The role of ethology in animal welfare

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Kokocińska ◽  
Tadeusz Kaleta

Knowledge of the behaviour of a species makes it possible to ensure the well-being of animals raised in farm conditions, because when we know the behavioural standard we can guarantee that at least the animals’ minimum needs will be met. Observation of animal behaviour is the first element in assessing their physical and psychological comfort. The main objective is to maximize production while at the same time maintaining animal welfare. However, this is often difficult and economic considerations come into conflict with the comfort and needs of the animals. The elements of knowledge of behaviour, in addition to ethology, i.e. the science dealing with animal behaviour, also include zoosemiotics and cognitive science, which explain of the occurrence of specific behaviours in terms of biology and physiology.

Author(s):  
Fran Baum

Governing for Health makes the argument that it is vital that governments and international agencies govern in the interests of protecting the environment and promoting human health and equity. A healthy society results from the organized efforts of every sector in society to promote health in all activities. The book examines how this can be done in the fiscal, health service, education, urban planning, environment, and local government sectors. It also promotes the crucial role of civil society in advocating for the health of people and the environment. The importance of the work of each sector to health is described, and the ways in which that work can be made more health promoting are examined. Each chapter contains practical examples of changes that can be made if governing for health is privileged. A key message of the book is that in the last decades economic considerations have come to dominate public decision-making so that governing for profit has been the single-minded aim of governments. The book argues passionately that new priorities are required that see all sectors governing for the needs of people and the environment rather than for short-term profits. The book also contains a chapter directed to politicians, suggesting a manifesto for well-being. It concludes by distilling the messages of the book into six central messages for governing for health, and ends with a plea that hope and courage should dominate decision-making.


2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
M Ariful Islam

Animal welfare is the well-being of animals.  The standards of "good" animal welfare vary considerably between different contexts. These standards are under constant review and are debated, created and revised by animal welfare groups, legislators and academics worldwide (Hewson, 2003). It is strongly linked to animal health, which similarly depends on good animal husbandry. Animal welfare is a core mandate of the veterinary community generally and veterinarians individually. This concept is articulated by many veterinary organizations in their Code of Practice, Veterinary Oath or other statements of commitment. Such statements centre on the common theme “a veterinarian should be dedicated to the benefit of society, the conservation of animal resources and the relief of suffering of animals and to promote animal wellbeing”. As scientific knowledge in the field of animal welfare expands and the expectations of society change in regard to animal care, so the commonly accepted definitions of animal welfare have evolved. Knowledge of animal welfare, particularly those in production is becoming essential to veterinary professionals across the globe.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v13i1.23702Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2015). 13 (1): 1-3


2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Nikitin ◽  
Alexandra M. Freund

Abstract. Establishing new social relationships is important for mastering developmental transitions in young adulthood. In a 2-year longitudinal study with four measurement occasions (T1: n = 245, T2: n = 96, T3: n = 103, T4: n = 85), we investigated the role of social motives in college students’ mastery of the transition of moving out of the parental home, using loneliness as an indicator of poor adjustment to the transition. Students with strong social approach motivation reported stable and low levels of loneliness. In contrast, students with strong social avoidance motivation reported high levels of loneliness. However, this effect dissipated relatively quickly as most of the young adults adapted to the transition over a period of several weeks. The present study also provides evidence for an interaction between social approach and social avoidance motives: Social approach motives buffered the negative effect on social well-being of social avoidance motives. These results illustrate the importance of social approach and social avoidance motives and their interplay during developmental transitions.


Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica W. Y. Liu ◽  
A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt ◽  
Richard Burns ◽  
Rachel M. Roberts ◽  
Kaarin J. Anstey

Abstract. Background: Little is known about the role of resilience in the likelihood of suicidal ideation (SI) over time. Aims: We examined the association between resilience and SI in a young-adult cohort over 4 years. Our objectives were to determine whether resilience was associated with SI at follow-up or, conversely, whether SI was associated with lowered resilience at follow-up. Method: Participants were selected from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project from Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, aged 28–32 years at the first time point and 32–36 at the second. Multinomial, linear, and binary regression analyses explored the association between resilience and SI over two time points. Models were adjusted for suicidality risk factors. Results: While unadjusted analyses identified associations between resilience and SI, these effects were fully explained by the inclusion of other suicidality risk factors. Conclusion: Despite strong cross-sectional associations, resilience and SI appear to be unrelated in a longitudinal context, once risk/resilience factors are controlled for. As independent indicators of psychological well-being, suicidality and resilience are essential if current status is to be captured. However, the addition of other factors (e.g., support, mastery) makes this association tenuous. Consequently, resilience per se may not be protective of SI.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sascha Zuber ◽  
Matthias Kliegel

Abstract. Prospective Memory (PM; i.e., the ability to remember to perform planned tasks) represents a key proxy of healthy aging, as it relates to older adults’ everyday functioning, autonomy, and personal well-being. The current review illustrates how PM performance develops across the lifespan and how multiple cognitive and non-cognitive factors influence this trajectory. Further, a new, integrative framework is presented, detailing how those processes interplay in retrieving and executing delayed intentions. Specifically, while most previous models have focused on memory processes, the present model focuses on the role of executive functioning in PM and its development across the lifespan. Finally, a practical outlook is presented, suggesting how the current knowledge can be applied in geriatrics and geropsychology to promote healthy aging by maintaining prospective abilities in the elderly.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Sabina ◽  
Victoria Banyard

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