ANIMAL WELFARE (Stereotypies) Flashcards
Abnormal behaviours:
-behaviours that differ in pattern, frequency, or context from that shown by other members of a species under similar conditions
-recognizing abnormality requires familiarization with normality
Normal behaviours:
-include any innate or learnt behaviour that SERVES THE FUNCTION of promoting the health, survival, and reproduction of an animal in a certain environment
-wide range
-frequency does NOT define normality
Abnormal behaviour types:
-stereotypies
-re-directed
-obsessive compulsive disorders
Stereotypies:
-a form of abnormal behaviour
-REPEATED series of movements with little variation with no obvious or apparent function
-prevalence and frequency are important welfare indicators
-never observed in wild animals
Behavioural sequence of the stereotypy:
-is often an incomplete form of a functional behaviours
*develop, they do not just appear
>usually initiated by hunger or scape attempts
Oral stereotypies:
-grazing and omnivorous animals
Locomotory stereotypies:
-predators
Re-directed behaviours:
-normal behaviours (ex. investigate or foraging) directed towards the wrong stimulus
-often exuberated by environment and nutritional management
Re-directed behaviours examples:
-tail biting in pigs
-feather picking in poultry
-cross-sucking in calves
Obsessive compulsive disorders (OCDs):
-similar to stereotypies, but controlled by different parts of the brain
*if change the environment these behaviours continue
OCDs examples:
-tail chasing
-licking
-flank sucking
-patterned barking
-wool chewing
-fly biting
Other undesirable behaviours:
-aggressive
-failure to function
Aggressive behaviour:
-although undesirable, it is NOT an abnormal behaviour
Failure to function:
-conditions imposed on domestic animals lead to some inadequacies of function of sexual or parental behaviour
>silent heat
>male impotence
>neonatal rejection
Behavioural model to describe stereotypy development:
- Causal factors (ex. blood glucose, time of the day)
- Increase motivation
- Appetitive behaviour (will increase motivated)
- Consummatory behavior (ex. done eating=motivation is reduced)
>functional consequences to stop the causal factors
Higher the motivation:
-greater the frustration and hence the likelihood of developing stereotypes
Ex. putting horses food just outside it’s reach=moving head up and down alot
Causes of abnormal behaviours:
-hunger/restricted feeding behaviour
-restrictive and/or barren environment
-genetic predisposition, dopamine
-early/abrupt weaning
-social isolation
-exposure to stereotypic peers
-anxiety or inability to escape fearful environment
-unpredictable environment (feeding schedule)
Underlying function:
-in barren environments they may increase sensory input
-may produce a more predictable and familiar input
Relieve digestive upset:
-veal calves preforming stereotypies had a lower incidence of stomach ulcers compared to non-stereotypy calves
>salivation as a collateral effect
Narcotizing and analgesic effect or stereotypies:
-endorphins are released in the brain during some stereotypies
Negative consequences:
-visceral discomfort
-locomotion injuries
-teeth erosion
-skin lacerations
-injuries to others (tail biting)
Types of stereotypies
-whole body moving
-part of the body moving
-oral
Whole body moving
> racing or route tracing
circling
rocking, swaying and weaving
Circling:
-occasionally a result of a neurological disorder
-tail chasing is most likely to occur when a dog is excited and frustrated
*might be more of a OCD
Rocking, swaying and weaving:
-body is moved backwards and forwards or from side to side, with or without head-swinging
Part of body moving:
-head-shaking, head-weaving
-rubbing, pawing, digging
Head-shaking, head-weaving:
-in domestic birds
>sometimes occur with close presence of an observer from which the bird cannot escape
>suggested that there may be a SELF-HYPNOTIC component in this behaviour
Oral:
-differences between animals in the way they eat are reflected in the stereotypies that develop
-licking or crib-whetting
-tongue-rolling (in cattle)
-bar-biting or crib-biting (horses)
-sham-chewing (pigs)
Bar-biting or crib-biting:
-animal opens and closes its mouth around a bar, tether or stable door
-engages the tongue and teeth with the surface and performing chewing movements
Extinction paradigm:
-stereotypy animals (ex. crib biting) have an increased preservation
Ex. how many times do they press the button after food doesn’t come?
>stereotypy took many more times before they stopped
Treatment of stereotypies:
-includes masking the behaviour without addressing the source of the problem
Ideal treatment of stereotypies:
-modifying or changing environment
-change in feeding regime or diet
-behaviour modification
-drugs
Drugs for treatment of stereotypies:
-anxiolytics (‘reduce’ the frustration)
-OCDs controlled by different part of brain, and respond to different drugs and changes of environment
