Se Redgate

A Meta-Analysis of Studies of Treatments for Feline Urine Spraying

Feline urine spraying inside the home is a common problem behaviour that owners seek advice for from veterinarians. Individual trials relating to a variety of interventions produce variable results, and to date, no consensus on the value of different treatments has emerged. This study therefore aimed to meta-analyse, current data from appropriate published clinical trials that evaluate treatments for feline urine spraying. Inclusion and exclusion criteria for study selection were predefined and methodological quality was assessed by two independent reviewers. Ten studies in nine publications that either evaluated pharmacotherapy or pheromonatherapy (the use of a synthetic analogue of the F3 facial fraction in the cat) were suitable for analysis. There was a significant (P<0.001) association between the use of any intervention and the number of cats that ceased or reduced urine spraying by at least 90%. Analysis by intervention type indicated that fluoxetine, clomipramine and pheromonatherapy may each assist in managing urine spraying beyond a placebo based intervention. This is the first time meta-analytical techniques have been used and reported to evaluate the efficacy of interventions used in veterinary behavioural medicine, and it has established confidence in the value of both conventional treatments (pharmacotherapy) and a more recently developed treatment modality (pheromonatherapy) as an adjunct to the management of this problem. It is suggested that future research into treatment efficacy for this problem uses the benchmark standard of randomised, controlled trials lasting for at least 8 weeks, with the outcome criteria of cessation of feline urine spraying or reduction by at least 90%.

Evaluation of the effects of cage height and stocking density on the behaviour of laying hens in furnished cages.

1. Limited information is available on how changes in horizontal and vertical space within enriched or furnished layer cages (as defined by Directive 1999/74/EC) influence hen behaviour. This study evaluated the effects of varying minimum cage heights and space allowances on the behaviour of laying hens housed in furnished cages. It was conducted on two flocks of medium brown hybrid hens housed in furnished cages with access to perches and nest boxes on a semi-commercial scale at ADAS Gleadthorpe. 2. Flock 1 consisted of two layer strains (ISA Brown and Babcock 380), housed at two minimum cage heights (38 and 45 cm) and 5 stocking densities between 609 and 870 cm2/bird, with 12 replicates of each of the 20 strain/cage height/stocking density treatment combinations. Stocking density was varied by varying the number of birds per cage from 10 to 7 in standard full-width cages or housing 7 hens in a narrower cage. As a consequence stocking density, group size and trough width per bird co-varied for 4 out of 5 stocking density treatments. 3. Behaviour of flock 1 was sampled at 33 to 36, 46 and 68 weeks of age. At each age one top-tier, one middle-tier and one bottom-tier cage was sampled for each treatment. 4. Few behavioural differences due to cage treatments were detected. Hens at 870 cm2 had shorter feeding bouts than hens at 609 and 762 cm2. Yawning was more common in the cages with greater cage height. 5. Video recordings of flock 1 examined cage height effects on hens’ use of vertical space and provided additional data on stretching and self-maintenance activities. No differences in behaviour between 38 and 45 cm cages were found except that scratching head was more common in cages with greater cage height. 6. Flock 2 consisted of two layer strains (Shaver Brown and Hy-Line Brown), housed at 38 and 45 cm and 609, 762 and 1016 cm2/bird, with 18 replicates of each of the 12 strain/cage height/stocking density treatment combinations. Stocking density was varied by housing 10, 8 or 6 hens in standard full-width cages. Behaviour of flock 2 was sampled at 30, 48, 60 and 67 weeks from video recordings. Three cages per treatment from middle-tiers only were sampled at each age. 7. Hens housed at 609 cm2/hen had the longest mean feeding bout, greater than for hens at 762 cm2/hen but not hens at 1016 cm2/hen. More unsuccessful attempts to reach the feeder and sideways and backwards displacements from the feeder occurred at 762 and 609 cm2/hen than at 1016 cm2/hen. A maximum of 8 hens were observed feeding synchronously. 8. These results suggest that changes in horizontal and vertical space over the ranges we studied had little effect on behaviour other than feeding behaviour. Specifying a minimum useable trough space per hen, rather than calculating feeder space from total length of feeder per cage, irrespective of accessibility, might help avoid crowding at the feeder and associated disturbance of feeding bouts.

Dietary experience modifies horses’ feeding behavior and selection patterns of three macronutrient rich diets

Choice feeding is often used to investigate an animals nutritional requirements and dietary preferences. A problem with this approach is that animals with long gut transit times, such as the horse, may find it difficult to associate a chosen food with its nutritional consequence when alternative foods are presented simultaneously. One solution is to present foods singly for a period of time before a simultaneous choice session to allow the development of learned associations. This method was used to determine if horses voluntary intake and feeding behavior was influenced by the macronutrient composition of the diet. Seven stabled horses, maintained on a low intensity exercise regimen, were allowed, on an ad libitum basis, haylage and 3 isocaloric forage based diets that were rich in 1 of 3 macronutrients (protein, lipid, and hydrolyzable carbohydrate). Initially, diets were presented as a 3-way choice for 5 d (self-selection a [SSa]), then singly (monadic phase) with exposure to each diet for 2 separate periods of 3 d each, and finally again as a choice for 5 d (self-selection b [SSb]). The total amount of trial diet offered differed with trial phase, with 2 to 2.5% of BW during SSa and the monadic phase, increasing to ad libitum access during SSb. To control differences in the total amount of trial diet offered, 2 measurements of voluntary intake were taken at 4 and 22 h postpresentation. Daily macronutrient and energy intakes were estimated from proximate analysis of the trial diets and batches of haylage fed. Feeding behavior was observed over a single 4-h period during both self-selection phases. Horses showed no initial preference after 4 h for any 1 diet during SSa. Following the monadic phase, horses demonstrated a preference for the protein and hydrolyzable carbohydrate rich diets over the lipid rich diet (P < 0.001). Dietary experience modified foraging behavior as the total number of visits to the diets decreased during SSb (P < 0.005). Analysis of 24 -h macronutrient consumption showed that protein and hydrolyzable carbohydrate intake increased during SSb, whereas lipid intake remained constant over both self-selection phases (P < 0.001). These data indicate for perhaps the first time that horses can respond to dietary macronutrient content and that single presentations during choice studies facilitates expression of dietary preferences.

Exploring Synchronicity in the Heart Rates of Familiar and Unfamiliar Pairs of Horses and Humans Undertaking an In-Hand Task

ABSTRACT Physiological responses that occur in horses and humans during their interactions, on the ground and during ridden work, have been investigated in a number of studies with some conflicting results. These suggest that in some situations emotional state may be transferred from humans to horses and that there is the potential for the heart rates of horse–human pairs to become synchronized during ridden work. Here we explore the effect of familiarity on the physiological responses of horse–human pairs completing a task in-hand, using heart rate as an indicator for emotional state. We investigated differences in heart rate response between familiar and unfamiliar pairings and the possibility of heart rate synchronization within each pair. Complete sets of horse and human heart rate data were available for 17 horses. We found a significant order affect, with higher horse heart rates seen the first time around the course regardless of whether a familiar or unfamiliar handler was leading (Wilcoxon test: Z=–2.67, p<0.05). However, despite this, the horses’ mean heart rates for each course were significantly higher with the unfamiliar handler than with the familiar handler (Wilcoxon test: Z=–4.46, p<0.001). In contrast, human heart rates were higher when paired with a familiar horse compared with an unfamiliar horse (Mann-Whitney U test: Z=–5.08, p<0.001). Significant correlations between horse and human heart rates were seen in three familiar pairings and two unfamiliar pairings. Our findings indicate that the relationship between horse and human heart rates during interactions is not straightforward or consistent between horses and humans, and is likely to depend on a number of factors such as experience of the test situation. Although the lower heart rates seen in horses being led by their familiar handler suggest that they are more relaxed with someone they know, this could not be said for the human partner.

The 24 hour activity budgets of hens in furnished cages.

the tent. The tent is always open to the exterior, in this case a fruit orchard. In our study we have two tents, each standing in a fenced in area of approximately 1000 m. Food and water were provided close to the tent. The results presented here are from two flocks, each consisting of a mix of Hellevad (a white strain developed especially for use in organic farming) and New Hampshire. The flock sizes were approximately 85 hens, including 10 roosters. The hens were put into the system when 12 weeks old (middle of June), they were not beak trimmed, nor were they feather clipped. For the first 2 weeks they were kept locked into the tents to facilitate recognition of the surroundings and use of the perches in the tents. The work load for watering, feeding, egg collection and daily care varied between 9 and 12 man hours per month and tent, once the birds had been let out of the tents. From late October until early December the birds were observed on a daily basis. During the hours of light approximately 35% of the birds were inside or sitting on top of the tent (34% for Tent 1, 40% for Tent 2). Approximately 25% of the birds were in the area furthest away from the tent. The weather had an effect, with one flock going into the tent when it rained (P1⁄4 0.005), whereas the other flock was more sensitive for wind, the birds avoiding the area furthest away when there was a strong wind (P1⁄4 0.004). There was also a positive correlation between the degree of dryness of the soil and the number of birds in that area (P < 0.001, Spearman rank correlation). The amount of leaves on the trees in the orchard was again positively correlated with the number of hens in that part of the field (P < 0.001, Spearman rank correlation). The height of the coverage did not make any difference (high: 1-3 m, low <1 m). The egg production varied over the year with a mean of approximately 75% egg laying during the entire autumn and the beginning of the winter. This dropped sharply during a cold spell in the middle of December, going as low as 20%, but increase fairly rapidly again during late winter, reaching around 70% at the end of January. The birds were plumage scored according to the Tauson scale at slaughter (49 weeks old). The average plumage score was 19.8 out of 20 possible, the overall average damage score was 14.96 out of 15 possible, with higher scores meaning fewer wounds and better plumage. Comb colour was given the highest score for all birds, as was comb damage (i.e. no comb damage). The feet scores were also very high with wounds being scored as 2.99 out of 3, the same with the keel bone, 3.96 out of 4. The overall mortality was 12% (average for Danish organic flocks was 17% for a whole year). No birds died during the cold spell, nor was any dead bird found on the ground (which would have been the case had it died of disease or cannibalism). The most likely cause of death was instead that the birds flew out of the fenced in area (the birds were not feather-clipped, and were sometimes observed outside the enclosure). There was a fox farm, which was known to attract foxes, 200 m from the enclosure. The main welfare concern in the present system is without doubt the fact that the birds do not have access to a heated area. The hens had on average 12.5% of their comb frost bitten, while the roosters had 12.9%. The winter of 2002—2003 was very extreme for Danish conditions. However, before the system can finally be recommended for production this is problem that has to be addressed. In conclusion, the present system seem to offer a viable alternative to more conventional housing for egg producers that are content to hold small flocks of chickens. Some more work on specific aspects is needed however, with the most serious being protecting the birds against excessive cold.

2004 SPRING MEETING OF THE WPSA UK BRANCH POSTERS

the tent. The tent is always open to the exterior, in this case a fruit orchard. In our study we have two tents, each standing in a fenced in area of approximately 1000 m. Food and water were provided close to the tent. The results presented here are from two flocks, each consisting of a mix of Hellevad (a white strain developed especially for use in organic farming) and New Hampshire. The flock sizes were approximately 85 hens, including 10 roosters. The hens were put into the system when 12 weeks old (middle of June), they were not beak trimmed, nor were they feather clipped. For the first 2 weeks they were kept locked into the tents to facilitate recognition of the surroundings and use of the perches in the tents. The work load for watering, feeding, egg collection and daily care varied between 9 and 12 man hours per month and tent, once the birds had been let out of the tents. From late October until early December the birds were observed on a daily basis. During the hours of light approximately 35% of the birds were inside or sitting on top of the tent (34% for Tent 1, 40% for Tent 2). Approximately 25% of the birds were in the area furthest away from the tent. The weather had an effect, with one flock going into the tent when it rained (P1⁄4 0.005), whereas the other flock was more sensitive for wind, the birds avoiding the area furthest away when there was a strong wind (P1⁄4 0.004). There was also a positive correlation between the degree of dryness of the soil and the number of birds in that area (P < 0.001, Spearman rank correlation). The amount of leaves on the trees in the orchard was again positively correlated with the number of hens in that part of the field (P < 0.001, Spearman rank correlation). The height of the coverage did not make any difference (high: 1-3 m, low <1 m). The egg production varied over the year with a mean of approximately 75% egg laying during the entire autumn and the beginning of the winter. This dropped sharply during a cold spell in the middle of December, going as low as 20%, but increase fairly rapidly again during late winter, reaching around 70% at the end of January. The birds were plumage scored according to the Tauson scale at slaughter (49 weeks old). The average plumage score was 19.8 out of 20 possible, the overall average damage score was 14.96 out of 15 possible, with higher scores meaning fewer wounds and better plumage. Comb colour was given the highest score for all birds, as was comb damage (i.e. no comb damage). The feet scores were also very high with wounds being scored as 2.99 out of 3, the same with the keel bone, 3.96 out of 4. The overall mortality was 12% (average for Danish organic flocks was 17% for a whole year). No birds died during the cold spell, nor was any dead bird found on the ground (which would have been the case had it died of disease or cannibalism). The most likely cause of death was instead that the birds flew out of the fenced in area (the birds were not feather-clipped, and were sometimes observed outside the enclosure). There was a fox farm, which was known to attract foxes, 200 m from the enclosure. The main welfare concern in the present system is without doubt the fact that the birds do not have access to a heated area. The hens had on average 12.5% of their comb frost bitten, while the roosters had 12.9%. The winter of 2002—2003 was very extreme for Danish conditions. However, before the system can finally be recommended for production this is problem that has to be addressed. In conclusion, the present system seem to offer a viable alternative to more conventional housing for egg producers that are content to hold small flocks of chickens. Some more work on specific aspects is needed however, with the most serious being protecting the birds against excessive cold.

2004 SPRING MEETING OF THE WPSA UK BRANCH POSTERS: The 24 hour activity budgets of hens in furnished cages

the tent. The tent is always open to the exterior, in this case a fruit orchard. In our study we have two tents, each standing in a fenced in area of approximately 1000 m. Food and water were provided close to the tent. The results presented here are from two flocks, each consisting of a mix of Hellevad (a white strain developed especially for use in organic farming) and New Hampshire. The flock sizes were approximately 85 hens, including 10 roosters. The hens were put into the system when 12 weeks old (middle of June), they were not beak trimmed, nor were they feather clipped. For the first 2 weeks they were kept locked into the tents to facilitate recognition of the surroundings and use of the perches in the tents. The work load for watering, feeding, egg collection and daily care varied between 9 and 12 man hours per month and tent, once the birds had been let out of the tents. From late October until early December the birds were observed on a daily basis. During the hours of light approximately 35% of the birds were inside or sitting on top of the tent (34% for Tent 1, 40% for Tent 2). Approximately 25% of the birds were in the area furthest away from the tent. The weather had an effect, with one flock going into the tent when it rained (P1⁄4 0.005), whereas the other flock was more sensitive for wind, the birds avoiding the area furthest away when there was a strong wind (P1⁄4 0.004). There was also a positive correlation between the degree of dryness of the soil and the number of birds in that area (P < 0.001, Spearman rank correlation). The amount of leaves on the trees in the orchard was again positively correlated with the number of hens in that part of the field (P < 0.001, Spearman rank correlation). The height of the coverage did not make any difference (high: 1-3 m, low <1 m). The egg production varied over the year with a mean of approximately 75% egg laying during the entire autumn and the beginning of the winter. This dropped sharply during a cold spell in the middle of December, going as low as 20%, but increase fairly rapidly again during late winter, reaching around 70% at the end of January. The birds were plumage scored according to the Tauson scale at slaughter (49 weeks old). The average plumage score was 19.8 out of 20 possible, the overall average damage score was 14.96 out of 15 possible, with higher scores meaning fewer wounds and better plumage. Comb colour was given the highest score for all birds, as was comb damage (i.e. no comb damage). The feet scores were also very high with wounds being scored as 2.99 out of 3, the same with the keel bone, 3.96 out of 4. The overall mortality was 12% (average for Danish organic flocks was 17% for a whole year). No birds died during the cold spell, nor was any dead bird found on the ground (which would have been the case had it died of disease or cannibalism). The most likely cause of death was instead that the birds flew out of the fenced in area (the birds were not feather-clipped, and were sometimes observed outside the enclosure). There was a fox farm, which was known to attract foxes, 200 m from the enclosure. The main welfare concern in the present system is without doubt the fact that the birds do not have access to a heated area. The hens had on average 12.5% of their comb frost bitten, while the roosters had 12.9%. The winter of 2002—2003 was very extreme for Danish conditions. However, before the system can finally be recommended for production this is problem that has to be addressed. In conclusion, the present system seem to offer a viable alternative to more conventional housing for egg producers that are content to hold small flocks of chickens. Some more work on specific aspects is needed however, with the most serious being protecting the birds against excessive cold.