behaviour – Page 2

Brain gene expression differences are associated with abnormal tail biting behavior in pigs

February 1, 2013March 1, 2013adminLeave a Comment

Knowledge about gene expression in animals involved in abnormal behaviors can contribute to understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms. The present study aimed to explore the motivational background to tail biting, an abnormal injurious behavior and severe welfare problem in pig production. Affymetrix microarrays were used to investigate gene expression differences in the hypothalamus and prefrontal […]

Outcry over new Victoria dog laws

September 9, 2012September 27, 2012adminLeave a Comment

Veterinary groups have been highly critical of Victorian laws which led to two dogs being euthanased. The dogs, named Bear and Kooda, were destroyed in June under Victoria’s new dangerous dog laws following a legal battle to save them. The dogs had not engaged in antisocial behaviour, but were put down after an officer from […]

Vet Ethics: On the matter of animal morality

August 28, 2012September 27, 2012adminLeave a Comment

Consider these cases. A young elephant with an injured leg is knocked over by a boisterous male. An older female elephant chases the male away. She then goes to the injured elephant and touches the sore leg with her trunk. Elsewhere, a matriarch elephant helps a group of captured antelope to freedom by unlatching the […]

How abnormal is the behaviour of captive, zoo-living chimpanzees?

August 11, 2011August 12, 2011adminLeave a Comment

How abnormal is the behaviour of captive, zoo-living chimpanzees? BACKGROUND: Many captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) show a variety of serious behavioural abnormalities, some of which have been considered as possible signs of compromised mental health. The provision of environmental enrichments aimed at reducing the performance of abnormal behaviours is increasingly the norm, with the housing […]