Quiz 3 Flashcards
How does welfare in nature differ from in captivity?
In nature animals have the capacity to face challenges like: hunting and consuming food, finding mates, avoiding predators, interacting with a constantly changing environment. In captivity animals lack challenges: they are provided with food and partners, there are no unforeseen dangers (due to weather or predation), and there is no competition.
What are the components of motivated behaviour?
External environmental stimulus and internal stimulus
What are the implication of abnormal behaviour in animals in zoos?
-They aren’t useful for conservation, research, or education?
-They aren’t pleasant to see (which is how zoos make their living)
Stereotypies:
Repetitive behaviour that do not have an apparent adaptive function
What is environmental enrichment?
Different procedures that modify physical or social environment of animals kept in captivity, promoting improvement in the quality of life, by satisfying their behavioural needs.
Types of farrowing housing
Outdoor system
Indoor system
Designed individual pen
Simple pen
Hinged or temporary crates
Why were farrowing crates invented?
When production was intensified they made this as a method to reduce crushing and make handling the sows easier
Mutilations in pigs
Teeth grinding or clipping
Castration
Tail docking
Ear notching
Is meeting basic needs a part of environmental enrichment?
NO!
Environmental enrichment satisfies psychological and physical welfare
Alternatives to teeth grinding or clipping?
Allowing piglets to be given to sows with less
Piggy boxes
Code or practice stance on teeth clipping
Okay when necessary, must avoid pulp cavity
Negatives of castration
Pain causing behavioural changes
Reduced udder-directed activities
Increase downtime
Pain, stiffness, tremors, prostration
Alternative to castration in traditional way?
Immunocastration
Code of practice stance on castration
After 10 days of age and with anesthetic and analgesic
Recently changed that castration at any age must be done with analgesics
Why are tail dockings done?
To prevent tail biting/cannibalism among animals
Consequences of tail docking in pigs
Limits ability for communication
Causes pain
Neuromas
Abscesses, arthritis, septicemia
Code of practice stance of tail docking in pigs
Pigs must be monitored for tail biting and corrective action must be taken
If docking, analgesics must be used
Consequences of ear notches in pigs
Causes immediate pain, not recommended since there are alternatives
Code of practice stance of ear notching
Should only be done when necessary and when piglets are less than 14 days of age
What are some objectives or environmental enrichment?
Reducing abnormal behaviours and stress. Increase the use of space in enclosures and diversity of behaviours. Give animals opportunity to make choices and give control over animal’s environment.
What was discovered in squirrel monkey relating to environmental enrichment?
Exposing squirrel monkeys to live insects activates their fear of snakes! This relates To the objective of giving opportunity to perform similar behaviours to that of wildlife.
Categories of enrichment
Sensory (5 senses), Cognitive (e.g. puzzles, exercises) , Social (e.g. with other species, mirror, friends), Food (variation e.g. frozen in ice, different timing)
What are the benefits of environmental enrichment?
Increase animal welfare, animal cognitive abilities, animal health level. raising public education level
What are some possible disadvantages of environmental enrichment?
Increased accident risk
Costs money
Requires zookeepers and biologists to give their time
Can cause problems if it’s not good
Needs administration - maintaining novelty
Can cause safety issues - conflict between animals, disease spread, contribute to escape or hurting visitors
Why is it important to consider novelty regarding environmental enrichment?
As length of stay increases, the novelty wears off and animals may habituate to it which reduces its positive effect. Also over stimulation may occur
Is training environmental enrichment?
NO!
but it can still improve animal welfare
the goal of training is to reduce choice especially in behaviour