Other Animal Sciences Commons^™

Hunting And The Evolution Of Human Intelligence: An Alternative View, Maxine Sheets-Johnstone

Intelligence Collection

No abstract provided.

Visual Evoked Potentials In The Great Apes, Sarah T. Boysen, Gary G. Berntson

Sentience Collection

No abstract provided.

Animal Pain, Bernard E. Rollin

Experimentation Collection

Some time ago, I received a telephone call from an eminent primatologist asking me to give the keynote address at a scientific seminar on animal pain. My first response was to express surprise that they were inviting a philosopher. His reply was remarkable, if only for its rarity among scientists: "The truly interesting and important issues concerning pain in animals are not scientific ones," he said. "They are moral, philosophical, and conceptual ones. And the total failure of science to engage or even acknowledge these issues discredits biomedical science and weakens its conceptual base." I hope to show you that …

Recognition And Alleviation Of Pain In Animals, P. A. Flecknell

Animal Welfare Collection

The pain and distress which animals experience as a consequence of their use by man figures prominently in discussions of animal welfare. Some improvements have been made in animal housing and husbandry practices and it is likely that further progress will be made in this field. In comparison, relatively little attention has been given to the problem of minimizing the pain and distress caused to animals by the various procedures to which they are subjected. The most publicized of these are the wide range of experimental techniques which are undertaken using laboratory animals, but also includes procedures such as castration …

T-61 Use In The Euthanasia Of Domestic Animals: A Survey, Andrew N. Rowan

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

A variety of techniques have been proposed and employed for the killing of domestic animals but relatively few have survived as suitable agents for euthanasia-namely, the induction of painless, suffering-free death. Some agents, such as strychnine, curariform agents, or potassium salts cause suffering while others have other disadvantages. 'lbday, dogs and cats are commonly euthanatized with sodium pentobarbital or with T-61 which is a mixture of a central nervous system narcotic, a paralytic agent, and a local anesthetic. The use of T-61 was first reported in the United States in 1963 (Quin 1963). The substance gradually became more popular because …

Applications Of Laboratory Technology In The Evaluation Of The Risk Of Rabies Transmissions By Biting Dogs And Cats, Donald C. Blenden, Manuel J. Torres-Anjel, F. T. Satalowich

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

While rabies is not a common disease in domestic animal species of the United States, potential exposures to rabies in the form of bites are very common and increasing. A nationwide study conducted among general hospitals shows that 1 percent of emergency room visits are for animal bites, of which 80-90 percent are inflicted by the dog (Callaham 1980). This figure is conservative, as the study did not include pediatric hospitals, the bite of victims that progress only to a physician's office, or those that receive no medical care at all. In Missouri alone, this study would infer about 1500 …

Isolation Of Lactoferrin And Its Concentration In Sows’ Colostrum And Milk During A 21-Day Lactation, J. I. Elliot, B. Senft, G. Ernhardt, D. Fraser

Nutrition Collection

Levels of lactoferrin, an Fe-binding protein with bacteriostatic properties, were determined in the colostrum and milk of Yorkshire sows during a 21-d lactation. Lactoferrin levels averaged 1,100 to 1,300 μg/ml near the time of farrowing, then declined sharply during the first week of lactation. Concentration of lactoferrin showed considerable variation among sows, but not among teat positions (anterior to posterior). A method for isolating high purity swine lactoferrin is described.

Some Factors Influencing The Availability Of Colostrum To Piglets, D. Fraser

Physiology Collection

Five experiments, involving the hand milking of 53 farrowing sows, examined aspects of colostrum yield during and soon after farrowing. The initial and abundant yield of colostrum from a teat (averaging 6 to 10 g/min) declined after several minutes of continuous milking. Thereafter, most colostrum was released in discrete ejections, possibly caused by discrete releases of oxytocin. Colostrum ejections varied greatly in their yield and duration, and were sometimes associated with the birth of a piglet, sounds of other sows nursing, or other factors.

Teats varied greatly in their yield. During the initial minutes of milking, the most anterior teats …

Animal Boredom: Is A Scientific Study Of The Subjective Experiences Of Animals Possible?, Françoise Wemelsfelder

Sentience Collection

The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between different meta-scientific frameworks and the science of animal welfare. Animal Boredom 117 During the past few years, I have become more and more convinced that the great difficulty science has in studying subjective experience in its objects, might be related to the denial of any role to subjective experience in the observer as an interpretational guide. Can a quality in the world around us be observed, when this same quality is deliberately excluded from the process of observing?

As a practical example for the discussion described above, the phenomenon …

The Question Of Animal Awareness, Francoise Wemelsfelder

Sentience Collection

The problem of animal awareness lies at the interface of science and philosophy. As a starting point for the study of phenomena such as awareness, mind, consciousness, etc., we hardly have any reference other than our own human experience and in the context of a nondualistic ontology this can be justified. In philosophy and psychology it appears to be very difficult to give direct operational definitions of terms such as consciousness, etc. So we might expect this to be even more difficult in the study of animals. A detailed knowledge of animals and their behaviour is necessary in order to …

Occlusion Of Vision In Old English Sheepdogs, Michael W. Fox

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

The show standards established for many breeds of dogs have been linked with a number of genetically related abnormalities that can result in unnecessary suffering. The facial skin folds and shortened face of bulldogs, which respectively lead to chronic dermatitis and respiratory difficulties, are two dramatic examples. Likewise, ear-cropping is an ethically questionable mutilation that conveys no benefit upon the dog. Another serious welfare concern relates to a practice that is common among owners of Old English sheepdogs and other breeds with long facial hair: allowing the hair to cover the animal's eyes. This feature is considered a desirable show …

Too Much Of A Good Thing: Protein And A Dog's Diet, Dana H. Murphy

Pets Collection

Where the analysis done by Kronfeld on stress in dogs goes awry is in its implication that this conversion of protein reserves occurs during a mild or transient period of emotional turmoil. In point of fact, catabolism of proteins only begins after an extended duration of severe stress, as a consequence of an extreme condition like a long sled race or a bad infection. Therefore, a mildly stressed animal probably needs carbohydrates (and perhaps fats) far more than supplemental protein, since the former can be quickly and easily converted into bodily fuel. And in the case of the stress induced …

Genetic Adaptation And Welfare, J. Van Rooijen

Genetics Collection

Beilharz says: "The evolutionary processes, if they are not obstructed or misdirected, must lead to such a degree of adaptation that welfare will have to be taken for granted, just as we can do no better than to take for granted the welfare of any wild animal in its natural habitat." From this statement, one might conclude all we have to do is wait, and the animals will eventually adapt to intensive systems. Concerning animals put into new kinds of environments, he states that, if individuals do not have the capacity to adjust phenotypically, "adaptation of the population will require …

Selecting A Spay/Neuter Program For Animal Control In The City Of Charlotte, Diane Quisenberry, Mary Elizabeth Clapp

Hunting Collection

The City of Charlotte, NC, in attempting to determine the best kind of program for reducing its increasing populations of unwanted dogs and cats, examined a full range of possible options for limiting these populations. Five measures for population control were considered: spay/neuter surgery, euthanasia, physical restraint, mechanical contraception, and chemical contraception. It was concluded that a spay/neuter program that incorporated educational and legislative components would be the most effective means of large-scale population control, although other methods like euthanasia would still have to be used. Based on a survey of a number of cities with spay/neuter programs in place, …

Review Of Literature On Use Of T-61 As An Euthanasic Agent, Laura Dalia Barocio

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

The tools of evaluating the degree of distress in animals being killed include electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography (ECG), and measurement of blood pressure and respiration. Sound clinical and behavioral observations should also not be abandoned in the evaIuation process.

There are many methods which may be employed to reach the same end results, but the ideal method should satisfy several criteria: 1. It should be painless; 2. It should cause unconsciousness instantaneously and death within minutes; 3. It should not cause undue anxiety, alarm, fear, panic, behavior, struggling, vocalization, muscle spasms or clinical signs of automatic activation (e.g., convulsions) before unconsciousness; …

Prostaglandin F2a Induced Nest Building Behavior In The Non-Pregnant Sow, And Some Welfare Considerations, Judith K. Blackshaw

Agribusiness Collection

Nest building behavior, induced with intramuscular injections of prostaglandin F2_a (PGF2_a), was studied in non-pregnant sows. Acute effects, which included salivation, scratching, vomiting, defaecation and ataxia, were also recorded. Sows (Large White x Landrace) were housed in two different environments; six sows in bare pens and six sows in pens provided with bedding material. In all cases except one (bare pen) nest building sequences of differing intensities were recorded. Welfare suggestions include questioning the justification of using a drug (PGF2_a) in pig husbandry, which has unpleasant acute effects, and the suggestion that the provision of …

Utilization Of The Intact Male For Red Meat Production: A Review, S. C. Seideman, H. R. Cross, R. R. Oltjen, B. D. Schanbacher

Contraception and Sterilization

Castration has long been a traditional practice in the United States. Research studies indicate that intact males grow more rapidly, utilize feed more efficiently and produce a higher-yielding carcass with less fat and more edible product. The disadvantages of the intact male include aggressive behavior (bull and boar); undesirable odors and flavors (boar and ram); lower quality grade (bull); lower meat tenderness (bull and ram) and undesirable meat color (bull and ram). Research is needed to develop antemortem and(or) postmortem handling procedures that offset the disadvantages of the intact male so that the meat and livestock industry can take advantage …

Genetic Adaptation In Relation To Animal Welfare, R. G. Beilharz

Genetics Collection

In this essay I outline the processes of adaptation of animals and of animal populations and discuss their relevance to the problem of animal welfare. Because "animal welfare" has many different aspects including philosophical, ethical, and biological, it is important to examine some of the fundamental issues that underly the concept. Hence, in this essay, I comment on how people come to "know," how information accumulates, and how what we know influences our actions. I also discuss the biological information that is relevant to animal welfare. It is my hope that, when this topic has been placed within a broader …

The Problem Of Pain: What Do Animals Really Feel?, Dana H. Murphy

Sentience Collection

Much of the contention and confusion that seem inevitably to arise whenever the subject of pain in animals comes up appear to stem principally from problems with the word "pain" itself. When used to describe responses in humans, "pain" can mean any subset of an incredibly broad spectrum of sensations and emotions, ranging from the instantaneous, galvanizing effect of a dentist drill hitting the nerve in a molar, to more airy notions such as the "pain" of rejection or "painfully" embarrassing situations. Humans even use concepts as abstruse as the German term, weltschmerz, or "world pain," which denotes a vaguely …

Behavioral Variability In Captive Slow Lorises, Nycticebus Coucang (Lorisidae, Primates), Shan Dustin Duncan

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This is a quantitative analysis of individual and sex-related variability in selected activities of captive slow lorises (Nyctivebus coucang).

Breeding And Use Of Nonhuman Primates In The Usa, Joe R. Held

Experimentation Collection

Several species of nonhuman primates, each possessing specific characteristics of particular value, are used by the United States biomedical community in a wide variety of health-related activities. These animals are man's closest relatives and are indispensable in the effort to understand and control human health problems.

The destruction of primate habitats and embargoes on export of primates from source countries have decreased the supply of these animals. Continuation of many ongoing and new activities contributing to the improvement of human health is threatened by inadequate and erratic supply of these resources. In the U.S., a program has been developed to …

Social And Cognitive Capabilities Of Nonhuman Primates: Lessons From The Wild To Captivity, William C. Mcgrew

Sentience Collection

All anthropoid primates in nature lead highly sociable lives. In infancy and childhood this is characterized by stability and familiarity for both sexes; in adulthood either one or the other sex changes groups. The natal group provides a social network of matrilineal kinship; after sexual maturity incest avoidance and exogamy are the rule. Important differences exist across species and between the sexes in mating strategies. In most species, males emigrate, but in others females do so. Male sexual behavior is based on competition between peers; females exercise choice in selecting sexual partners. Normal development of sexual behavior and maternal caretaking …

Amputation Of Vibrissae In Show Dogs, Thomas E. Mcgill

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

Dogs of many different breeds competing in the show-ring are routinely subjected to amputation of the vibrissae, organs that are commonly and incorrectly called "whiskers." This procedure is thought to give the animal's head a cleaner look, which in turn supposedly increases its chances of winning. There are several tricks involved in "whisker trimming" since the animals can retract each vibrissae at least one-quarter inch. Furthermore, they often object strenuously to the operation.

Stress: What Is It And How Can It Be Quantified?, T. H. Friend

Sentience Collection

An animal may be considered to be in a state of stress if abnormal behavior or extreme adjustments in its behavior or physiology are necessary in order to cope with adverse aspects of its environment. Methods used to determine if an animal is stressed can be either behavioral or physiological. Behavioral methods may be highly erroneous due to their subjective nature since alterations in behavior do not necessarily prove that an animal is stressed. There is no single measure of stress that can be used in all situations at this time. Every measure must be critically evaluated to ensure that …

Social Communication In Canids: Evidence For The Evolution Of A Stereotyped Mammalian Display, Marc Bekoff

Ethology Collection

The variability in the duration and form of the canid play bow was studied in infant coyotes, wolves, wolf-dog hybrids, beagles, and adult free-ranging dogs. Both duration and form showed marked stereotypy. It appears that the role of this context-specific social signal in the communication of play intention has been fostered by selection for "morphological" stereotypy.

Vocalizations Of Isolated Piglets. Ii. Some Environmental Factors, D. Fraser

Communication Skills Collection

The vocalizations of suckling piglets were studied during brief tests which involved social isolation, restriction of movement, and exposure to unfamiliar surroundings. Similar trends were shown in most cases by the three classes of call studied - closed mouth grunts, open mouth grunts, and squeals. The rate of calling was much lower when a piglet was in the home pen than when alone in an unfamiliar pen, and more calls were given in both situations when the animal’s movement was restricted by caging. The presence of the dam and four littermates in unfamiliar surroundings caused a large reduction in calling, …

Vocalizations Of Isolated Piglets. I. Sources Of Variation And Relationships Among Measures, D. Fraser

Communication Skills Collection

The vocalizations and activity of suckling piglets aged 4 to 25 days were studied during 5-min periods of social isolation in an unfamiliar enclosure. The animals became very active and vocalized repeatedly during the test, but the reaction was attenuated among older litters. Calls were predominantly closed mouth grunts at low rates of calling, and mainly squeals and open mouth grunts at high overall rates. Squealing correlated with open mouth grunting and with the activity measure both within and between litters. Even so, the measures appeared to be affected independently by the piglets’ behaviour in the home pen just before …

Special Report On Controlling America's Pet Population

Special Reports

HSUS estimates that public and private animal control programs cost the nation as much as $500 million a year. Much of this expense is required for the feeding and care of unwanted animals during the 5 to 10 days they are held for adoption, killing the 80% that are not adopted or redeemed, and disposing of the carcasses. The result is both an unconscionable waste of life and a needless drain on public and private money.

A large part of the blame for people undertaking pet ownership without having made a total commitment to the animal lies with the pet …

The Communication Of Play Intention: Are Play Signals Functional?, Marc Bekoff

Sentience Collection

No abstract provided.

Transfer Of Fr Response Rate Bias To Fi Trained Guinea Pigs By Injection Of Brain Homogenate, Lief Carlsen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In an attempt to delineate the physiological and/or chemical nature of the memory process, some researchers have reported that by introducing all or part of the brain of a trained animal into the bloodstream of another animal, the recipient thereby "acquires a tendency" to respond as the donor was trained. However, almost as many researchers have failed to obtain significant results.

Because many of the early experiments had less than optimum designs, their results were often equivocal. Critics frequently pointed out that perhaps increased learning efficiency was due merely to a sensitizing or stimulating effect of the injection and not …