Effects of social stress on the welfare of captive male Alpine musk deer: Stereotypic behavior, fecal cortisol, and musk secretion

Zhou, Xin; Lv, Qingxin; Qin, Yiren; Yuan, Naixiu; Li, Yong; Zhou, Mi; Meng, Xiuxiang

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105828

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The study by Fureix et al (15) analysed the relationship between blood or faecal cortisol and stereotypic behaviours in horses, and it was concluded that there was no significant relationship between stereotypic behaviour and cortisol concentrations. In addition, there have been similar findings of no relationship between stereotypic behaviour and cortisol concentrations in studies over the last decade (2, 21,47,48).…”

Section: Is Stereotypic Behaviour a Way For Cows To Cope With Stress?mentioning

confidence: 60%

Do cows with stereotypic tongue-rolling behaviour cope better with their environment?

Li,

Chen,

Fang

et al. 2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionStereotypic behaviours, especially oral stereotypic behaviours, are frequently expressed in farm animals. Tongue-rolling is the most common oral stereotypic behaviour in dairy cows (Bos taurus). If animals frequently display stereotypic behaviours, this is an indication of poor welfare. It has been suggested that animals express stereotypic behaviours as a way of coping with stress. As a result, animals with stereotypic behaviours may have lower levels of stress hormones than animals without stereotypic behaviours.MethodsIn this study, 916 Holstein cows in the first lactation were subjected to scan sampling behavioural observations 200 times for 10 days. All cows were assigned to either a stereotypic behaviours group (SB) or a control group (CON). The SB group was further subdivided into a tongue-rolling group (TR) and an other-stereotypic behaviours group (OS). The TR group was also split into an only tongue-rolling group (OTR) and a mixed tongue-rolling and other stereotypic behaviours group (TROS). Some cows in the TR group belonged to an extreme tongue-rolling group (ETR). Hair and saliva samples were collected from 601 cows to test cortisol concentrations and dairy herd improvement (DHI) data were collected from a total of 762 cows.ResultsThere were no differences in hair or saliva cortisol concentrations between the groups (p>0.05), and the frequencies of tongue-rolling were not associated with cortisol concentrations (p>0.05). For DHI in cows, the milk protein percentage (p = 0.028), milk true protein percentage (p = 0.021) and milk crude protein percentage (p = 0.023) of cows in the ETR group were significantly lower than those in the CON group. For cows in ETR group, as the frequencies of tongue-rolling increased, the milk protein percentage (p = 0.034, r = 0.365), milk true protein percentage (p = 0.022, r = 0.393) and milk crude protein percentage (p = 0.035, r = 0.363) increased.DiscussionWe investigated the relationship between stereotypic behaviours and stress by using a non-invasive sampling method to minimise harm to the cows. We suggest that tongue-rolling may not be a way for cows to cope with stress, at least in terms of cortisol concentrations.

show abstract

Section: Is Stereotypic Behaviour a Way For Cows To Cope With Stress?mentioning

confidence: 60%

Do cows with stereotypic tongue-rolling behaviour cope better with their environment?

Li,

Chen,

Fang

et al. 2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Oral stereotypic behaviors in farm animals and their causes

Li,

2024

Animal Research and One Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

High stocking density and suboptimal conditions limit animal behaviors in modern livestock farming. This is particularly evident in captive animals, in which the motivation for foraging behavior is often thwarted. Oral stereotypic behaviors are common in farm animals. Ruminants (e.g., cattle and sheep) show oral stereotypic behaviors such as tongue‐rolling, self‐sucking, and inter‐sucking. Captive pigs exhibit oral stereotypic behaviors such as bar‐biting, sham‐chewing, and ear‐biting. Chickens peck at drinkers, feeders, and pens. Stereotypic behavior in livestock can be reduced by selecting a specific diet composition that prolongs their eating time and increases their satiety. Furthermore, reducing stocking density and enriching the farming environment encourage livestock to explore and reduce stereotypic behavior. It is important to note that stereotypic behavior is also influenced by organismal physiology. Stereotypic behavior was considered an indicator of poor animal welfare. However, recent research has revealed that animals engage in stereotypic behavior as a response to external stimuli, aiming to alleviate the negative impact of these stimuli on their well‐being. Animals that frequently show stereotypic behavior may have higher levels of stress. Certain stress indicators also affect the expression of stereotypic behavior, such as 5‐hydroxytryptamine and dopamine. Consequently, further investigation is necessary to understand how stereotypic behaviors affect the physiological state and metabolic processes of animals. This paper discusses the research progress on the oral stereotypic behaviors of farm animals. The objective is to establish a foundation for enhancing livestock feeding conditions and optimizing feeding practices, ultimately reducing stereotypic behaviors.

show abstract

Relationships between boldness and fecal steroid hormone levels in captive alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) in China

Huang,

Wang,

Zhou

et al. 2024

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Effects of social stress on the welfare of captive male Alpine musk deer: Stereotypic behavior, fecal cortisol, and musk secretion

Cited by 3 publications

References 36 publications

Do cows with stereotypic tongue-rolling behaviour cope better with their environment?

Do cows with stereotypic tongue-rolling behaviour cope better with their environment?

Oral stereotypic behaviors in farm animals and their causes

Relationships between boldness and fecal steroid hormone levels in captive alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) in China

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About