This study explores the question whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) can outperform human experts in animal pain recognition using sheep as a case study. It uses a dataset of N = 48 sheep undergoing surgery with video recordings taken before (no pain) and after (pain) surgery. Four veterinary experts used two types of pain scoring scales: the sheep facial expression scale (SFPES) and the Unesp-Botucatu composite behavioral scale (USAPS), which is the 'golden standard' in sheep pain assessment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Appl Anim Welf Sci
December 2024
Mitigating piglet castration pain is critical to minimize negative experiences and contribute to a positive affective state. A multimodal pain control protocol (needleless 2% lidocaine intradermal/0.4 mg/kg meloxicam intramuscular) was evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnesp-Botucatu Cattle Pain Scale (UCAPS) is widely used in experimental settings, however the high number of UCAPS behaviors might represent a barrier to its implementation in the farm's or hospital's routine. We aimed to identify a smaller combination of UCAPS behaviors that could be used as behavioral red flags for optimizing the acute pain diagnosis in cattle. We hypothesize that a specific set of UCAPS behaviors might be used as behavioral red flags for pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aims to develop plant-based burgers with partial replacement of texturized soy protein (TSP) by mushrooms at proportions of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The substitution was evaluated regarding its impact on the burgers' chemical composition, texture, color, cooking performance, and sensory properties. Chemical analyses showed a significant increase in moisture content starting from the 10% substitution level, contributing to improved juiciness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Veterinarians' approaches to the management of avian pain have been poorly documented despite the rising number of pet birds seen in clinical settings.
Methods: An online survey was advertised nationwide to recruit Brazilian veterinarians who had treated traumatic and surgical conditions in birds within the previous year. The survey comprised 25 closed or semi-closed questions divided into four sections (demographics, routinely performed medical procedures and pain recognition, drug choices for analgesia and challenges to pain treatment, and attitudes towards pain relief in birds).