Marina Verga

The bond that never developed: adoption and relinquishment of dogs in a rescue shelter.

This study carried out a survey in an Italian shelter to analyze adoptions resulting in the rejection of the newly adopted dog. The results of this study show that the number of dogs adopted and returned was stable during the study, that more females than males were adopted, and that males were more likely to be returned. Almost all the dogs were returned because of behavioral problems, and most were more than 6 months of age. Some dogs were returned more than once, with 20% of the people who adopted the same dog at different times reporting the same behavioral problem. Having a house with a yard, a garden, or a terrace appeared to be important for better management of the dog and influenced the length of adoption. Half of the adopters had previous experience as caregiver for a dog; compared to adopters who had no previous experience, however, they returned their companion animal after a shorter period and because of behavioral reasons. Understanding why adopters return their dogs to shelters is an important step toward attempting to minimize relinquishments and, thus, optimize adoptions.

Animal welfare: review of the scientific concept and definition

Abstract The aim of this paper is to present a review of the current scientific viewpoints about the concept and definition of animal welfare. The need of interaction among different disciplines is stressed, as well as the need to scientifically assess welfare, using validated indicators. The role of applied ethology in animal welfare science is stressed. The paper provides a brief overview of the historical steps in the development of the concept and presents scientific viewpoints, briefly explaining their theoretical foundation. The possibility of defining welfare on a scientific basis is explained, identifying the main problems according to the scientific, cultural and social background. Another aspect considered is the relationship between welfare and ethics, evidencing the meaning of such an interaction and its possible evolution.

Factors which influence parturition in the mare and development of the foal

Abstract Observations are reported of 127 foals born to 127 mares. In particular, comparisons are made between the mares tendency to foal at night, the length of gestation, the weight of the foal and the weight of the foetal membrane, the time taken by the foal to attain a standing position and the time taken by the mare to expel the foetal membrane and the age of the mare and the season. The new facts that emerge from the results are: (a) foals from middle-aged (6–11 years) mares are heavier; (b) variations of gestation length are related to the month of conception (just a trend, not a statistically significant result); (c) time for the foal to stand is related to the foal sex (females: 56.3 minutes; males 70.6 minutes, on average), and to the time taken by the mare to expel the foetal membrane; (d) parturitions take place mainly (80%) during the hours of darkness. In spring, the percentage of night births (85%) is higher than in winter (78%).

Rabbit nest construction and its relationship with litter development

Abstract The influence of maternal prenatal behaviour and of the micro-climate on the development of young rabbits was evaluated for three successive litters of female New Zealand White rabbits. The quality of the straw and hair nests produced for each litter and several characteristics of the litter up to weaning at 30 days of age were recorded. The quality of the straw nest improved from the first to the third parturition, whereas the hair nest seemed to be influenced by climatic conditions alone, especially temperature. The importance of nest building on growth and survival of young until the thirtieth day of life was confirmed and the straw shell was identified as the more plastic component of the nest.

DOMINANCE HIERARCHIES OF COWS ON ALPINE PASTURES AS RELATED TO PHENOTYPE

Abstract Observations were made on a herd of 63 Bruna Alpina, Grigia delle Alpi, Rendena and Holstein cows under mountain-range conditions. The object of the study was to see which breed is best suited to the mountain conditions in order to improve the use of this margined zone of northern Italy. No fixed social hierarchy, assessed in two trials of 12 observations each at monthly intervals, was established. These variations might be associated with local herd management practices. Within the breeds, ranking relationships indicated by agonistic interactions ranged from high to low. The influences of age, size, weight and stage of lactation on social hierarchy were analyzed; each of the phenotypic characteristics examined seemed to play a role in the cows social adaptation to the variable herd conditions. Both phenotypic and breed characteristics affect the fitness and ability to adapt to the environmental conditions.

A general review and survey of maternal behaviour in the rabbit

Abstract The literature on maternal behaviour of rabbits is reviewed with special emphasis on socialization, mating, nest building and parturition. The results of a survey of mating and maternal behaviour in rabbits are reported.

Behavioral problems in Italian saddle horses

Abstract A survey was carried out in 25 riding centers to evaluate the prevalence of behavioral problems among saddle horses and to investigate the relationship between these and individual traits, training and management of the affected horses. Seven percent of the 650 horses examined had some kind of behavioral problems, and crib-biting was the most frequent. These behavioral problems seemed to be related to the sort of training and management. Show jumping horses tended to be affected simultaneously by more than one behavioral problem and to be more aggressive towards other horses. Although show jumpers were ridden more often, they had fewer opportunities to graze. The prevalence of behavioral problems was lower among those horses ridden Western style than among those ridden English style; the latter employs more hand to bit contact. The study also showed that horses groomed and ridden by one and the same person had more problems than horses groomed and ridden also by different people.

Social interactions and induced behavioural reactions in milk-fed female calves

Abstract This study had two purposes. In the first part we observed the feeding rhythms and behaviour, and the relationships between different physical parameters and behaviour, of Friesian calves reared in groups and fed milk substitute powder from a single automatic feeding machine. In the second part, calves of two different breeds (Friesian and Ottonese), reared and fed in the same way as those of the first part of the study, were compared individually at 2 and 3 months of age in an open-field test. The results indicate that there are both bi-directional and uni-directional encounters when the animals are young, and it is not possible to detect any precise dominance hierarchy. We were able to detect correlations between levels of activity, dominance values, physical traits and feeding behaviour. In the open-field test, the two breeds reacted differently, indicating that there may be differences in their capacity for adaptation.

Induced reactions in young rabbits of dams of different parity and reared on two different nursing schedules

Abstract The purpose of this study was to see whether or not there are differences in growth and behaviour of New Zealand White young rabbits born to primiparous or multiparous does or reared under free or controlled nursing schedules.. A total of 143 young rabbits from 20 litters were divided into three groups: 1. (a) 59 from 6 litters of primiparous does nursing freely; 2. (b) 47 from 8 litters of para 2 or 3 does nursing freely; 3. (c) 37 from 6 litters of para 2 or 3 does with controlled nursing Body weights and reactions in the open-field test were determined on Days 5, 10 and 15 of life. The results indicate differences in behaviour according to the parity and to both behaviour and growth in relation to nursing schedules. Also the litter influences all the parameters considered.

Welfare aspects in rabbit rearing and transport

Abstract The review starts with the description of the rabbits’ (Oryctolagus cuniculus) main habits and the current situation concerning the rabbit husbandry and management systems, as well as their effects on the welfare of these animals. As far as the intensive rabbit husbandry systems are concerned, the main problems are related to the time since rabbits have been domesticated and their adaptive capacity and coping styles as respects the farming environment and management systems. Both these aspects have implications in the present and future of rabbit rearing for different purposes. Examples are given on the effects of different housing and management systems on rabbit welfare, as well as examples of the ethological, physiological and productive indicators used to evaluate these effects. Transportation and, more generally, pre-slaughter phases including catching, fasting and lairage at the abattoir are considered major stressors for farmed rabbits and might have deleterious effects on health, well-being, performance, and finally, product quality. A general statement of the recent scientific studies considering the effects of pre-slaughter factors on physiological and productive measurements are reported. Finally, some indications in order to improve rabbit welfare, already present at the European level, are also outlined, together with the European Food Safety Authority opinions.