Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Reviewed Current Objectives:

Conversation about word selection in the objectives and to potential re-imagine the structure of the next research program:

People tend to use the word “welfare” which can be narrowly defined as health. The Animal Welfare Community continues to more broadly define the term

Additional questions have been brought up around the inclusion of companion animals with farmed animals particularly those as service or animal source protein.
Considerations for next iteration of objectives to take a more holistic approach to the 5 Domians beyond growing animals and good health.
Additional comments to ensure this group remain distinct from other groups that may have more of a health focus.

Group project interaction:
How to create a more interactive group project. Over time the group has gotten farther away from collaborative activies.

Discussions about developing joint research proposals between institutions.
Discussion around analyzing data sets between partner institutions.
Questions around using a list serve or app such as slack to increase ommunication. Could the secretary take on an additional role in communication. Other collaborative tools such as TEAMS in Microsoft.

Further discussion about collaborative activities across the region based on USDA directives and do we have a functional group since this topic is a multispecies group which makes it difficult to collaborate around topics?

Potential thoughts
- Create a white paper to build collaboration
- Joint workshops, education or extension activities
- big lift concerning the rewrite which is large demand of time, does the benefits outweigh the cons.

Value added activities
-Career and Professional development for faculty, staff and students
-Zoom based mid year research symposium
-Mini workshops
-Needs assessment
-Gap analysis
-Navigating the consulting space as faculty

Hosting next meeting:
Some consideration for a joint meeting with the North American ISAE meeting to occur in Guelph. No clear discussion on best timing for a meeting.
UC Davis is expected to host/coordinate the next meeting.

Thoughts around continuing to participate in field trips during annual conference? What about a virtual mid-year activity?
Or a joint international meeting to meet with other scientists and/or experience how other countries approach animal welfare.
Questions concerning group participation and attendance. Discussed establishing a 3 yr rule and keeping attendance. Needed additional guidance from USDA. Recommendation from Kristine Hamilton USDA was to inform them of lack of attendance.

Kristine Hamilton presentation
New NCRA website ncre-saes.org
Excellence in research award to apply for
Goal to have more of a focus on collaborative activities vs. demonstration of individual effort.
Discussion around award winning groups and what was successful
- Greater Industry Involvement
- Short and Long term goals
- Reviewers looking for progress from previous objectives

Station reports in person and on zoom.
Next day- Toured two stock yards within an hour of Amarillo TX

Station: Michigan State University

Researchers
Janice Siegford, Professor and Associate Chair (station representative)
Madonna Benjamin, Associate Professor
Jackie Jacobs, Assistant Professor
Daniel Morris, Associate Professor
Janice Swanson, Emeritus Professor

Primary research interests as they relate to NC1029 objectives
Research from Multistate Project NC-1029 Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare is critical to provide the science and technology to help stakeholders, including those in the agricultural sectors, education and at the global level, make informed decisions about standards of animal care. For example, understanding how much space a hen actually uses and when and how often she needs to perform behaviors using specific resources or types of space facilitates transition to cage-free housing systems that meet societal requirements while truly enhancing welfare by allowing hens behavioral freedom. Similarly understanding how to prevent problems such as floor laying without reducing welfare when cage-free systems are implemented is critical to creating a system that balances animal quality of life with producer constraints. Collaborative research is underway to address these questions with NC1029 multistate member Ahmed Ali of Clemson. A complementary collaboration with Daniel Morris (MSU) and Ahmed Ali (Clemson) is examining whether computer vision and machine learning can be used to detect and deter piling behavior in cage-free laying hens.

Impact statement for primary NC1029 research in the past year (10/1/2023-6/30/2024)
Data was collected from ~5,000 cage-free laying hens housed in 2 aviary styles managed using different strategies to prevent hens from laying eggs on the floor as part of a NIFA AFRI grant to Clemson (A. Ali) and Michigan State (J. Siegford) and two additional grants from the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture to J. Siegford and D. Morris (both MSU) with A. Ali (Clemson) collaborating on both.

Preliminary data related to egg quality was presented at the International Scientific Forum in January 2024. Age-related changes in egg quality were observed consistent with previous research. Neither aviary style nor management to reduce floor laying impacted egg quality, indicating that changes that housing systems that provide hens with access to additional space and resources or that attempt to guide laying behavior will not have negative consequences on egg quality.

Two Master’s students (X. Ma and K. Baugh), one PhD student (Y. Long), one postdoc (V. Bongiorno), and one undergraduate (E. Gregas) at MSU are researchers on the cage-free laying hen projects and have gained experience conducting research, analyzing data, presenting their findings and collaborating with colleagues at Clemson and Guelph. Six additional undergraduate students and 2 technicians provided assistance managing hens and collecting data and were trained regarding low stress handling, hen husbandry, scan sampling, fear tests, and data recording and entry.

Future research related to NC1029
Data related to egg production, location of egg laying, welfare quality parameters, and activity of hens housed in two styles of cage-free aviaries are being analyzed and will be presented at the Poultry Science Association meeting in July 2024 and then shared with industry stakeholders and published as peer-reviewed science. Results of the computer vision and machine learning study will be presented at the 11th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming in September 2024 and will serve as preliminary data for a USDA AFRI submission. Video will be decoded and additional data related to hens’ distribution in the system, fear responses, and behavior on litter will be analyzed in the coming year. MS students will complete research related to fear responses and activity in the cage-free environment. Additional research projects related to space used to wing flap and behaviors performed on the litter will be carried out by a postdoc and team of undergraduate researchers.

Station (University/Organization)
University of California, Davis/California Cooperative Extension
Researcher(s) (Name, Title)
Richard Blatchford, Associate Cooperative Extension Specialist: Poultry
Jackson Gross, Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist: Aquaculture
Kristina Horback, Associate Professor
Maja Makagon, Associate Professor
Carly Moody, Assistant Professor
Cassandra Tucker, Professor

Primary research interests as they relate to NC1029 objectives
Research themes:
Husbandry, behavior and welfare of dairy cattle (CT), sows (KH), goats (CM), farmed fish and marine invertebrates (JG), laying hens and broilers (RB & MM)
Development of on farm assessment tools for laying hens, broilers (RB & MM), and dairy and beef cattle (CT)
Development of behavioral profiles for livestock to predict welfare vulnerabilities. (KH)
Use animal cognition to generate novel knowledge as it relates to livestock management and welfare (KH)
Determining the impacts of human-animal interactions during handling and other animal procedures, including with a focus on welfare impacts (CM)
Assessment and improvement of cat welfare in the veterinary clinic (CM)
Aggressive interactions of socially housed cats (CM) and sows (KH)
Specific topics:
Detection and causes of keel bone fractures in laying hens (MM & RB)
Role of enrichments in laying hen and broiler welfare (MM & RB)
Role of breed and activity on the development of muscle myopathies in broilers (MM)
Early rearing environment & management practices and how this impacts future health/ behavior of dairy goats (CM)
Implementation of practical enrichment for expression of natural behaviors in dairy goats (CM)
Assessment of dairy goat group size and impact on agonistic & positive social interactions (CM)
Impact of behavior traits on cattle land use for extensive rangelands (KH)
Impact of maternal behavior traits on human-animal interactions and lamb performance (KH)
Humane slaughter of fish (JG)
Influence of climate change and handling stress on the rearing of threatened and endangered abalone
Cattle motivation for forage and effects of it being withheld (CT)
Pain in cattle (CT)
Impact statement for primary NC1029 research in the past year (10/1/2023-6/30/2024)
Research efforts at UC Davis have focused on the challenges to come with the change to housing requirements for laying hens and breeding sows attributed to California’s Proposition 12. With the push to move breeding sows out of individual stalls and into group pens, there is a need to understand how the welfare of this livestock population can be assessed, as well as, how such attributes can be incorporated into auditing programs.
Future research related to NC1029
Assessment and improvement of cat welfare in the veterinary clinic (CM)
Aggressive interactions of socially housed cats (CM)
Early rearing environment & management practices and how this impacts future health/ behavior of dairy goats (CM)
Implementation of practical enrichment for expression of natural behaviors in dairy goats (CM)
Development of fear in pullets, white and brown strains (RB)
Relationships of fear test results with personality in laying hens (RB)
Poultry welfare and small-scale poultry farming (MM)
Use of wearable sensor technology in poultry behavior and welfare research (MM)
Neurophysiologic metrics of sensibility in farmed fish associated with human slaughter (JG)
Electric and percussion stunning in farmed fish (JG)
Electro-euthansia in adult, juvenile,and embryonic zebrafish (JG)
Cardiac physiology in pacific abalone species associated with handling and spawning stress (JG)
Impacts of dietary protein source on the physiological health of white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus: additional considerations for selecting the optimal diet (JG)

Station (University/Organization)
Texas A&M University

Researcher(s) (Name, Title)
Courtney Daigle, Associate Professor

Primary research interests as they relate to NC1029 objectives
Animal Behavior and Welfare
Heat Stress
Behavioral Phenotyping

Impact statement for primary NC1029 research in the past year (10/1/2023-6/30/2024)
Research from the Animal Welfare and Behavior lab at Texas A&M University has been addressing multiple objectives of the NC1029. We are conducting research to develop non-invasive strategies for identifying sick cattle using canine olfaction. We are using computer vision, big data analytics, and sensor output to characterize behavioral phenotypes relevant to cows that are thermotolerant. WE are conducting startle tests on these animals to determine the physiological relationship between the serotonergic system and the startle response.
Station (University/Organization)
North Dakota State University

Researcher(s) (Name, Title)
Christopher Byrd, Assistant Professor of Swine Research and Teaching

Primary research interests as they relate to NC1029 objectives
Animal welfare science, stress physiology, applied ethology

Impact statement for primary NC1029 research in the past year (10/1/2023-6/30/2024)
My laboratory continues to focus on developing physiological stress measures and evaluating methods for mitigating stress on farm. Between 10/1/2023 and 6/30/2024:
We are currently determining whether ultra-short HRV recordings are appropriate for use with sows housed individually and in groups.
We are studying leukocyte coping capacity (LCC) as a potential rapid measure of swine physiological stress.
Other ongoing studies include the development of oleic-acid-containing oleogels for reducing pain and improving wound healing in piglets following surgical castration, and the effect of air quality on physiological and behavioral measures used to detect swine stress.

Future research related to NC1029

Pain mitigation via oleogels – Oleic acid oleogels to reduce pain and improve wound healing following surgical castration in piglets. Collaboration with Dr. Andriy Voronov at North Dakota State University.

Effect of air quality on physiological measures of stress in young pigs – physiological and behavioral indicators of changing air quality within commercial swine systems. Collaboration with Dr. Iris Feng and Dr. Samat Amat at North Dakota State University.

Stress indicators in aquaculture – Evaluating the use of heart rate variability and leukocyte coping capacity in aquatic species. Collaboration with Dr. Jackson Gross at UC-Davis.
Leukocyte Coping Capacity – Rapid stress test based on neutrophil oxidative burst response to repeated stressor exposure. Collaboration with Dr. Nikolaus Huber at University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna.

Station (University/Organization)
Auburn University

Researcher(s) (Name, Title)
Bethany Baker-Cook, Assistant Professor
Dianna Bourassa, Associate Professor / Extension Specialist (Station Head)

Primary research interests as they relate to NC1029 objectives
Dr. Baker-Cook’s research interests are poultry welfare and behavior. Using behavioral and physiological indicators of animal welfare to understand welfare in early life and how this impacts long-term welfare, behavior, and productivity. As well as using behavioral and physiological indicators to improve the welfare of broiler breeders. Research to improve welfare at end of life (euthanasia, slaughter) to strengthen welfare assessments and standards.

Dr. Bourassa’s research interests are poultry processing, specifically the use of physiological indicators of animal welfare to understand and optimize methods during poultry harvest and slaughter.

Impact statement for primary NC1029 research in the past year (10/1/2023-9/25/2024)
Dr. Baker-Cook collaborated with Dr. Bourassa evaluating behavioral indicators of animal welfare to assess the impact of decapitation during cervical dislocation. Based on the results, decapitation during cervical dislocation does not impact broiler well-being during euthanasia.
Dr. Baker-Cook is working on research that looks at behavioral development and sequences in early-life for chicks and turkeys. This knowledge of normal behavioral development and behavioral sequences for birds raised in commercial settings will help understand deviations in behavior due to poor well-being and health, can be used in the future for research and by farmers to assess bird welfare and health
Dr. Baker-Cook is currently researching the impact of natural light through windows on broiler welfare and behavior raised to 53 days. This research has shown that natural light improves food pad dermatitis.
Dr. Baker-Cook did research on repeated exposure and movement on the fear responses. It was found that repeated exposure to fear tests, either on the same day or over time, reduced the fear response. Furthermore, the test also encouraged play.
Dr. Bourassa and Dr. Baker-Cook are currently collaborating on a study comparing potential physiological indicators of welfare impacted by broiler lairage temperatures coupled with carbon dioxide controlled atmosphere stunning methods. Results indicate that low lairage temperatures result is an increase in pO2 and sO2 in blood. Lairage temperatures prior to stunning did not impact following stunning. However, carbon dioxide controlled atmosphere stunning impacted multiple blood metabolite parameters.

Future research related to NC1029

Using behavior and physiological indicators to understand the impact of early-life environment on bird welfare (hatchery, transport, and brooding).
Using behavior and other indicators to understand the impact of natural light in broiler production.
Using behavior and other indicators to understand the impact of group size and spiking on broiler breeder welfare, fertility and hatchability.
Understand enrichment usage in broiler breeders.
Using behavior and physiological indicators to understand the welfare at end-of-life with stunning.

Station (University/Organization)
University of Arkansas

Researcher(s) (Name, Title)
Shawna Weimer, Assistant Professor

Primary research interests as they relate to NC1029 objectives
• Develop new and apply existing measures to generate novel knowledge or applications and strengthen the scientific basis of poultry welfare assessment criteria.

Impact statement for primary NC1029 research in the past year (10/1/2023-6/27/2024)
Animal welfare is affected by many dynamic, fluctuating physiological and external environments. Many of these effects on animal welfare are well known within the animal agriculture industry, yet limited scientific evidence exists in some areas more than others. Thus, the research in the Weimer lab is targeted at evaluating new and existing genetics, resources, and husbandry methods that affect poultry welfare.

Future research related to NC1029
The Weimer lab will focus on investigating key management practices that impact poultry welfare. Upcoming research projects include exploring the effects of monochromatic lighting during incubation and growout, assessing the influence of environmental enrichments on the behavior of commercial turkey hens, and evaluating the use of sprinklers to improve the behavior and welfare of commercial broilers.

Station (University/Organization)
Oregon State University

Researcher(s) (Name, Title)
Monique Udell, PhD, CAAB, Associate Professor, Animal & Rangeland Sciences

Primary research interests as they relate to NC1029 objectives
Integrating, translating and validating assessment methods, tools and technology used in some settings (e.g., companion animal settings or zoo to production animal settings or vice versa) for use in different fields or with a more diverse range of species. The aim is to validate and expand access to evaluation tools that can be used to improve animal welfare and/or behavior assessments in applied settings. I am also interested in cross-species comparisons of behavior.

Social development and cognition- evaluations aimed at measuring how different environments and experiences may alter animal social development, behavior, or cognition in ways that impact welfare or productivity. And measurements of how external or contextual variables may influence human/caretaker perceptions of animal welfare or behavior.

Research on bonding and attachment, both with conspecifics and humans, as an indicator of welfare, quality of human-animal interactions and stress resilience in captive/production settings.

To develop/evaluate tools and procedures that would allow for effective, efficient, and less invasive handling or sample collection – with a special emphasis on methods that can be used to detect and/or reduce stress and improve wellbeing non-invasively. For example, research on the use of hand-held thermal cameras for detection of stress or employing low stress training techniques and assessments to achieve management or research goals.

Main species of interest include sheep, dogs, cats and captive wildlife. I also have some experience and interest in work with horses and swine.

Impact statement for primary NC1029 research in the past year (10/1/2023-6/30/2024)
This year I have continued work on sheep, dog and cat attachment and cross-species bond assessments as a measure of human-animal interaction quality and a predictor of stress and stress reliance in animals, leading to 3 new publications and 2 in prep. One of these studies was in collaboration with researchers at Purdue University (Dr. Candace Croney’s lab).

I have continued to engage in several research projects looking at domestic cat stress, welfare, care practices. This work included cross-state collaboration (with researchers located in Indiana, Maine, and California), international collaboration (with researchers in Canada, Japan and Uruguay), and multi-state industry collaborations.

I have continued work in human perception of animal behavior and welfare, evaluating how human emotions, beliefs and contextual factors may influence perception of animal behavior and welfare. This work is critical to understanding how external factors may influence welfare and behavior assessments (both formal and informal) that rely on human perception or caretaker reports. We are about to submit our first paper on this topic (focused on cats) and have begun to expand this work to new species including rabbits. The work on perception of rabbit welfare will be associated with a PhD thesis by a student in my lab (Amanda Puitiza).

We have begun work developing and validating a new stress assessment that aims to be user friendly and a robust predictor of chronic and situation stress in animals. The initial survey and validation will focus on dogs, but we have plans to expand to other species in the future. This work will be part of a PhD thesis by a student in my lab (Alisa Tananaeva).

This year I also served on the Morris Animal Foundation Equine Behavior Scientific Advisory Board, which assists with evaluating research priorities and the research proposal review process. I have collaborated with and/or provided research guidance to multiple industry partners in other states including Blue Buffalo (MN) and Hill’s Pet Nutrition (KS), and I have served on thesis committees of graduate students located in other states including Boise State (ID), Purdue University (IN) and Arizona State University (AZ).

Future research related to NC1029

Applying and evaluating secure base, attachment and sociability assessments to (1) understand factors that influence animal social development and attachment, (2) to validate new approaches to measuring the quality and outcomes of conspecific and cross-species interactions, and (3) to evaluate the impact of human-animal interactions on stress resilience, welfare and cognitive performance in animals (sheep, dogs, cats and other species).

Translation and validation of behavior and welfare methods from captive and companion animal settings to production animal settings with the aim of increasing accessibility, lowering cost and improving animal welfare outcomes across settings.

Investigation of new behavior/cognitive measures that could inform our understanding of animal welfare in applied settings, as well as factors that influence and improve these outcomes (e.g. Stress Level Questionnaire)

Research aimed at understanding how human emotion, beliefs and context may influence responses on animal behavior surveys and alter perception of animal emotions, behavior or welfare. Evaluating implications for welfare assessment design and understanding how such factors may impact animal management practices.

Station: Texas Tech University

Researchers
Nichole Anderson, Assistant Professor

Primary research interests as they relate to NC1029 objectives
Researched performed in accordance with the objectives of NC1029 and in collaboration with other members of NC1029 included work with Chris Byrd at North Dakota State University. Work included continued efforts to publish the final manuscripts of a multiyear project. The project focuses on the use of a virtual reality learning module to help teach animal welfare to students. The primary emphasis is on swine and dairy production. This contributes to objective 2, as it continues to strengthen the possible field of future animal welfare assessors and helps measure the effectiveness of teaching animal welfare assessment to others.

Future research related to NC1029
Emphasis at the TTU station is moving towards developing indicators of animal welfare in horses involved in equine assisted service programs. Additionally, continued work is underway to secure funding to continue developing and testing online learning modules, specifically designed to be used in veterinary medical education.

Peer-reviewed journal articles

Grebey TC, Swanson JC, Widowski TM, Tempelman RJ, Siegford JM. 2024. Variation in litter occupancy and dust bathing patterns among layer strains following periods of litter restriction. Poultry Science, 103(2), 103322. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103322. (A. Ali of Clemson helped mentor Tessa during her dissertation)
Horback, K. (2024). The Benefits of Increasing Livestock Species in Comparative Cognition Research. Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews, 19, 25-28, DOI:10.3819/CCBR.2024.190014

Creamer, M., & Horback, K. (2024b). Consistent individual differences in behavior among beef cattle in handling contexts and social-feed preference testing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 106315.

Creamer, M., & Horback, K. (2024a). Consistent individual differences in cattle grazing patterns. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 271, 106176.
Schiller, K., & Horback, K. (2024). Varying degrees of human-animal interaction elicit weak evidence of a temporally stable behavioral trait in rangeland breeding ewes. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 275, 106269.

Schiller, K., Monk, J., Lee, C. & Horback, K. (2023). Associations between immune competence phenotype and stress response in sheep. Frontiers in Animal Science, 4:1160202.

Lee, S., Boone, G., Bidgoli, A., Di Bernardo, J., Moody, C. 2024. US Cat caregivers’ attitudes towards veterinary video telemedicine. J Fel Med Surg, In press.

Boone, G., Bain, M., Cutler, J., Moody, C. 2023. Evaluating video telemedicine for providing virtual health care for cats via mock spay recheck examinations. Appl Anim Behav Sci, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2023.106061.

Khoddami, S., Kiser, M., Moody, C. 2023. Why can’t we be friends? Exploring factors associated with cat owners’ perceptions of the cat-cat relationship in two-cat households. Front Vet Sci, https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1128757

Baker, S. L., Robison, C. I., Karcher, D. M., Toscano, M. J., & Makagon, M. M. (2024). Influence of keel impacts and laying hen behavior on keel bone damage. Poultry science, 103423.

Pullin, A. N., Rufener, C. B., Millman, S. T., Tarlton, J. F., Toscano, M. J., Blatchford, R. A., & Makagon, M. M. (2024). Providing elevated structures in the pullet rearing environment affects behavior during initial acclimation to a layer aviary. Poultry science, 103(3), 103357.

Gross JA, Bowman JR, Imai DM, Wong TS, Duarte TL, Boles SE, McGorrin RJ and Yang X (2024) Evaluation of non-penetrative captive bolt stunning as a method of slaughter for white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus). Front. Anim. Sci. 5:1405554. doi: 10.3389/fanim.2024.1405554

Drwencke, A. M., S. J. J. Adcock, and C. B. Tucker. 2023. Wound healing and pain sensitivity following caustic paste disbudding in dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 106:6375-6387.

Goeller, H. B., B. C. Downey, and C. B. Tucker. 2023. Limit feeding total mixed rations exacerbates intersucking in year-old dairy heifers. J. Dairy Sci. 106:9494-9506.

Harmon, M. L., B. C. Downey, A. M. Drwencke, and C. B. Tucker. 2023. Development and application of a novel approach to scoring ear tag wounds in dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 106:5043-5053.

Morrow, C. R., B. C. Downey, and C. B. Tucker. 2023. Response to novel feed in dairy calves is affected by prior hay provision and presentation method. PLOS One 18:e0284889.

Drwencke, A. M., S. J. J. Adcock, J. B. Walker, and C. B. Tucker. 2024. Pilot testing an ethanol cornual nerve block as a long-term analgesic for calf disbudding. JDS Comm. in press

Juge, A. E., R. F. Cooke, G. Ceja, M. Matt, and C. L. Daigle. 2024. Comparison of physiological markers, behavior monitoring, and clinical illness scoring as indicators of an inflammatory response in beef cattle. A. Abuelo, editor. PLoS ONE. 19:e0302172. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0302172.

Juge, A. E., N. J. Hall, J. T. Richeson, R. F. Cooke, and C. L. Daigle. 2024. Dogs’ ability to detect an inflammatory immune response in cattle via olfaction. Front. Vet. Sci. 11:1393289. doi:10.3389/fvets.2024.1393289.

Juge, A. E., R. F. Cooke, G. Ceja, M. Matt, and C. L. Daigle. 2024. Comparison of physiological markers, behavior monitoring, and clinical illness scoring as indicators of an inflammatory response in beef cattle. A. Abuelo, editor. PLoS ONE. 19:e0302172. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0302172.

Inadagbo, O.; Makowski, G.; Ahmed, A.A.; Daigle, C. On Developing a Machine Learning-Based Approach for the Automatic Characterization of Behavioral Phenotypes for Dairy Cows Relevant to Thermotolerance. AgriEngineering 2024,6, 2656-2677. https://doi.org/10.

Keara O’Reilly, Borbala Foris, Courtney L. Daigle, Gordon E. Carstens. Development of an algorithm to detect feed bunk replacement events in growing cattle from feeding event data acquired by an electronic feed intake measurement system. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 277.2024: 106350, ISSN 0168-1591, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106350.

Jou-Ching Lin, Courtney Lynd Daigle, Pin-Chi Tang, Chien-Kai Wang. Influence of sex hormones on the aggressive behavior during peck order establishment and stabilization in meat and egg type chickens. Poultry Science. 103:6. 2024. 103669. ISSN 0032-5791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.103669

Kelsey M Harvey, Reinaldo F Cooke, Autumn T Pickett, Juan Cordero, Mason E Drewery, Logan W
Rahmel, Courtney L Daigle, Thiago Martins, Shea J Mackey, Effects of a moderate exercise regimen on development and puberty attainment of beef heifers reared in drylots at a high stocking density, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 102, 2024, skae150, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae150

Tuggle, C.K., Clarke, J.L., Murdoch, B.M. et al. Current challenges and future of agricultural genomes to phenomes in the USA. Genome Biol 25, 8 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-023-03155-w

Kasakamu, M.L., Young, J.M., Samuel, R.S., Wagner, S.A., Byrd, C.J.* (2024) The effect of ramped nursery housing on pig behavior during loading and unloading at marketing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 279:106397. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106397.

Calderón-Amor, J., Zuleta, B., Ceballos, M.C., Cartes, D., Byrd, C.J., Lecorps, B., Palomo, R., Guzmán-Pino, S., Siel, D., Luna, D. (2024) Affective Implications of Human–Animal Relationship on Pig Welfare: Integrating Non-Linear Heart Rate Variability Measures. Animals.14:2217. doi: 10.3390/ani14152217.

Luna, D., Calderón-Amor, J., González, C., Byrd, C., Palomo, R., Huenul, E., Figueroa, J. (2024) The protective effect of social support: can humans reassure pigs during stressful challenges by using social learning? Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 273:106221 doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106221

Escobar, C., D. Watts, A. Torbet., M.A. Bailey, J. T. Krehling, D. Landers., A.P. Jackson, M. Gilpin, K. Still , L. R. Munoz, L. Orellana, Y. Adhikari, K. Macklin, B.I. Baker-Cook. 2024. Evaluating the Impact of Gypsum as a Novel Bedding Material on Broiler Performance, Foot Pad Health, and Fear Response, 103(6):103676. doi:10.1016/j.psj.2024.103676

Jackson, A.P., D.V. Bourassa, and B.I. Baker. 2024. Applied Research Note: Evaluation of head removal following euthanasia by cervical dislocation on latency insensibility and death on broiler welfare. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 33:100394.

Mendoza, A. V., S. Weimer, and Z. Williams. 2024. Can steam be usable as a plus for ventilation shutdown? Journal of Applied Poultry Research. 33:100381. DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2023.100381.

Perretti, A. and S. Weimer. 2024. A comparison of Inversion Test holding methods for broilers. Poultry Science. 103:104163. DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104163

Vitale, K.R., Chijiiwa, H., Arahori, M., Takagi, S., Udell, M.A.R, Kuroshima, H., Fujita, K. (2024). Cross-Cultural Comparison of Cat-Human Relationships in the United States and Japan. Anthrozoos. In Press.

Bentosela, M., Cavalli, C., Dzik, M.V., Caliva, M., Udell, M. A. R. (2024). Effects of a brief separation from the owner while in the home environment: Comparison of fearful and control dogs. Anthrozoos. In Press.
Stahl, A., Barnard, S., Diana, D., Udell, M. A. R., Croney, C. (2024). Attachment style and social fear in dogs from commercial breeding kennels. Applied Animal Behavior Science. 273: 106238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2024.10623.

Perttu, R.K., M. Peiter, T. Bresolin, J.R.R. Dorea, and M.I. Endres. 2024. Predictive models for disease detection in group-housed preweaning dairy calves using data collected from automated milk feeders. J. Dairy Sci. 107: 331-341.

Hansen, A.C.; Moon, R.D.; Endres, M.I.; Pereira, G.M.; Heins, B.J. 2023. The defensive behaviors and milk production of pastured dairy cattle in response to stable flies, horn flies, and face flies. Animals 13, 3847

Peiter, M., KL. Caixeta, and M. Endres. 2023. Association between change in body weight during early lactation and milk production in automatic milking system herds. JDS Comm. 4:369-372.

Perttu, R.K, M. Peiter, T. Brezolin, J. Dorea, and M.I. Endres. 2023. Feeding behaviors collected from automated milk feeders were associated with disease in group-housed dairy calves in the upper Midwest. J. Dairy Sci. 106:1206-1217.

Pasiuk, E. L., C. Rudd, E. Webberson, N. Anderson, N. Hall, A. Stellato, and K. Schroeder. 2023. Investigating human experiences and perceptions of unmounted activities commonly practiced in equine-assisted services. Human-Animal Interactions.

C. Rudd, E. Pasiuk, K. Schroeder, N. Anderson, and N. Hall. 2023. Psychobiological processes in horse-human interactions: a preliminary exploration of equine. Anthrozoos.

Conference papers, posters, and presentations

Baugh K, Robison C, Siegford J, Ali A. 2024. An evaluation of egg quality parameters across two multi-tiered aviary designs. Proceedings of the 2024 International Poultry Scientific Forum, Atlanta, GA. (talk)

Baugh K, Robison C, Siegford J, Ali A. Accepted. Productivity, floor eggs, mortality, and welfare across two cage-free aviary configurations. Proceedings of the 2024 Poultry Science Association Meeting. (talk)

Clark A, Robison CI, Siegford JM, Ali ABA. Accepted. Impacts of aviary design and nest location on egg laying and damage in two cage-free aviary configurations. Proceedings of the 2024 Poultry Science Association Meeting. (poster)

Ma X, Siegford J, Jacobs J, Swanson J, Widowski T, Ali A. Accepted. Using accelerometers to monitor laying hen activity at three different ages in two styles of multi-tiered aviaries. Proceedings of the 2024 Poultry Science Association Meeting. (poster)

Morris D, Long Y, Siegford J, Ali A. Accepted. LED arrays to reduce poultry piling. Proceedings of the 11th European Conference on Precision Livestock Farming. (talk)

Horback, K. (2024). 304 What does Prop 12 mean for the swine industry. Journal of Animal Science, 102(Supplement_2), 11-11.

Moody, C. 2024. Virtual Consultations in Veterinary Medicine. Clinician’s Brief, https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/virtual-veterinary-care-pandemic-diagnosis.

Tonooka, J., Rupchis, B., Busch, R., Moody, C. 2024. A survey describing the early rearing environments of dairy goat kids in the U.S. American Dairy Science Association 2024 Annual Meeting.

Boone, G., Bain, M., Cutler, J., Moody, C. 2023. Examining Veterinary Telemedicine for Companion Cat Health and Behavior Care. American Veterinary Medical Association National Convention, Denver, Colorado USA.

Murillo, A.C., Abdoli, A., Blatchford, R.A., Keogh, E., and Gerry, A.C. 2024. Parasites and Vectors, 17:221.

Gross JA and JE Bowman 2024 Development of Tools Towards Increasing Animal Welfare During Humane Slaughter In Sturgeon American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Meeting Austin Texas, USA

Duarte T. L., Feng, Y, Talukder, S, Bolkenov, B., Gross, J, Yang, X. (2024 ) Stream to Store: Traditional vs Alternative Slaughter Methods Impact on Whole Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Spp.) Quality and Shelf life. Reciprocal Meat Conference Oklahoma City Oklahoma USA

Drwencke AM, Adcock SJJ, Tucker CB. 2023. Considerations for dairy calf disbudding. UC Cooperative Extension Workshop, Orland, CA.

Drwencke AM, Adcock SJJ, Tucker CB. 2023. Wound healing and sensitivity following caustic paste disbudding in dairy calves. Advancing Animal Welfare Together Symposium, Calgary, Alberta.

Drwencke AM, Adcock SJJ, Tucker CB. 2024. Wound characteristics following hot-iron and 4 approaches to caustic paste disbudding in dairy calves. Dairy Cattle Welfare Symposium, Kansas City, MO.

Drwencke AM, Adcock SJJ, Tucker CB. 2024. Differences among methods of dairy calf disbudding. World Ag Expo, Tulare CA.

Drwencke AM, Adcock SJJ, Tucker CB. 2024. Considerations for dairy calf disbudding. UC Cooperative Extension Workshop, Tulare, CA.

Drwencke AM, Adcock SJJ, Tucker CB. 2024. Considerations for dairy calf disbudding. UC Cooperative Extension Workshop, Fresno, CA.

McDonald-Gilmartin IM, Downey BC, Tucker CB. 2023. Abnormal repetitive behaviors in dairy cattle- to be consistent, or not to be consistent? Universities Federation for Animal Welfare Conference, online.

McDonald-Gilmartin IM, Downey BC, Tucker CB. 2023. Development of abnormal oral behaviors in dairy cattle in the first 6 months of life. 56th International Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology, Tallinn, Estonia.

Drwencke AM, Adcock SJJ, Tucker CB. 2023. Spontaneous head-related behaviors three weeks after caustic paste disbudding in dairy calves. 56th International Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology, Tallinn, Estonia.

McDonald-Gilmartin IM, Downey BC, Tucker CB. 2023. Development of abnormal oral behaviors in dairy cattle in the first 6 months of life. 1st Annual Center for Animal Welfare Research Symposium, Davis, CA.

Rodas V, Drwencke AM, Adcock SJJ, Tucker CB. 2024. Disbudding dairy calves with caustic paste: Exploring the impact of contact duration on the healing process. 2nd Annual Center for Animal Welfare Research Symposium, Davis, CA.

McDonald-Gilmartin IM, Downey BC, Tucker CB. 2024. Disbudding dairy calves with caustic paste: Exploring the impact of contact duration on the healing process. 2nd Annual Center for Animal Welfare Research Symposium, Davis, CA.

Drwencke AM, Adcock SJJ, Tucker CB. 2024. Wound characteristics following hot-iron and 4 approaches to caustic paste disbudding in dairy calves. 2nd Annual Center for Animal Welfare Research Symposium, Davis, CA.

Drwencke AM, Adcock SJJ, Tucker CB. 2024. Wound healing and sensitivity following hot-iron and 4 approaches to caustic paste disbudding in dairy calves. Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association, West Palm Beach, FL.

McDonald-Gilmartin IM, Downey BC, Tucker CB. 2024. Development of abnormal oral behaviors in dairy cattle in the first 6 months of life. Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association, West Palm Beach, FL.

Makowski, G.; Inadagbo, O.; Ahmed, A.A.; Daigle, C. On Developing a Machine Learning-Based Approach for the Automatic Characterization of Behavioral Phenotypes for Dairy Cows Relevant to Thermotolerance. 2024 Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture Conference in College Station, TX

Meyer, G; Cooke, R; Harvey K.S.; Daigle, C.L. 2024. Impact of space allowance and exercise on the social and oral behaviors of beef feedlot heifers housed in drylots. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Annual convention. Fort Worth, TX

Autumn Pickett, Reinaldo F Cooke, Logan W Rahmel, Shea Mackey, Mason Drewery, Juan Cordero, Teegan Mackey, Courtney L Daigle, Thiago Martins, Kelsey M Harvey, 101 Effects of moderate exercise regimen on reproductive development of replacement beef heifers reared in drylots at a high stocking density, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 102, Issue Supplement_1, March 2024, Pages 35–36, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae019.040

Jennings, M., A. McConnell, M. Hughes, and D.V. Bourassa. Impact of lairage temperatures on carbon dioxide gas stunned poultry blood metabolites. PSA Latin American Scientific Conference. October 8-10, 2024. Iguazú Falls, Paraná, Brazil.

B. I. Baker-Cook, A. Jackson, M. Quino, A. Gautam, M. Gilpin, K. Still and D. Landers. Assessing the impact of repeated exposure and movement on the fear response in broiler chickens. International Society for Applied Ethology Annual Meeting. Curitiba, Brazil. July 22nd-26th.

Jackson, A., D. Landers, D. Bourassa, and B. I. Baker-Cook. Development of the behavioral repertoire in the early life of broiler chicks. Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY, USA. July 15th-18th.

Quino, M., C. Hanlon, and B .I. Baker-Cook. Environmental enrichment preferences of broiler breeder during the rearing period. Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY, USA. July 15th-18th.

Youssef, T., A. Jackson, K. Still, M. Gilpin, J. Linhoss, and B. I. Baker-Cook. Impact of natural and artificial light treatments on fear response and welfare parameters in commercial broilers. Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY, USA. July 15th-18th.

Jackson, A.P., D.D. Landers, D.V. Bourassa, and B.I. Baker-Cook. Development of the behavioral repertoire in the early life of broiler chicks. PSA Annual Meeting. July 15-18, 2024. Louisville, KY.

Jennings, M., A. McConnell, S. Manjankattil Rajan, M. Hughes, and D.V. Bourassa. Impact of lairage temperatures on meat quality parameters of controlled atmosphere stunned poultry. PSA Annual Meeting. July 15-18, 2024. Louisville, KY.

Jackson, A., and B.I. Baker-Cook. The temporal development of behavior in broiler chicks throughout the seven days of life. Auburn Student Research Symposium. Auburn. USA. March 26th.

Riggs, M.R., C. Hanlon, B.I. Baker-Cook, M. Jennings, A.D. McConnell, J. Figueroa, M. Hughes, and D.V. Bourassa. Analysis of metabolic changes in poultry during respiration of carbon dioxide. International Poultry Scientific Forum, January 29-30, 2024. Atlanta, GA.

Jennings, M., M.R. Riggs, A.D. McConnell, F. Contreras, and D.V. Bourassa. Evaluation of wing damage at different time points during processing. International Poultry Scientific Forum, January 29-30, 2024. Atlanta, GA.

Gautam, A, A. Jackson, M. Gilpin, K. Still, and B.I. Baker-Cook. How different litter types affect the fear response in broiler chickens? COA Graduate Student Poster Showcase. Auburn, USA. October 26th.

Jackson, A., B. McCrea, and B.I. Baker-Cook. Evaluating the impact of commercially available brooder type on body weight, behavior and fearfulness of broiler chicks. COA Graduate Student Poster Showcase. Auburn, USA. October 26th.

Tomori, A., A. Jackson, M. Gilpin, K. Still, J. Linhoss and B.I. Baker-Cook. The Impact of Natural and Artificial Light on the Welfare of Broiler Chickens. COA Graduate Student Poster Showcase. Auburn, USA. October 26th.

Quino, M., A. Jackson, M. Gilpin, K. Still, and B. Baker-Cook. How do Multiple Test Exposures and Movement Affect Fear Response in Poultry. COA Graduate Student Poster Showcase. Auburn, USA. October 26th.

Jennings, M., B.I. Baker-Cook, J. Starkey, and D. Bourassa. Evaluation of the acceptability of euthanasia methods based on demographic predictors. COA Graduate Student Poster Showcase. Auburn, USA. October 26th.

Oyeniran, V., C. Pennicott, A. Perretti, J. Cherry, S. Orlowski, and S. Weimer. Cognitive bias test effect on surface body temperature of Red Jungle Fowl and Athens Canadian Random Bred chickens. Poultry Science Association meeting in Louisville, KY. July 15-18, 2024 (oral)
Cherry, C., A. Perretti, V. Oyeniran, C. Pennicott, and S. Weimer. Evaluating the effect of lighting on broiler tonic immobility. Poultry Science Association meeting in Louisville, KY. July 15-18, 2024 (poster)
Cherry, J., A. Perretti, V. Oyeniran, C. Pennicott, J. M. Santamaria, C. N. Beck, G. F. Erf, and S. Weimer. Exploring the interplay of lighting and heat stress on broiler performance and stress physiology. Poultry Science Association meeting in Louisville, KY. July 15-18, 2024 (oral)
Perretti, A., C. Pennicott, V. Oyeniran, J. Cherry, J. M. Santamaria, C. N. Beck, G. F. Erf, and S. Weimer. Impact of incubation lighting wavelength on physiological and behavioral stress responses in broilers. Poultry Science Association meeting in Louisville, KY. July 15-18, 2024 (oral)
Perretti, A., C. Pennicott, V. Oyeniran, J. Cherry, and S. Weimer. Effects of incubation lighting wavelength on production measures in broilers. Poultry Science Association meeting in Louisville, KY. July 15-18, 2024 (poster)
Perretti, A., C. Pennicott, V. Oyeniran, J. Cherry, and S. Weimer. Incubation lighting wavelength effect on egg and chick quality measures. Poultry Science Association meeting in Louisville, KY. July 15-18, 2024 (poster)
Pennicott, C., B. Parsons, A. Perretti, V. Oyeniran, J. Cherry, and S. Weimer. Does feeding tryptophan and incremental changes in lighting regime influence broiler carcass characteristics? Poultry Science Association meeting in Louisville, KY. July 15-18, 2024 (poster)
Johnston, E., J. Reynolds, C. Pennicott, R. Cheek, J. Powell, B. Kegley, and S. Weimer. Effectiveness of Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance on growth, physiological, and behavioral responses of high-risk stocker cattle. American Society of Animal Science meeting in Calgary, Canada. July 21-25, 2024.
Weimer, S., C. Pennicott, M. Guerreiro, and M. Vaught. Broiler chicken use of platform enrichments varies with age and time of day. European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP) International Conference on the Welfare Assessment of Animals at Farm Level (WAFL). August 30-31, 2024. Florence, Italy.
Tananaeva A., Udell, M. A. R. (June 2024). Measuring Stress in Pet Dogs: Preliminary Results and Future Directions. Canine Science Conference 2024, Seattle, WA.
Udell, M.A.R (May 2024). It’s like herding cats! Why our beliefs about the behavior & cognition of other species matter. Canine Science Symposium, San Francisco, CA.
Tananaeva A., Udell, M. A. R. (May 2024). Measuring Stress in Dogs. Canine Science Symposium, San Francisco, CA.
Udell, M.A.R., Puitzia, A. (February 2024). How context shifts our perceptions of cat emotion. General Mills, Minneapolis, MN.
Puitiza A., Udell M.A.R. (Jan 2024). Contextual Factors Affecting Human Perception of Emotion in Cats from Photos. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), Seattle, WA.
Baxley, B., and N. Anderson. The addition of a rider increases stride length and ground force in horses used for Equine Assisted Services. International Society for Applied Ethology. Curitiba, Brazil. July 22-25. Poster.

N. Anderson. Low stress handling for livestock species and the impact on research. American Veterinary Medical Association. Austin, Texas. June 21, 2024. Invited talk for national conference.

Balxey, B. H., H. Rodriguez-Mori, and N.C. Anderson. Physiological indicators of stress in horses working in equine-assisted services: a systematic review. Animal Behavior Society. Portland, Oregon. July 12, 20223. Oral presentation.

Book chapters
Udell, M. A. R., (In Press). Imitation-Based Learning. Research section in Applied Animal Behavior Analysis: From Principles to Practice, Mehrkam, Feuerbacher, and Kalafut eds. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK.

Dissertations and theses

Grebey T. 2023. Understanding Dynamic Hen Behaviors to Improve Welfare in the Transition from Cages to Cage-Free Egg Production. PhD Dissertation, Michigan State University. (advised by J. Siegford (MSU), mentored by A. Ali (Clemson))
Creamer, M. (2024). It’s All About the Climb: Consistent Individual Differences in Cattle Behavior and How they Relate to Grazing Distribution on Extensive Rangelands (Doctoral dissertation, UC Davis).

Schiller, K. M. (2023). Pre-and postnatal human animal-interactions reveal individual behavioral differences in rangeland breeding ewes (Doctoral dissertation, UC Davis).

Lu, Q. (2023). Examining Behavioral Sampling Schemes in Aviary-Reared Laying Hen Pullets (Master degree thesis, UC Davis)

Alexandra Jackson, M.S. Poultry Science Auburn University, August 2024. Thesis: Development of Early-life Normal Behaviors in Broiler Chicks and Turkey Poults.Current position: PhD student in Poultry Science.

Jay Koontz (Undergraduate Honors Thesis, May 2024). Influence of Elephant Keeper Relationships on Elephant Behavior. Oregon State University.
Mae Trice (Undergraduate Honors Thesis, December 2023). Attachment style and stress resilience of bottle fed versus nursing lambs in the presence of a human caretaker. Oregon State University.