New physiological measures of the biological cost of responding to challenges

Blache, Dominique; Maloney, Shane K.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-100718-1.00005-4

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…We aimed to induce chronic stress in sheep, characterized as a chronic disruption of the biological function [4, 5], by individual housing and rest deprivation. Sheep are a social species and separation from group members increases both behavioural and physiological responses indicative of stress [42, 43].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, if the challenge is prolonged or occurs repeatedly, it can eventually result in chronic changes in the behaviour and physiology of the animal; a biological state often referred to as chronic stress. A protracted redirection of biological resources away from biological activities that were occurring before the challenge is a hallmark of failure to adapt and characterizes stress [4, 5]. The impact of the challenge varies depending on the predictability, controllability, ambiguity and chronicity of the challenge [6, 7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chronic stress influences attentional and judgement bias and the activity of the HPA axis in sheep

et al. 2019

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IntroductionEnvironmental challenges are part of everyday life for most domestic animals. However, very little is known about how animals cope emotionally and physiologically with cumulative challenges. This experiment aimed to determine the impact of long-term exposure to environmental challenges on the affective state and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to a subsequent additional acute shearing challenge.MethodsSheep were exposed to either a long-term environmental challenge (rest disruption and individual housing) in order to induce chronic stress (chronic stress group) or control conditions (group housing in a field with low stress handling and daily feed rewards, control group). Judgement and attention bias were assessed as measures of the emotional state following several days of the challenge or control treatment (pre-shearing tests). In addition, the responsiveness of the HPA-axis was evaluated using a combined Corticotropin Releasing Hormone and Arginine Vasopressin (CRH/AVP) challenge. Finally, all animals were exposed to an acute shearing challenge, then judgement bias (post-shearing test), HPA-axis and internal body temperature responses were determined.ResultsIn the pre-shearing judgement bias test, the chronic stress group slightly increased optimism compared to the control treatment. In the attention bias test, the chronic stress group showed reduced vigilance behaviour towards a predator threat and a quicker approach to the food compared to the control treatment. The chronic stress group also had lower plasma ACTH concentrations in response to the CRH/AVP challenge compared to the control group, no differences in cortisol concentrations were found. In the post-shearing judgement bias test, differences in optimism were no longer evident between the chronic stress and control groups. Plasma ACTH concentrations and body temperatures showed a greater increase in response to shearing in the chronic stress group compared to the control group.ConclusionOur results suggest that long-term exposure to challenges biased cognitive measures of the affective state towards an increased expectation of a reward and reduced attention towards a threat. The exaggerated ACTH responses in the chronic stress group may be indicative of HPA-axis dysregulation. Despite a period of challenge exposure in the chronic stress group, judgement bias responses to the shearing challenge were similar in the chronic stress and control groups; the reasons for this need further investigation. The altered affective state together with signs of HPA-axis dysregulation may indicate an increased risk of compromised welfare in animals exposed to long-term environmental challenges.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic stress influences attentional and judgement bias and the activity of the HPA axis in sheep

et al. 2019

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“…Other physiological measures of stress include heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV), which indicate a change in cardiac function and provide an early indicator of stress responses ( 31 , 32 ). A heart rate device is strapped around the girth area of an animal and the area is shaved to enable close contact of the electrodes with the skin.…”

Section: Physiological Indicators Of Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH), a rapid increase in core body temperature due to exposure to a stressor, can be used to measure acute stress responses ( 31 ). Small temperature loggers collect data and are placed in the vagina or rectum of the animal ( 36 , 37 ).…”

Section: Physiological Indicators Of Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Assess the Welfare Impacts of a New Virtual Fencing Technology

Campbell

2021

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Virtual fencing involving the application of audio cues and electrical stimuli is being commercially developed for cattle. Virtual fencing has the potential to improve productivity through optimized pasture management and utilization by grazing animals. The application of virtual fencing initiates public concern for the potential welfare impacts on animals due the aversive nature of using an electrical stimulus. It is therefore important to provide welfare assurance of the impacts of virtual fencing on livestock. In this paper, we provide an overview of the welfare assessment and validation stages for virtual fencing which could be applied to other new technologies utilizing novel systems. An understanding of stress measures and their suitability for use in specific contexts is discussed, including the use of glucocorticoids to measure both acute and chronic stress, and behavioral responses and patterns to indicate welfare states. The importance of individual differences in relation to learning and cognition are also highlighted. Together, this multi-disciplinary approach to welfare assessment provides a tool kit that may be applied for welfare assurance of some new technologies and systems for farm animals.

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“…When evaluating animal welfare, to ensure the reproducibility of the obtained data, it is necessary to consider criteria that are well validated, suitable, and accurate. The evaluation of animal welfare cannot be only subjective, and, for that reason, there are objective physiological and behavioral parameters that can be assessed using previously developed methods, which allow us to better understand the animals' responses to different situations (BLACHE & MALONEY, 2017). It is possible to assess welfare parameters using behavioral observations, cardiac frequency, body temperature, as well as serum/ plasma concentrations of markers of stress (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systemic inflammatory and stress markers in cattle and sheep submitted to different reproductive procedures

et al. 2018

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Previous studies have evaluated the effects of different reproductive procedures on discomfort markers in sheep and cattle. Such studies may help stimulate the adoption of techniques that are more beneficial for animal welfare. However, markers that are commonly used to evaluate discomfort are highly influenced by external factors. To overcome this, several systemic markers can be evaluated to more precisely identify stress, pain, and inflammation. Such markers include cortisol, acute phase proteins, bradykinin, and substance P. We aimed to review the potential markers of stress, pain, and inflammation, and discuss how and when they are regulated after different stimuli related to reproductive procedures in cattle and sheep. Furthermore, we aimed to review how reproductive procedures with different degrees of invasiveness cause stress and provide information that may help develop strategies to limit animal discomfort.

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New physiological measures of the biological cost of responding to challenges

Cited by 5 publications

References 159 publications

Chronic stress influences attentional and judgement bias and the activity of the HPA axis in sheep

Chronic stress influences attentional and judgement bias and the activity of the HPA axis in sheep

A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Assess the Welfare Impacts of a New Virtual Fencing Technology

Systemic inflammatory and stress markers in cattle and sheep submitted to different reproductive procedures

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