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Publication CARING FOR CUTTLEFISH: WELFARE CONSIDERATIONS IN CAPTIVE SCIENTIFIC SETTINGS(2023) Byrne, LeahCuttlefish, with their extraordinary physiology and uncanny camouflage abilities, are captivating and alien creatures. Their allure has long captured the human imagination, and the history of their use as subjects of scholarly examination can be traced at least as far back as Aristotle (Nakajima et al. 2018). This fascination continues to this day and fuels contemporary experimental research, where the use of cuttlefish as laboratory animals is on the rise (Vidal et al. 2014; O’Brien et al. 2018). While research scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of these enigmatic animals, present understanding of cuttlefish welfare remains relatively limited. This paper aims to provide a broad overview of cuttlefish biology and behaviour, and to draw connections between this knowledge base and current welfare practices, as well as potential applications for advancements in captive cuttlefish welfare. Welfare considerations that will be explored include those associated with housing conditions, dietary needs, sensitivity to environmental stimuli, enrichment strategies, and pain management. I will also point to some of the areas where uncertainties persist, in the hope of inspiring curiosity and encouraging further welfare-focused exploration in the general reader.Publication THE HUMANE HUMAN PROJECT: A CASE FOR SUPPORT AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATFORM(2023) Eggers, MeredithIn a world where intensive farming methods have become standard practice and the source from which most marketed animal products are derived, there is limited transparency around farming practices and welfare standards. Consumers lack exposure to and awareness of the implications their purchasing decisions have on farm animal welfare. Because of the focus on driving profits and market share, large industrial farms and the corporations that own and run them would prefer to keep it this way. The Humane Human Project was developed, while I was a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and became more aware of the issues that face consumers who want to make more human purchases, farmers who want to implement higher welfare farming practices, and the billions of animals impacted by intensive farming. Humane Human will address these issues by providing consumers with transparent, unbiased information across all species of food animals. It will identify how to source humanely bred, raised, handled, and harvested animal products all in one place. And ultimately it will create a marketplace where these items can be bought and sold. Structured as a non-profit, foundation, focused solely on animal products sourced from high-welfare purveyors and producers, Humane Human will bring motivated consumers and producers together and drive increased demand for high-welfare animal products.Publication REFORMING THE LIVESTOCK INDEMNITY PROGRAM TO IMPROVE FARM ANIMAL WELFARE(2024) Massey, Cameron KrierEach year, extreme weather events put the lives and well-being of millions of farm animals at risk. These events can lead to injury, suffering, acute and chronic stress, decreased productivity, and loss of life. As storms increase in frequency and intensity, efforts should be made to ensure livestock are protected. In this paper, I propose modifications to the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), a federally run disaster assistance program that compensates livestock owners and growers for animal deaths and reduced value caused by eligible conditions, including extreme weather. Surprisingly, the program does not require producers to show proof and use of a disaster mitigation plan before drawing down indemnity payments. I believe this is a missed opportunity to better safeguard animal welfare and compromises the fiscal integrity of the program. The value of emergency planning is recognized by federal agencies, lawmakers, advocates, researchers, and many sectors of the livestock industry as an important (or essential) aspect of ensuring animal welfare. Furthermore, an analysis of publicly available data shows that LIP payments have been made to some of the same counties 15 out of 15 years. Repeat payments demonstrate a reliance on the program and proof that animal suffering and death is occurring extensively in some parts of the country. In this paper, I will advance a position that tying disaster planning to the LIP, whether through incentives or a mandate, is a prudent and overdue policy change to the program. The impact of extreme weather on livestock is reviewed, including methods of assessing welfare. The LIP is detailed, including the program’s purpose, participation criteria, and payment data. Past and current congressional and advocate efforts to reform the LIP are presented. New approaches to federal reforms are proposed, as well as a review of private sector engagement opportunities to advance farm animal protections during weather disasters. As extreme weather increases so will the impact on farm animals and cost of compensating ranchers through the LIP. Congressional oversight and reforms of the LIP are urgently needed to better protect farm animals and taxpayer funding of the program.Publication Preliminary characterization of behavioral traits in a feline renal transplant donor colony.(2023) Binstock, JonahJ. Binstock Final Capstone Presentation titled "Preliminary characterization of behavioral traits in a feline renal transplant donor colony."Publication The Impact of Heat Stress on Goat Welfare: A Case Study of the FAIR FARM Gambia Project(2023) Banerjee, EshaThe Impact of Heat Stress on Goat Welfare: A Case Study of the FAIR FARM Gambia ProjectPublication Post-Weaning, Early Gestation Sows: Housing and Welfare(2023) Joanna MageeIncreasingly, consumers are expressing concern for the welfare of breeding sows in our food systems and are influencing markets rapidly through both their buying and voting choices. As producers necessarily begin to shift towards decreased breeding sow housing confinement, there is a need for nuanced information about the welfare impacts of different housing types. In particular, there is limited research on the behavioral and psychological welfare of post-weaning, early gestations sows in relation to their housing condition. The goal of this study was to observe and compare the behavior of post-weaning, early gestation sows housed in three different housing types: gestation stalls, individual Proposition 12 compliant pens and groups. We hypothesized that post-weaning, early gestation sows housed in groups will exhibit fewer behaviors related to negative welfare than those housed individually. We coded fourteen sow behaviors from day zero post weaning until day seven post weaning. Included in the study were fifty-three subjects in five batches. Each sow was recorded using scan sampling and instantaneous recording on day one, three, four and seven post-weaning every 5 minutes between 6 AM and 8 AM, 10:30 AM and 12 PM and 2:30 PM and 8 PM. Based on our data we concluded that our hypothesis was supported, with sows housed in groups displaying increased aggressive behaviors and sows housed individually displaying less nosing another pig or being nosed, less movement and more sham chewing.Publication Welfare Considerations When Incorporating Farm Animals in Education and Therapy(2023) Suzanne M. KapralThe inclusion of farm animals in educational and therapeutic settings is becoming more prevalent, especially in school curricula related to science, biology, nutrition, and the environment. Farm-based education programs provide a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between individuals and the sources of their food and clothing. Additionally, farm animals, particularly horses, have been integrated into Animal Assisted Therapy to address a variety of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and addiction. Moreover, they play a crucial role in trauma-focused care for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual abuse. However, questions arise regarding the impact of repetitive, lengthy, or intrusive human interactions on the welfare of farm animals involved. It is essential to consider whether these animal partners experience lower welfare compared to those not participating in educational or therapeutic activities. Various welfare considerations are to be considered, including appropriate housing, management practices, and understanding the farm animal's natural behaviors and needs. To explore if such farm animal partners, namely hens, experience reduced welfare, a non-invasive pilot study was conducted at an educational dairy farm located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Hens were included during hands-on educational lessons daily over a three-week period. Several of the behavioral variables were significantly impacted by participation in the educational programs and may be an indicator of reduced welfare. By incorporating these considerations into further research, we can continuously improve the ethical and compassionate approach to farm animal interactions. This will not only ensure the well-being of the animals involved but also provide an opportunity for a mutually respectful experience for individuals learning from and interacting with the animals.Publication Group Housing Can Improve the Welfare of Domestic Felines Housed in Shelters(2023) Amanda FowlerAlthough loose guidelines and standards exist, housing for cats in shelters is not strictly regulated or enforced in the United States, thus contributing to the poor welfare of many shelter cats. There are a variety of housing types for cats in shelters, each with their own welfare benefits and drawbacks. The goal of this paper was to examine current housing practices for cats in shelters and their consequent effects on welfare, with a specific focus on group housing compared to single cat housing. In order to determine the best housing practices, I examined three studies which directly compared group housing and single housing of shelter cats. I found that group housing has the potential to increase welfare, but only under specific conditions. For example, groups must be relatively small and stable, comprised of cats socialized to conspecifics, and have access to ample resources, space, and enrichment. Group housing is not the best fit for every cat, however, it provides the opportunity for social interactions and enrichment, which can be fulfilling for many cats. More research is needed to determine the best housing practices for improving the welfare of shelter cats, but these findings may bring us one step closer to developing much-needed standards and regulations.Publication Application of Scent Enrichment for Captive African Leopards, P. pardus pardus: Exploratory Behaviors and Locomotion as Indicators of Positive Welfare(2023) Sierra M. DonaldsonAs humans progress in the understanding of animals and their cognitive complexities, concerns for the welfare of captive animals and the need for improving husbandry practices has taken precedence. Substantiated by a collection of scientific publications, environmental enrichment is one strategy commonly used in zoological settings and functions to decrease stress-related behaviors in animals via mental and physical stimulation. However, the majority of current research consists of the reduction of behaviors indicative of poor welfare (e.g. stereotypic pacing) as a method for measuring welfare, and as a result, fails in optimizing the lives of captive animals. Enrichment is also typically applied at a population level, which makes achieving a positive welfare state at an individual level less viable. Therefore, this paper offers an alternative approach to assessing welfare utilizing behaviors suggestive of positive welfare, in conjunction with a preference-based model, for improving captive animal life. This study involved providing enrichment for eight African leopards at a sanctuary in South Africa. Intervention in the form of scent application was presented to the sample population using dilutions of Roman chamomile, nutmeg, silvervine and fox urine. Increases in exploratory and locomotive behaviors were used as measurements for assessing welfare over the duration of five weeks. All behavioral observations were recorded for 10 minutes per leopard, per day of scent provision. Two trials were conducted. During weeks 1-4, one of the four scents was randomly assigned to each leopard each week. On week five, all four scents were provided simultaneously to assess for preference and the related effects on locomotion and exploratory behaviors. A focal sampling method was used to quantify and analyze all data. The results of this study showed a significant variance amongst the individual in both preference and behavioral patterns. However, the data collected from population totals demonstrated increases in locomotive and exploratory behaviors when a leopard had available their preferred scent(s). My findings suggest that scent provision at the level of the individual has potential to significantly enhance the welfare of captive animals under these conditions.Publication The Effect of Feeding Method on Behavioral Indicators of Welfare in Zoo-Housed Pacific Walrus(2023) Kelly TrottoFor zoos to achieve their intended goal of inspiring pro-conservation attitudes and behavior in a society with evolving views on animals, it is essential to focus on maximizing animal welfare and subsequent zoo visitor perception. Challenges to providing optimal welfare to thousands of zoo-housed species include a lack of species-specific research to inform guidelines and husbandry practices impacting welfare. Behavioral monitoring can be an effective tool in evaluating positive affective state and welfare, especially for animals who possess a strong behavioral drive to perform specific highly motivated behaviors like foraging. As specialized foragers, walruses are highly motivated to engage in food search and ingestion behaviors, and the opportunity to do so may have a significant impact on their behavioral health and affective state. The present study sought to investigate if increasing levels of foraging opportunities would result in a positive affective state as evidenced by an increase in behavioral indicators of positive welfare. We conducted behavioral observations on a group of zoo-housed walruses to determine how changing feeding method ratios would affect occurrence of other species typical behavior. Our results supported that an increased level of opportunity to forage resulted in an increase in behavioral markers of positive welfare like social, active, and exploratory behavior. The results also showed a decrease in behavioral indicators of negative welfare (oral stereotypy). The observed increases, however, appeared to plateau at a certain ratio, indicating a mixed feeding strategy may be optimal for walrus welfare. Based on our findings, it is our recommendation that walrus feeding strategy include a designated amount of foraging that also allows for handing feeding to be utilized for behavioral conditioning. We also recommend that zoos dedicate resources and efforts to conducting in-house behavioral research on specific species, so that animal care recommendations and practices can be evidence-based and welfare-focused.