Shared stressful experiences affect social proximity in Merino sheep.

While it is well established that humans develop stronger relationship bonds when they share stressful experiences, there is little known on how shared stressful experiences may influence relationship bonding in animals. Here, we present a study looking at social proximity between individuals in small groups of Merino ewes following a shared stressful experience compared with control sheep that were not exposed to stress. Some sheep were familiar to each other.

Impacts of Rearing Enrichments on Pullets' and Free-Range Hens' Positive Behaviors across the Flock Cycle.

Enrichment during the indoor rearing of pullets destined for free-range systems may optimize pullet development including increasing motivated natural behaviors (termed 'positive behaviors') including foraging, dust bathing and chick play. Hy-Line Brown® chicks ( = 1700) were floor-reared indoors across 16 weeks with three enrichment treatments ( = 3 pens/treatment): (1) standard control, (2) weekly novel objects-'novelty', (3) perching/navigation structures-'structural'. At 16 weeks, pullets ( = 1386) were transferred to nine identical pens within rearing treatments with outdoor range access from 25 to 65 weeks.

Relationships Between Rearing Enrichments, Range Use, and an Environmental Stressor for Free-Range Laying Hen Welfare.

Enrichments during pullet rearing may improve adaptation and welfare of hens as they move from indoor rearing to a free-range system. Individual variation in outdoor ranging may also affect welfare. This study assessed the effects of rearing enrichments and an imposed environmental stressor on hen welfare and egg quality along with the association of welfare with ranging.

Rearing Enrichments Affected Ranging Behavior in Free-Range Laying Hens.

Within Australia, free-range systems are prevalent, but pullets destined for range access are reared indoors. This mismatch between rearing and layer housing may hinder adaptation to the free-range environment. Rearing enrichments could enhance pullet development.

A randomised field study evaluating the effectiveness of buccal meloxicam and topical local anaesthetic formulations administered singly or in combination at improving welfare of female Merino lambs undergoing surgical mulesing and hot knife tail docking.

This study was a field-based behavioural assessment of the pain responses to surgical mulesing modulated by a buccal formulation of meloxicam (Buccalgesic) and a topical local anaesthetic wound dressing (Tri-Solfen). 20 lambs were randomly allocated to each of: 1) Placebo and sham handled (Sham); 2) Placebo and mulesing (Mules); 3) Buccalgesic and mulesing (Mules+B); 4) Tri-Solfen and mulesing (Mules+T); 5) Placebo, Tri-Solfen and mulesing (Mules+T+P); 6) Buccalgesic, Tri-Solfen and mulesing (Mules+T+B). Lamb behaviour was observed by scan sampling every 15 min for 6 h post mulesing then for 1.

Spatial Cognition and Range Use in Free-Range Laying Hens.

Radio-frequency identification tracking shows individual free-range laying hens vary in range use, with some never going outdoors. The range is typically more environmentally complex, requiring navigation to return to the indoor resources. Outdoor-preferring hens may have improved spatial abilities compared to indoor-preferring hens.