Welfare for captive animals in laboratory, farm, companion and zoo settings is difficult to assess and subject to interpretation. The perceived needs of animals change over time and according to budget, fashion and policy. The assessment of the value of environmental enrichment for captive animals is hampered by the lack of consistent, quantitative, objective and methodical research. Enrichment devices and other welfare improvement strategies lack long-term assessment or implementation. The concept of cognitive enrichment, or enabling captive animals to use their cognitive abilities to solve problems and meet challenges in their environment, is in the initial stages of development. Preliminary findings indicate that cognitive enrichment seems to be an effective method of improving captive animal welfare. In the research described in this thesis, several welfare measurement techniques including changes in activity budget, stereotypic behaviour and cognitive bias were compared and used to measure the effects of cognitive enrichment upon captive pigeons and dogs in order to obtain a useable cognitive enrichment paradigm that can be extrapolated to many types of captive animals. Key findings were that cognitive enrichment improved captive group-housed pigeon welfare and individually-kennelled dog welfare, indicated by significant changes in activity budget, increases in ‘optimism’, and reduction of stereotypic behaviour in subjects. Subjects used both low-tech and high-tech cognitive enrichments as intended and showed no sign of habituation. It is hoped that these findings will be used to improve captive animal welfare, and that the cognitive enrichment and cognitive bias paradigms developed will add to this field of research.

A ema (Rhea americana), é uma ave nativa da América do Sul, e pertence ao grupo das Ratitas. Considerando a importância comercial desse animal foram implantadas algumas biotecnologias reprodutivas, como coleta e avaliação de sêmen que ajudariam na preservação da espécie, assim como na disseminação de material genético. Nesse estudo utilizou-se 107 animais, dentro e fora da estação reprodutiva, com idade entre 3 e 4 anos, que encontravam-se no Estado de São Paulo, durante os anos de 2001, 2002 e 2003. Observou-se os animais para identificação de dominância. Os machos foram contidos em caixa de madeira adaptada e capuz preto. Após a contenção realizou-se a coleta de sêmen através de massagem digital. Os falos foram analisados quanto ao tamanho e formação de espiral. Alguns parâmetros seminais foram avaliados: volume, motilidade, concentração e número de espermatozóides por ejaculado. Foi coletado sangue da veia metatarsal, de animais dentro e fora da estação reprodutiva para dosagem de nível plasmático de testosterona. Dos 69 animais em estação reprodutiva, 44 apresentaram falos grandes e desses, 26 formaram espiral. A coleta de sêmen através de massagem digital mostrou-se eficiente para esses animais. O sêmen foi analisado quanto ao volume (0,68±0,14), motilidade (61,11±11,54%), concentração (3,29±1,33x109sptz/ml) e número por ejaculado (2,40±1,38x109sptz/ml) e foram descritas algumas patologias espermáticas. Encontrou-se diferença estatística significante (p=0,0161) de níveis plasmáticos de testosterona em animais dentro e fora da estação reprodutiva (53,28±18,41ng/ml e 5,57±3,81ng/ml, respectivamente). Foram relatadas variações de tamanho de falos em animais dentro e fora da estação e animais em estação reprodutiva. Observou-se que animais que apresentavam falos maiores e níveis plasmáticos de testosterona foram os considerados dominantes através de observações comportamentais. Os resultados do presente experimento confirmam a possibilidade de coleta de sêmen de emas e o seu uso em futuras biotecnologias como a inseminação artificial. / The rhea (Rhea americana), a native bird from South America, belongs to the Ratite group. Considering the commercial significance of this animal were standardize some techniques such as semen collection. These techniques aim to optimize the reproductive traits of this animal and to allow the dissemination and preservation of the genetic material of this endangered specie. In this study, 107 male rheas were used. The animals were around 3 and 4 years old and were raised in São Paulo’s State commercial breeding. Semen collections were performed during breeding and non breeding seasons of 2001, 2002 and 2003. Animals were observed in order to detect hierarchic behavior. Contention was performed using a box and a black hood. Semen collection was performed through a digital pressure in the base of the phallus, which were observed in order to detect size and spiral shape. Immediately after collection semen samples were evaluated for volume, motility, sperm concentration and morphology. In a limited number of animals, blood samples were collected by the metatarsal vein in order to measure testosterone levels. Among 69 animals in breeding season, 44 showed larger phallus and among those, 26 showed spiral shape. The method of semen collection showed good results. Semen was then evaluated for volume (0.68±0.14 ml), motility ( 61.11±11.54%), sperm concentration (3,29±1,33x109sptz/ml) and number of spermatozoa per ejaculate (2.40±1.38x109sptz/ml). Morphological abnormalities were analyzed and accounted. Statistical differences (p=0.0161) were found for testosterone levels between animals during breeding and non-breeding season (53.28±18.41ng/ml e 5.57±3.81ng/ml, respectively). It was observed that animals showed variations in phallus size during breeding and non-breeding seasons. A relationship was found between animals with larger phallus and higher testosterone levels and dominant behavior. Results of the present experiment confirmed the possibility of collecting semen from rheas in order to use it in future biotechnologies such as artificial insemination.

A ema (Rhea americana), é uma ave nativa da América do Sul, e pertence ao grupo das Ratitas. Considerando a importância comercial desse animal foram implantadas algumas biotecnologias reprodutivas, como coleta e avaliação de sêmen que ajudariam na preservação da espécie, assim como na disseminação de material genético. Nesse estudo utilizou-se 107 animais, dentro e fora da estação reprodutiva, com idade entre 3 e 4 anos, que encontravam-se no Estado de São Paulo, durante os anos de 2001, 2002 e 2003. Observou-se os animais para identificação de dominância. Os machos foram contidos em caixa de madeira adaptada e capuz preto. Após a contenção realizou-se a coleta de sêmen através de massagem digital. Os falos foram analisados quanto ao tamanho e formação de espiral. Alguns parâmetros seminais foram avaliados: volume, motilidade, concentração e número de espermatozóides por ejaculado. Foi coletado sangue da veia metatarsal, de animais dentro e fora da estação reprodutiva para dosagem de nível plasmático de testosterona. Dos 69 animais em estação reprodutiva, 44 apresentaram falos grandes e desses, 26 formaram espiral. A coleta de sêmen através de massagem digital mostrou-se eficiente para esses animais. O sêmen foi analisado quanto ao volume (0,68±0,14), motilidade (61,11±11,54%), concentração (3,29±1,33x109sptz/ml) e número por ejaculado (2,40±1,38x109sptz/ml) e foram descritas algumas patologias espermáticas. Encontrou-se diferença estatística significante (p=0,0161) de níveis plasmáticos de testosterona em animais dentro e fora da estação reprodutiva (53,28±18,41ng/ml e 5,57±3,81ng/ml, respectivamente). Foram relatadas variações de tamanho de falos em animais dentro e fora da estação e animais em estação reprodutiva. Observou-se que animais que apresentavam falos maiores e níveis plasmáticos de testosterona foram os considerados dominantes através de observações comportamentais. Os resultados do presente experimento confirmam a possibilidade de coleta de sêmen de emas e o seu uso em futuras biotecnologias como a inseminação artificial. / The rhea (Rhea americana), a native bird from South America, belongs to the Ratite group. Considering the commercial significance of this animal were standardize some techniques such as semen collection. These techniques aim to optimize the reproductive traits of this animal and to allow the dissemination and preservation of the genetic material of this endangered specie. In this study, 107 male rheas were used. The animals were around 3 and 4 years old and were raised in São Paulo’s State commercial breeding. Semen collections were performed during breeding and non breeding seasons of 2001, 2002 and 2003. Animals were observed in order to detect hierarchic behavior. Contention was performed using a box and a black hood. Semen collection was performed through a digital pressure in the base of the phallus, which were observed in order to detect size and spiral shape. Immediately after collection semen samples were evaluated for volume, motility, sperm concentration and morphology. In a limited number of animals, blood samples were collected by the metatarsal vein in order to measure testosterone levels. Among 69 animals in breeding season, 44 showed larger phallus and among those, 26 showed spiral shape. The method of semen collection showed good results. Semen was then evaluated for volume (0.68±0.14 ml), motility ( 61.11±11.54%), sperm concentration (3,29±1,33x109sptz/ml) and number of spermatozoa per ejaculate (2.40±1.38x109sptz/ml). Morphological abnormalities were analyzed and accounted. Statistical differences (p=0.0161) were found for testosterone levels between animals during breeding and non-breeding season (53.28±18.41ng/ml e 5.57±3.81ng/ml, respectively). It was observed that animals showed variations in phallus size during breeding and non-breeding seasons. A relationship was found between animals with larger phallus and higher testosterone levels and dominant behavior. Results of the present experiment confirmed the possibility of collecting semen from rheas in order to use it in future biotechnologies such as artificial insemination.