Hunger, Thirst & Comfort Flashcards
What are the Five Freedoms in animal welfare?
- Freedom from Hunger and Thirst
- Freedom from Discomfort
- Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease
- Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour
- Freedom from Fear and Distress
These freedoms are guidelines aimed at ensuring the well-being of animals.
What does ‘Freedom from Hunger and Thirst’ entail?
Ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
This freedom is crucial for preventing malnutrition and dehydration.
Define hunger.
The state in which an animal is stimulated to eat.
What is malnourishment?
Insufficient quality lack of nutrients, or incorrectly balanced.
What does undernourished mean?
Insufficient quantity of food.
What is satiety?
Feedback systems that inhibit feeding.
What is the difference between acute and chronic hunger?
- Acute: Resulting from an accident or deliberate management decision.
- Chronic: Long term restriction of feed intake.
What are the effects of feed restriction in rodents?
It is well known to increase life-span.
Is hunger always indicative of poor welfare?
No, some degree of hunger is necessary to regulate feed intake.
What can result from chronic hunger?
Long term restriction of feed intake, poor pasture conditions, starvation during drought, overstocking, limit feeding of breeding animals.
What physiological problems can arise from malnutrition?
Poor condition, depressed immunity, illness (morbidity, mortality).
What are stereotypies?
Abnormal repetitive behaviors exhibited by animals in confinement.
What are the two general types of stereotypies?
- Oral stereotypies
- Movement stereotypies
How can increasing feed volume with fiber affect stereotypies?
It may reduce stereotypies.
What is the maximum transport time for ruminants in Canada?
36 hours.
What defines thirst or water restriction?
Insufficient water to meet physiological requirements.
What are preference tests used for in animal welfare?
To determine what animals prefer in terms of flooring, housing, space, feeds, flavors, temperature, etc.
What assumption is made when using preference tests?
Animals will make choices that result in better welfare.
What factor can affect the strength of an animal’s preference?
Previous experience of the subjects.
What is a key consideration when assessing animal comfort?
Matching tests to animal’s behavioural and cognitive abilities.
What can be used to measure an animal’s willingness to pay for a preference?
Operant tests or physical effort.
What is the role of feedback in feeding behaviour?
It regulates hunger motivation and feeding.
True or False: All species have the same gut storage capacity.
False.
Fill in the blank: The scale used for Equine Body Condition Score (BCS) ranges from ____ to ____.
1 to 9.
