<p>Animal behavior observation is a widely used method of detecting when animals are ill or injured, but there are limitations to using behavioral observations. Behavioral observations can be labor-intensive, subjective and unreliable. The development of technologies such as accelerometers, which record acceleration and activity-based data in 3D space, enables faster, more accurate and quantitative methods of detecting changes in animal behavior. Previous research has demonstrated the utility of using accelerometers to detect changes in animals’ health and well-being. However, limited information is available on the use of accelerometers to detect changes in behavior due to heat stress, which is a major poultry welfare concern, or to detect changes in activity levels of turkeys. The overall objective of this study was to determine whether micro-acceleration data loggers (accelerometers) can be used to detect changes in turkeys’ activity levels and to identify changes in turkey behavior that are indicative of changes in turkey well-being. Two trials were conducted. Specific objectives for Trial 1 were to: 1) determine the effects of accelerometers and habituation to accelerometers on turkey gait and welfare, 2) determine age-related changes in gait and welfare, and 3) evaluate the validity of the accelerometers. Thirty-six male commercial turkeys were randomly assigned to one of five groups: accelerometer and habituation period (AH), accelerometer and no habituation (AN), VetRap bandage (no accelerometer) and habituation (VH), bandage (no accelerometer) and no habituation (VN), and nothing on either leg (C). Welfare was assessed prior to video-recording birds as they walked across a Tekscan® pressure pad at 8, 12 and 16 wk to determine effects of treatment on number of steps, cadence, gait time, gait distance, gait velocity, impulse, gait cycle time, maximum force, peak vertical pressure, single support time, contact time, step length, step time, step velocity, stride length, total double support time, and duty factor. Accelerometer validity and reliability were determined by comparing the number of steps detected with the accelerometer to the number of steps determined from video recordings. Several age-related changes in turkey gait were found regardless of habituation, including a slower cadence at 16 wk, shorter gait distance at 8 wk, and slower gait velocity at 16wk. Habituation to the accelerometer and bandage had limited effects on turkey gait: non-habituated turkeys (VN and AN) spent more time standing on two feet (total double support time) compared to C birds, but did not differ from habituated (VH and AH) birds. Accelerometer validity and reliability were affected by both age and treatment. Validity and reliability were lowest for non-habituated birds (AN). Precision and sensitivity of accelerometers decreased with age but were unaffected by treatment. False discovery rate increased, and accuracy and specificity decreased with age. Results demonstrated that micro-data loggers do not adversely affect turkey welfare, but habituation to wearing accelerometers affects accelerometer reliability and validity. Accelerometer validity and turkey gait are also greatly affected by the age of the turkeys. </p> <p> </p> <p>The second experiment used the validated accelerometers to assess changes in walking activity when turkeys were under an immune challenge or mild heat stress. Another objective of Experiment 2 was to identify changes in welfare and behavior associated with mild heat stress and a mild immune challenge. A total of 92 tom turkeys (trial 1: 51 turkeys; trial 2: 41 turkeys) were assigned to 3 different treatments in a crossover design: control (C; no heat stress or immune challenge), heat stress (HS), and immune challenge (IC). HS treatment was induced by slowly heating rooms to a peak temperature before slowly returning the rooms to normal temperatures. IC treatment was induced by a live-virus hemorrhagic enteritis vaccine which was added to the drinking water. Video (walking, sitting, standing, eating, drinking, preening, feather pecking, aggression and heat-stress related behavior) and accelerometer (steps/hr) data were recorded for 5 days at 10, 12, and 14 wk of age in order to gather behavior and walking activity data pre and post treatment, which occurred on day 3 of the 5 day period. Steps/hr decreased with age, treatments HS and IC had lower step counts compared to control groups, and each day proved to have a different step count regardless of whether a treatment was imposed. On the day of the imposed treatments, steps/hr were lower for both HS and IC turkeys. Welfare analysis indicated that tail and wing feather condition was worse at 14 wk compared to 10 and 12 wk. Behaviorally, the amount of time spent sitting increased as birds aged. Treatment also affected behavior: HS and IC turkeys performed less standing and walking compared to C birds on the day of the imposed treatment. Turkeys under a heat stress treatment performed more aggressive interactions and were observed performing heat-stress related behavior, including panting and sitting with their wings spread apart. </p> <p> </p> <p>Results from both trials indicated that accelerometers can be useful tools to assess walking activity of turkeys and that accelerometers have the potential to detect changes in behavior that may be associated with conditions that negatively impact turkey welfare. The process of wearing an accelerometer on the leg did not adversely affect turkey welfare, but habituation is important to ensure that accelerometers are accurately and reliably recording turkeys’ steps. In addition, it was determined that changes in behavior, such as decreased walking and standing, can be indicative of potential welfare issues, such as heat stress and an immune challenge in turkeys. Further research is needed to explore the best step threshold for particular turkey ages in order to get the most accurate data in future analysis of walking activity. Furthermore, sex differences were not a factor in these studies as only male turkeys were used which may differ from females in terms of gait and behavior under heat stress and an immune challenge. It may also be beneficial to further explore turkey gait as there were discrepancies in the literature and this study concerning age related differences in gait (duty factor). Future research should focus on the early detection potential accelerometers can provide to the turkey industry for welfare concerns. As shown by our results, walking activity decreases under both a mild heat stress and immune challenge, so future studies should now determine if this decrease in activity level is detectable before overt visual behavioral signs. If accelerometers can detect signs of stress more objectively, accurately, and quicker than visual inspection, then both farmers and researchers could benefit from utilizing these devices to improve animal welfare in the future.</p>

O principal objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar as condições microclimáticas da sala de pintos de um incubatório comercial e suas interações com os diferentes tempos de espera, e a influência da etapa pré-porteira sobre o desempenho inicial de frangos de corte. Para isso, realizou-se um experimento dividido em duas fases: incubatório e granja de criação. Na primeira fase foram pesados e selecionados 1440 ovos férteis, todos provenientes de mesma granja matrizeira, divididos em três lotes iguais, referentes às idades de matrizes de 46(A), 54(B) e 64(C) semanas, da linhagem Cobb 500. Todos os ovos foram estocados e incubados sob as mesmas condições. Após o nascimento, seleção e sexagem, o total de 882 pintos foi dividido em 18 tratamentos. Cada tratamento continha em média 50 animais, referentes ao sexo (S), idade da matriz (M) e tempo de espera (E) no incubatório (0h, 14h e 28h). Adotou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), num esquema fatorial (2x3x3) para S, M e E. As variáveis respostas foram mortalidade (Mo), refugagem (R), peso (P), temperatura cloacal (TC), temperatura superficial média (TSM) e frequência respiratória (FR). Os dados foram submetidos à análise da variância e comparação múltipla de médias por meio do teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Uma caracterização microclimática da sala de pintos foi realizada por meio de perfil térmico de temperatura e umidade relativa. A segunda fase ocorreu em um aviário comercial climatizado, do tipo dark-house, com ventilação em sistema de pressão negativa, localizado no município de Cerquilho, estado de São Paulo. Foram utilizados os 882 pintos provenientes da primeira fase. Ao chegarem do incubatório à granja, os pintos foram imediatamente alojados e separados em 18 boxes, de acordo com os tratamentos. Consumiram ração e água ad libitum, e foram submetidos aos mesmos procedimentos de manejo, dietas nutricionais e condições microclimáticas durante todo o período experimental. Foi realizada uma caracterização microclimática da granja por meio do perfil térmico de temperatura e umidade relativa. As aves foram pesadas ao 7°, 14° e 21° dias. Adotou-se um DIC, num esquema fatorial (2x3x3), para S, M e E. Os dados de P foram submetidos à análise da variância e comparações múltiplas de médias por meio do teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Para as variáveis respostas Mo, R, mortalidade total (MT), ganho médio de peso diário (GPD), conversão alimentar (CA) e índice de eficiência produtiva (IEP), foi realizada uma análise descritiva. As condições microclimáticas, a matriz (M), o sexo (S) e o tempo de espera (E) influenciaram a qualidade de pintos de um dia. Considerando-se P como o parâmetro de avaliação, o tempo de E de 0h foi o melhor. Pintos oriundos da matriz C apresentaram menores perdas de peso. As condições climáticas, a idade das matrizes, o sexo e o tempo de espera, influenciaram no desempenho dos frangos aos 21 dias. Para frangos de corte aos 21 dias, os pintos da matriz B e o tempo de E de 14h, apresentaram os melhores resultados de IEP. / The main objective of this research was to evaluate microclimatic conditions of chicks room from a commercial hatchery and its interactions with different lairage times, and the influence of post-hatching phase under the performance in the starter phase of broiler chickens. Thereunto, an experiment divided in two distinct phases was done: in the hatchery and in the poultry house. In the first phase 1440 fertile eggs were weighted and selected, from the same poultry farm, divided in three equals groups, related to breeders age of 46(A), 54(B) and 64(C) weeks, from Cobb 500 strain. All eggs were stocked and incubated under the same conditions. After birth, chicks were selected and sexed, and the total of 822 one-day-old chickens was divided in 18 treatments. Each treatment had an average of 50 animals, relative to gender (G), breeders age (B) and lairage time (L) in the hatchery (0h, 14h and 28h). A completely randomized design (CRD) was adopted, in a factorial scheme (2x3x3), to G, B and L. answer variables were mortality (Mo), waste (Wa), weight (We), cloacal temperature (CT), mean surface temperature (MST) and respiration rate (RR). Data were submitted to analysis of variance and multiple comparison of means by Tukeys test (p<0,05). A microclimatic characterization of chicks room was done through thermal profile of temperature and relative humidity. The second phase was performed in an acclimatized dark-house poultry house, with ventilation in a negative pressure system, located in the city of Cerquilho, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The same 822 one-day-old chickens from the first phase were studied in this phase. After the transportation from hatchery to the farm, chicks were immediately housed and divided in 18 pens, in accordance to the treatments. Animals consumed diet and water ad libitum, and were submitted to the same handling procedures, nutritional diets and microclimatic conditions through experimental period. A microclimatic characterization of the poultry house was done through temperature and relative humidity thermal profile. Birds were weighted at 7th, 14th and 21st days of life. Was adopted a CRD, in a factorial scheme (2x3x3), to G, B and L. We data were submitted to analysis of variance and multiple comparison of means by Tukeys test (p<0,05). To answer variables Mo, Wa, total mortality (TM), average daily weight gain (DWG), feed: weight gain ratio (FWGR) and productive efficiency index (PEI), a descriptive analysis was done. Microclimatic conditions, breeder (B), gender (G), and lairage time (L) influenced the quality of one-day-old chickens. Considering We as evaluation parameter, lairage time of 0h was considered the better one. Chicks from breeder C presented the lower losses of weight. Climatic conditions, breeders age, gender, and lairage time, influenced performance of broilers at 21 days of age. Considering PEI to broilers at 21 days, one-day-old chickens from breeder B and L time of 14h, presented better results.

<p>In recent years conservation of minor livestock breeds has been faced with numerous challenges attributed to decreasing national herd sizes, as well as differences in reproduction and growth. One such minor swine breed, the Large Black pig (LB), is increasingly attractive to small farmers due to their foraging abilities and carcass characteristics. Therefore, the LB pigs have been used in niche pork production systems which market pasture-raised pork products. The LB breed is critically endangered, maintaining a registered breeding population of less than 400 animals, with increasing prevalence of inbreeding and genetic drift. Therefore, the LB breed could benefit from a genetic importation to increase genetic diversity in a national herd with rapidly decreasing animal numbers. A genetic importation would require frozen semen to be brought in from another country for use in breeding U.S. pigs. Frozen-thawed semen (FTS) presents challenges for swine due to the reduced motile sperm cells which negatively impacts fertility. Therefore, the present study evaluated the utilization of FTS in a genetic importation for the LB pig. </p><p>A genetic importation occurred in 2016 where semen from the United Kingdom was used on various farms in the U.S. but resulted in zero piglets born. Therefore, 16 LB sows were donated to Purdue University for research into improving estrous and ovulation synchronization to facilitate FTS utilization. Four breeding replicates were performed where following 14 days of Matrix feeding, OvuGel® was administered at 144 h following last Matrix feeding (LMF) or 96 h in post-weaned sows and two FTS inseminations occurring at: 30 and 36 h, 17 and 23 h, 24 and 30 h, and 24 and 32 h after OvuGel® for replicates 1-4, respectively. Approximately 2.64±0.3 billion motile sperm cells per insemination were utilized in replicates 1-3 with American LB FTS, with replicate 4 utilizing 0.34±0.03 billion motile sperm cells of imported FTS. Follicle diameter (<i>P</i>=0.260), ovulation within 48 h of OvuGel® (<i>P</i>=0.411), and weight prior to breeding (<i>P</i>=0.681) did not influence conception rate, however expression of estrus was determined to significantly influence conception rate (<i>P</i>=0.043). Seventy-five LB piglets were weaned across the first three breeding replicates, with parity 2 sows observed to have larger litter sizes than parity 1 sows (<i>P</i>=0.066).</p> <p>Large Black and Duroc-sired (DS) crossbred pigs from replicates 1 and 2 farrowing were fed corn and soybean meal based finishing diets supplemented with (FIB) or without alfalfa and wheat middlings (CON). Following 6 dietary phases through finishing, 25 LB and 25 DS pigs were slaughtered at similar ages for digestive organ dissection and carcass measurements. Loin muscles were evaluated for fresh pork quality and instrumental color and tenderness. LB pigs had a reduced ADG (<i>P</i><0.0001) and G:F (<i>P</i><0.0001) compared to DS pigs. Pigs fed FIB resulted in reduced ADG (<i>P</i>=0.020) and reduced G:F (<i>P</i>=0.007). At slaughter LB pigs were 26.4 kg lighter than DS pigs (<i>P</i><0.0001), and pigs that were fed FIB had lighter live weights (<i>P</i>=0.002) than pigs fed CON. LB pigs had 28.5±1.3 cm² smaller longissimus muscle area (<i>P</i><0.0001), yielding 2.0 cm more 10^th rib back fat than DS pigs (<i>P</i><0.0001). CON pigs had heavier HCW (<i>P</i><0.0001) than FIB pigs, however FIB pigs had greater percent lean (<i>P</i>=0.015). LB pigs had significantly reduced percent lean than DS pigs (<i>P</i><0.0001). LB pigs had loins with reduced drip loss (<i>P</i>=0.009) and cooked shear force values (<i>P</i><0.0001). Overall, the growth and carcass composition of the pigs was most affected by genotype, and to a lesser extent than the type of diet fed. </p> <p>In conclusion, the genetic importation of LB semen was successful as ½ blood piglets were created for dispersal into the U.S. LB herd. Improvements in FTS utilization in this heritage breed contributed to the successful creation of live-born pigs. Additionally, growth and carcass information was obtained for LB breeders to use in understanding and marketing of this heritage breed of pigs.</p>

<p>(From abstract) </p> <p>In the first study, the urine collection method was effectively applied for evaluation of intestinal permeability using Cr-EDTA, an indigestible oral marker, demonstrating the applicability of the procedure in 1-week-old and 6-week-old neonatal heifer calves (n=15 calves). Calf health observations were recorded during the entire urinary catheterization process and collection period to evaluate any negative health reactions to the procedure, or localized reactions. Proportion of localized reactions were analyzed, and the proportions did not exceed 20% for the calves catheterized at either 1 week or 6 weeks of age. </p> <p>In the second study, the developed catheterization procedure and urine collection method was applied using Cr-EDTA as an oral marker to investigate if L-GLN supplementation would offer improvement to intestinal permeability. In this larger study, 30 Holstein heifer calves [1.5 ± 0.5 days old; 37.1 ± 0.86 kg body weight (<strong>BW</strong>)] were blocked by serum total protein, BW, and age, and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: <strong>GLN</strong> [24% crude protein (<strong>CP</strong>)], 17% fat milk replacer (<strong>MR</strong>) +10 g L-GLN/kg MR powder) or <strong>NS</strong> (24% CP, 17% fat MR). MR was reconstituted to 12.5% solids with warm water and fed 3.8 L/calf/d until weaning. Calves were weaned at 56.4 ± 0.5 days of age, and had <em>ad libitum</em> grain (17% CP, 2% fat) and water access throughout the experimental period.</p> <p>During the preweaning period, calves were individually housed in hutches and health observations, which included respiratory and fecal scores, were assessed daily. Body weight was measured weekly, and grain and MR intake was assessed daily to calculate average daily gain (<strong>ADG</strong>), average daily feed intake [<strong>ADFI</strong>; grain intake (dry matter (<strong>DM)</strong> basis) + MR intake (DM basis)], and feed efficiency (<strong>G:F</strong>; ADG:ADFI). At weaning, calves were weighed, moved to pens (n = 3 pens/treatment, 4-5 calves/pen), provided free access to grain and grass hay, and then weighed 2 weeks post-weaning. Additionally, urinary catheters were placed at 1 and 6 weeks of age, and calves were orally dosed with 1 L Cr-EDTA in their MR. Urine samples were then collected over a 24-hr period for Cr output analysis as an <em>in vivo</em>biomarker of intestinal permeability. </p> <p>Blood was collected on study days 1, 2, 5, 7, 14, 21, 42, 56, and 70 to measure haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, leukocyte data, neutrophil: lymphocyte (<strong>N:L</strong>), glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, insulin, and cortisol. Two study periods were identified for data analysis representing greater (<strong>P1</strong>; weeks 1-3) and reduced (<strong>P2</strong>; weeks 4-8) enteric disease susceptibility. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX or PROC MIXED in SAS 9.4 with calf as the experimental unit. There was a decrease in total preweaning Cr output (<em>P</em> < 0.05) for GLN calves, and Cr output in 1 week old calves was decreased (<em>P</em> = 0.04) in GLN versus NS calves. The N:L was decreased overall (<em>P</em> = 0.03) and during P2 (<em>P</em> = 0.01) and P2 neutrophil count tended to be reduced (<em>P</em> = 0.07) in GLN versus NS calves. There were no MR treatment differences for ADFI, ADG, body measurements, post-absorptive metabolic biomarkers, disease scores, and therapeutic treatments (<em>P</em> > 0.10). In summary, L-GLN supplementation improved intestinal integrity and biomarkers of physiological stress in pre-weaned Holstein heifer calves managed under production-relevant conditions.  </p>

<p>  </p> <p>Little is known about pullet stress and welfare and even less is known about pullets in cage-free housing. The studies included in this dissertation evaluated bird responses to stocking density, feeder space, and ACTH stressors in pullets. The project and procedures were reviewed and approved by the Purdue University Animal Care and Use Committee (Protocol#:2001002002 and # 1908001938).  </p> <p>Two studies of external stressors and one study of an internal stressor were applied to Lohmann LB-Lite (Brown) and Lohmann LSL-Lite (White) pullets. For both studies of an external stressor, bird-based welfare parameters included evaluation of bird appearance through feather coverage, foot condition, and keel condition; blood parameters, i.e., cholesterol, corticosterone, cortisol, NDV/IBV IgG/IgY titer, and differential WBC (%) and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio; measurements of the spleen, bursa, thymus, and liver; and production values measured through body weight, body weight uniformity, shank length, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Birds were followed from 2-16 weeks of age (WOA) for the external stressors and were housed on the floor.</p> <p>The first external stressor was applied through a 2 x 2 factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) using Brown and White strains and two stocking densities- high (HSD) and low (LSD). Stocking densities were adjusted over time, with the ending density of 670 cm2/bird for HSD and 1352 cm2/bird for LSD at 16 WOA. Density alone affected relative bursal weight (%), with LSD generating heavier bursas. LSD also generated lower, better FCR for both white and brown strains though this difference was not statistically significant. Within a density, opposing strain effects were seen for body weight uniformity and feather coverage. White was improved at HSD while Brown was improved for LSD. </p> <p>The second external stressor study was a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial RCBD with Brown and White, 2 feeder space allocations (3.5 or 7 cm/bird), and 3 stocking densities. The ending stocking densities were 154.45, 518.76, and 1,247.38 cm2 for the high (HSD), medium (MSD), and low (LSD) stocking density treatments, respectively, at 16 WOA. In this study, less space per bird was associated with poorer feather condition but improved FCR. Reduced feeder space was associated with elevated or worse FCR.</p> <p>In a study of internal stressors, ten each of Lohmann LSL-Lite hens received either a saline-mannitol or synthetic human ACTH injection at 6, 17, and 26 weeks of age. Blood was collected prior to injection and 1- and 2-hours post-injection. H:L ratio, WBC differential counts, corticosterone, and cortisol were measured in blood. Albumen samples were collected to measure corticosterone and cortisol at 26 WOA only but were unaffected by treatment. Serum corticosterone and H:L ratio were also unaffected by treatment. Serum cortisol was increased 1 hour after ACTH injection at 17 and 26 WOA and percent heterophils and lymphocytes were affected by ACTH at 26 WOA indicating potential utility as a measure of stress for adult birds only. </p> <p>The results of these studies show that pullets are resilient and resistant to several stressors. Both acute and chronic as well as internal and external stressors were tested in these studies with limited effects on the birds’ physiology, immunity, condition, or production. Feather coverage and bursal size were improved at lower stocking densities and FCR was improved at greater feeder space but the implications of these differences are unclear. Further research is needed to identify why there are reduced stress responses in pullets; it is possible that domestication or preserved evolutionary pathways explain some of the differences between pullet and adult stress responses. And while the majority of parameters were unaffected by the stressors used, the results of this study presented baseline values for Lohmann LB-Lite and Lohmann LSL-Lite pullets that will help guide future research. Additionally, the results of these studies left perhaps more questions than answers but illustrate perfectly that more research will be critical to an understanding of pullet stress and welfare.</p>

In Senegal, in recent years the rural sector has undergone major reforms which are partly due to macroeconomic policy reforms adopted by the Senegalese government. Therefore, all the actors of economic and social development have a common concern and share in promoting rural agriculture (Bernard et al., 2008). Changes observed in the agricultural and rural sector reflect the will of the actors to have a productive, competitive, and sustainable agriculture system in order to ensure food security (International Monetary Fund, 2011). The purpose of the study is to develop a set of recommendations to improve the educational program planning and teaching skills of educators in the extension system by focusing on extension educators' approaches to teaching farmers and cart owners animal welfare practices for proper care of working animals. The extension agents and teachers involved in the animal husbandry and animal extension system in Thies and Bambey served as participants in this study. This descriptive qualitative study connected qualitative data derived from participant interviews, qualitative document analysis, observations of an educational program planning professional development program for state agents and university faculty members in Diourbel and Thies regions, as well as a final focus group to allow participants clarification of preliminary themes found in the data. The findings revealed 11 themes: characteristics of the participants, job expectation and responsibilities, institutional and organizational factors, capacity building and professional development plans, diagnostics of the extension system, regulations and legislations, limited sources of information, limited knowledge and skills technologies, recommendations for utilizing student-centered teaching practices, standard welfare for animal husbandry, recommendation for acceptance and improvement standard animal welfare related to the four research questions which addressed the topics of challenging current teaching methods used in the extension system for other owners of animal species in the animal extension programs, the use of student-centered teaching practices in extension education and university instruction, and the level assistance given to farmers in order to ensure accepted standards of animal welfare working animal and other animal species in the animal husbandry system. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / In Senegal, in recent years the rural sector has undergone major reforms which are partly due to macroeconomic policy reforms adopted by the Senegalese government. Therefore, all the actors of economic and social development have a common concern and share in promoting rural agriculture (Bernard et al., 2008). Changes observed in the agricultural and rural sector reflect the will of the actors to have a productive, competitive, and sustainable agriculture system in order to ensure food security (International Monetary Fund, 2011). The purpose of the study is to develop a set of recommendations to improve the educational program planning and teaching skills of educators in the extension system by focusing on extension educators' approaches to teaching farmers and cart owners animal welfare practices for proper care of working animals. The extension agents and teachers involved in the animal husbandry and animal extension system in Thies and Bambey served as participants in this study. The methodology used for this descriptive qualitative study were interviews, qualitative document analysis, observations of an educational and professional development program planning for state agents and university faculty members in Diourbel and Thies regions, as well as a final focus group to allow participants clarification of preliminary themes found in the data. The data collected from participants were connected to the different used qualitative methods to gather data. The 11 themes found in this study were the characteristics of the participants, job expectation and responsibilities, institutional and organizational factors, capacity building and professional development plans, diagnostics of the extension system, regulations and legislations, limited sources of information, limited knowledge and skills technologies, recommendations for utilizing student-centered teaching practices, standard welfare for animal husbandry, recommendation for acceptance and improvement standard animal welfare related to the four research questions which addressed the topics of challenging current teaching methods used in the extension system for other owners of animal species in the animal extension programs, the use of student-centered teaching practices in extension education and university instruction, and the level assistance given to farmers in order to ensure accepted standards of animal welfare working animal and other animal species in the animal husbandry system.

Zoological institutions emphasise the importance of excelling in the areas of animal welfare, conservation, education, and research, not only to better the lives of the animals under their care, but to also influence the general population in the pursuit to conserve the natural world. As a result, zoo life is anything but simple. This research project monitored the lives of a captive group of chimpanzees over a two-and-a-half-year period, during which time we explored four research topics while assessing the development of a cognitive research programme and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) introductions in a zoo: welfare, cognition, public engagement with science, and animal management. The project’s use of touchscreen technology and on-exhibit research was the first of its kind for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo. As a result, the researchers placed a great deal of importance not only on assessing the welfare of the chimpanzees throughout training and testing phases, but also assessing the public’s perception of cognitive research being conducted through an internationally broadcast documentary about the project. In the short duration of the project, these research naïve chimpanzees did not fully grasp the concept of video selection in our free-choice activity, but overall, the introduction of a cognitive research programme did not compromise welfare, and the chimpanzees’ repeated interest suggests that chimpanzees found the research to be reinforcing. Partly funded by the BBC, the Chimpcam Project was shown in the UK (broadcast January 2010) and in a variety of other countries, including the United States and Canada (on Animal Planet in 2011). The broadcast allowed us to gather information over the internet on the wider public’s perception of conducting research with great apes in zoos, to complement data collected on visitors to the exhibit itself. Our assessment of the documentary’s impact on public perception showed that it had a positive influence on perceptions of zoo research, scientists, welfare, and the importance of choice for animals. During this research project, a new group of chimpanzees arrived in Edinburgh as part of the international breeding programme for western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus). As the zoo’s focus switched to helping the two chimpanzee groups merge into one, we took the opportunity to apply psychological research to this context, namely the use of video as a research tool and the recognition of the importance of individual differences in response to challenge. The project maintained the cognition and welfare focus by using video introductions (allowing the chimpanzees to watch video footage of the individuals they were about to meet and track the formation of other sub-groups). In addition, personality ratings and chimpanzee behaviour during the visual access period (an animal management technique used prior to physical introductions where the groups could see each other without physical contact) were collected to examine the efficacy of these measures in guiding introductions in order to reduce risk. Personality ratings and behaviours observed during the video introductions could predict the chimpanzees’ behaviour during the physical introductions, however, the visual access period had no predictive power. The welfare implications of the introduction process were also assessed and suggested that: the choice of location (i.e. options of where to be) was more important than the total amount of available space; having individuals removed from your group was more stressful than having individuals added; self-directed behaviour (SDB) performance was context-specific where rubbing significantly increased during periods of uncertainty that were not necessarily negatively valenced; regurgitation and reingestion (R/R) decreased over time; and both in-group members and those of high ranks spent more time grooming others. Overall our data indicate that the chimpanzees coped well with both cognitive challenges and social upheaval during introductions. Despite being regularly studied in captivity and in the wild, chimpanzees have a great deal more to teach us about their world. In order to provide the best welfare for the chimpanzees in our care, we need to understand how research and management practices affect their lives and how the public interpret what we do as researchers. By understanding these aspects of their world, we can better serve those in captivity and influence public opinion on the importance of conserving those in the wild.

Ruminant animals comprise the greatest proportion of herbivores around the world, provide essential ecosystem services and human consumable protein by consuming grass and human inedible dietary fiber. Herbivory pressure alters plant communities and species diversity, effectively making grazing animals ecosystem engineers in dynamic ecosystems. Development of advanced computer processing power coupled with biometric and ecosystem sensors may be employed in the internet of things framework to create an integrated information system designed to inform understanding of grazing system function and animal energy balance. Towards this end, I utilized Bos indicus / Bos taurus crossbred steers (n = 20) across two study sites each in consecutive calendar years and fitted them with GPS and accelerometer collar systems. Steers were grazed in improved grass pastures containing Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and Bermudagrass (Cyanodon dactylon). Forage samples were collected in a 20-m grid pattern at 35-day intervals to test nutritional composition, and NDVI maps were created using remotely sensed data collected using a UAV mounted camera system. In the first chapter, I utilize the movement ecology framework to investigate metabolic theory and animal behavior on energy budgets, then explore available technology to utilize in an integrative information system. In Chapter 2, I tested preprocessing and behavior collection methods used to train a machine learning randomforest classification model to predict animal behavior using triaxial accelerometers. Landscape functional scale and optimal sampling density is the primary focus of Chapter 3, where I explored the complex relationship between sampling regime, interpolation strategy, and landscape complexity, demonstrating that sampling density is a product of desired accuracy and landscape complexity. Finally, I focused on animal growth in Chapter 4, demonstrating the functionality of a walk-over-weigh system, and identified robust regression as the most accurate smoothing method to identify and remove spurious animal weights.

Au cours des dernières décennies, la recherche zooarchéologique en Macédoine, dans le nord de la Grèce, s’est principalement concentrée sur des matériaux provenant de sites du Néolithique et de l’Âge du Bronze. Ainsi, les données disponibles rendent notre compréhension de l’élevage au premier âge du Fer et aux périodes archaïque et classique dans cette région assez fragmentaire. Cette recherche doctorale vise à combler ces lacunes, en étudiant — pour la première fois dans son ensemble — la question de l’élevage, un domaine crucial de l’économie primaire, en Macédoine du premier âge du Fer à l’époque classique. L’étude est basée sur des ensembles de données primaires de restes d’ossements animaux récupérés dans trois établissements bien fouillés, deux sur le continent (Argilos, Karabournaki) et un sur l’île de Thassos (Kastri). Les données analysées permettent d’explorer l’exploitation animale dans ces trois établissements, en étudiant la gestion des animaux, les techniques de cuisson de la viande et les stratégies de consommation et de rejet, après avoir reconstitué tous les modes de dépôt potentiels ayant abouti à la formation des assemblages. De plus, les données sont comparées aux données publiées pour la Grèce du Nord afin d’éclairer les particularités de chaque assemblage par rapport à la gestion de la faune domestique et sauvage. Les résultats permettent d'alimenter les discussions animées qu'ont déclenché de récentes analyses paléoenvironnementales et isotopiques sur la question de savoir dans quelle mesure l’environnement a affecté les stratégies d’élevage et d’alimentation des animaux dans cette région. Les stratégies de gestion des principaux animaux domestiques en Macédoine mises en évidence par ce travail suggèrent un profil plutôt hétérogène entre les établissements, très probablement en raison des différentes priorités économiques, conditions environnementales régionales et contraintes géomorphologiques. Il s'avère cependant que les besoins nutritionnels et en matières premières ont été complétés partout par l’exploitation de la faune sauvage, comprenant une variété d’espèces terrestres et marines. Des pratiques similaires d’élimination des carcasses et des déchets sont également attestées dans tous les sites, révélant des aspects de l’organisation intracommunautaire. De plus, durant l’ère archaïque et classique, les pratiques d’enterrement des animaux suggèrent l’existence de conceptions communes parmi les sociétés locales, sauf en matière de sacrifice rituelles, où il semble y avoir une différenciation marquée entre les divers groupes de population. Pour terminer, les résultats obtenus pour la Macédoine au cours des sept premiers siècles du premier millénaire avant J.-C. sont discutés dans le cadre plus vaste du bassin égéen. Ils contribuent ainsi à la discussion des problématiques actuelles, soit générales comme l'exploitation des ressources naturelles, la gestion des animaux, la mobilité de l'élevage, le degré d'intégration entre élevage et agriculture, soit spécifiques, comme la question du sacrifice olympique. / Over the past decades, the zooarchaeological research in the Macedonian region of Northern Greece, has mostly focused on materials from Neolithic and Bronze Age sites. Thus, the available data render our understanding of animal husbandry in the Early Iron Age, Archaic and Classical periods in this area rather fragmentary. This doctoral research aims to address these gaps, investigating – for the first time as a whole – the issue of animal husbandry, a crucial domain of the primary economy, in the region of Macedonia from the Early Iron Age to the Classical era. The study is based on primary datasets of animal bones remains recovered from three well- excavated settlements, two in the mainland (Argilos, Karabournaki) and one in the island of Thassos (Kastri). The analysed data provide an opportunity to explore the animal exploitation in these three settlements, investigating animal management; cooking techniques; consumption and discard strategies, having first disentangled all potential depositional pathways to the formation of the sample assemblage. Additionally, the data are compared to the available published data from the Macedonian region in order to enlighten the peculiarities of each assemblage in relation to the management of domestic and wild fauna. Moreover, relevant paleoenvironmental and isotopic analyses have triggered a vivid discussion regarding the extent to which the environment affected the animal herding and feeding strategies in this area. The management strategies of the main domestics in the area under study, suggest a rather heterogenous profile between the settlements, most probably due to the economic priorities, the regional environmental conditions, and the geomorphological restrictions. The nutritional and the raw material needs were complemented by the exploitation of the wild fauna, including a variety of both terrestrial and marine species. Similar carcass and discarding practices were observed within all settlements, revealing aspects of intra-communal organization. Moreover, during the Archaic and Classical era, common practices in animal burials suggest the existence of somehow common perceptions among the local societies, however, in terms of ritual sacrifices, seemed to be a distinct differentiation between the population groups. The results are discussed in the frame of the Aegean basin, contributing to the ongoing discussion regarding animal management, the mobility of livestock husbandry, the degree of integration between herding and arable farming, the Olympic sacrifice, and the exploitation of natural resources during the first seven centuries of the first millennium BC.

<p dir="ltr">Organizational newcomers strive to adjust when they start new jobs, yet little is known about how remote and hybrid work structures influence this process. Previous research has adopted variable-centered approaches to explore the frequency with which newcomers engage in dozens of proactive behaviors in traditional, face-to-face work environments. The current study builds upon this work to capture the socialization process in modern work environments. Adopting a person-centered approach, this study 1.) identifies profiles of newcomers’ perceptions of their work environments, 2.) identifies profiles of newcomer proactive behaviors, 3.) examines the effect of virtuality on these two sets of profiles, and 4.) explores which behavior profiles are associated with the most favorable changes in adjustment.</p>