). Conclusions Knowledge about the association of bruxism with a pattern of multimorbidities can show the direction of health actions in multidisciplinary teamwork, prioritizing the reduction in harm caused by the simultaneous presence of health problems associated with bruxism. We also emphasize the possible role of bruxism as an indicator of multimorbidities, especially those associated with the pattern found. Key messages Bruxism was more associated with multimorbidities of the pattern composed of asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis, dizziness/vertigo, migraine/headache, emotional/mental problem, back pain and allergy. The concomitant presence these conditions increased the prevalence of bruxism up to fivefold.


2011 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-237
Author(s):  
S. Heinz ◽  
N. Kanswohl ◽  
A. Römer

Abstract. Aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between the herd status for claw health and herd parameters. Herd parameters were derived from an assessment of the housing conditions and were based on a welfare index and critical checkpoints. Data has been collected on four conventional large dairy farms in northeast Germany. All farms have free-stall systems with cubicles offering a lying area. During the period from 2005 to 2008 on each farm claw disorders were recorded at time of regular hoof trimming, i.e. two or three times a year. Data was augmented by data on veterinary treatments of feet and legs. The Data comprises 18 119 observations of 3 690 cows. Housing conditions were assessed in the year 2008. The results show that a consequent and determined management of herd health is necessary to substantially improve the status of claw health. Housing and management confirming the rules of animal welfare will contribute to the well-being of dairy cows.


Author(s):  
Manuela Alcañiz ◽  
Maria-Carme Riera-Prunera ◽  
Aïda Solé-Auró

This study examines the influence of risk factors on mental well-being at older ages focusing on the level of rurality of the living environment. We used cross-sectional, nationally representative survey data for Catalonia (Spain) from 2015 to 2017 to explain the mental well-being of the population aged 65 years and over. Based on a sample of 2621 individuals, we created a score of current mental well-being using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS). Using logistic regression and non-parametric tests, we identified the sociodemographic, health and lifestyle variables which, in combination with the features of the rural and urban settings of the living space, were associated with poor SWEMWBS scores. Our results reveal that adequate social support is linked to expectations of good mental well-being in later life. Poor self-perceived health and ageing limitations are associated with less deterioration of the well-being for the elderly living in rural areas, whereas living in urban areas is linked to a higher risk of suffering from emotional distress attributable to economic difficulties or low educational attainment. Incentivizing older people to live in rural environments could result in greater well-being in the last stages of life; appropriate prospective studies are needed to test this positive outcome.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1787
Author(s):  
Asja Ebinghaus ◽  
Ute Knierim ◽  
Christel Simantke ◽  
Rupert Palme ◽  
Silvia Ivemeyer

To date, little is known about influences on cows’ physiological stress levels on farms. The present study explored associations of fecal cortisol metabolite concentrations (FCM) with (1) farm factors including human–animal contact, (2) cows’ fear behaviors towards humans, and (3) milk production and udder health, involving 25 dairy farms and repeated fecal samples (n = 2625) from 674 focal cows. Farm factors via interviews and observations, avoidance distance (AD) and qualitative behavior assessment (QBA) during a human–animal interaction were recorded. Milk yield and somatic cell scores (SCS) were calculated from milk recordings. Levels of FCMs were in general relatively low. No associations with AD and milk yield could be detected. Correlations between FCMs and QBA and SCS were significant, but on a low level. Against expectations, FCMs were higher, when the farm provided concentrates by hand and habituated heifers to milking, in part possibly due to reversed cause–effect relations. Decreased FCM levels were found on farms that did not separate diseased cows, possibly due to the avoidance of social stress following changes in group structure. Additionally, straw yards compared to raised cubicles and generous compared to suboptimal lying space were associated with decreased levels, underlining the importance of comfort around resting. Moreover, FCMs were decreased with increased human contact time per cow. The different associations detected in this study provide a basis for further experimental investigations that moreover might provide insights into causal relationships.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0242873
Author(s):  
Annika Lange ◽  
Susanne Waiblinger ◽  
Anja Heinke ◽  
Kerstin Barth ◽  
Andreas Futschik ◽  
...  

The animal-human relationship is essential for farm animal welfare and production. Generally, gentle tactile and vocal interactions improve the animal-human relationship in cattle. However, cows that are fearful of humans avoid their close presence and touch; thus, the animal-human relationship first has to be improved to a point where the animals accept stroking before their perception of the interactions and consequently the animal-human relationship can become positive. We tested whether the animal-human relationship of cows fearful of humans is improved more effectively by gentle interactions during restraint, allowing physical contact from the beginning, or if the gentle interactions are offered while the animals are free to move, giving them more control over the situation and thus probably a higher level of agency and a more positive perception of the interactions. Thirty-six dairy cows (median avoidance distance 1.6 m) were assigned to three treatments (each n = 12): gentle vocal and tactile interactions during restraint in the feeding rack (LOCK); gentle vocal and, if possible, tactile interactions while free in the barn (FREE); routine management without additional interactions (CON). Treatments were applied for 3 min per cow on 10 d per fortnight for 6 weeks (i.e., three periods). Avoidance and approach behaviour towards humans was tested before the start of the treatment period, and then at 2-week intervals. The recorded variables were reduced to one score by Principal Component Analysis. The resulting relationship score (higher values implying a better relationship with humans) increased in all groups; the increase was stronger in FREE than in CON, with the increase in LOCK being not significantly different from the other treatment groups. Thus, we recommend that gentle interactions with cows should take place while they are unrestrained, if possible.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6supl2) ◽  
pp. 3225-3236
Author(s):  
Severino Guilherme Caetano Gonçalves dos Santos ◽  
◽  
Edilson Paes Saraiva ◽  
Vinicius de França Carvalho Fonseca ◽  
Carla Aparecida Soares Saraiva ◽  
...  

The welfare of dairy cows is a major global concern, due to its impact on cow health and productivity, as well as public health. The aim of this study was to identify the main problems related to welfare in dairy herds managed on pasture in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. For this investigation, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 dairy farms in the municipalities of Areia, Alagoa Grande, Serraria, and Pilões, Paraíba, Brazil. Each farm was visited only once, recording the number of cows in the herd, type and number of milkings per day, daily milk yield, and access time to the pasture. Body condition score, cleanliness score, bodily injuries, and qualitative behavioral assessment (QBA) were measured. A total of 335 dairy cows were evaluated; herds ranged from 14 to 43 lactating cows, with an average milk yield of 8.4 ± 3.25 kg day-1. Of the 335 cows observed, 26% had a low body condition score, 82% had bodily injuries, and 20% had dirt on their legs. For the QBA, a principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that PC1 had a high correlation mainly with positive body expressions (e.g., sociable, active, and happy), and PC2 was associated with negative terms of body expression (e.g., apathetic, frustrated, and fearful). In conclusion, evaluating indicators of cows’ body condition, bodily injury, and cleanliness highlighted the importance of promoting improvements in pasture, management, and housing conditions to enable better performance, health, and welfare of the animals.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document