Animal behavior and animal welfare

The value of behavioral techniques in assessing animal welfare, and in particular assessing the psychological well being of animals, is reviewed. Using cats and horses as examples, 3 behavioral methods are presented: (1) comparison of behavior patterns and time budgets; (2) choice tests; and (3) operant conditioning. The behaviors of intact and declawed cats were compared in order to determine if declawing led to behavioral problems or to a change in personality. Apparently it did not. The behavior of free ranging horses was compared with that of stabled horses. Using two-choice preference tests, the preference of horses for visual contact with other horses and the preference for bedding were determined. Horses show no significant preference for locations from which they can make visual contact with other horses, but they do prefer bedding, especially when lying down. Horses will perform an operant response in order to obtain light in a darkened barn or heat in an outside shed. These same techniques can be used to answer a variety of questions about an animal's motivation for a particular attribute of its environment.     

水产动物育苗与营养的关系

水产动物的育苗过程可分为亲本培育、催产孵化和幼体培育等过程。亲本培育实际上是卵母细胞的发育过程,这一阶段亲本对营养的需要是比较特殊的,和其它发育阶段相比有其不同的特点,而且这一阶段在整个育苗过程中处于关键地位,因为亲本发育的好坏是育苗的物质基础。所以,亲本培育应引起足够的重视。     

Aggressive behavior problems

Accurate diagnosis of the cause of aggression in horses is essential to determining the appropriate course of action. The affective forms of aggression include fear-induced, pain-induced, intermale, dominance, protective, maternal, learned, and redirected aggressions. Non-affective aggression includes play and sex-related forms. Irritable aggression and hypertestosteronism in mares are medical problems, whereas genetic factors, brain dysfunction, and self-mutilation are also concerns.     

Feeding and drinking behavior problems

The physiologic and behavioral basis of normal canine and feline feeding is given in detail. Abnormalities of ingestive behavior include obesity and anorexia in both species, flank or blanket sucking in Doberman Pinschers, coprophagia and stone chewing in dogs, and wool chewing in cats. Drinking behavior is discussed briefly, and the abnormalities of hypernatremia (a failure of thirst) and psychogenic polydipsia and polyphagia are reviewed.     

养殖业需要应对的四大难题——疫病 污染 安全 品质

当养殖业越来越成熟,越来越发展成为畜牧业领域中一个重要的支柱产业,其产业化、集约化带来的问题也随之而来。疫病、污染、安全、品质,是本文作者提出的当前养殖业的最重要的四大难题。本文作者多年从事畜牧业工作,对我国养殖业的发展深有体会,文章深入探讨了养殖业需要应对的这些问题,供业界参考。     

Cat elimination behavior problems

This article focuses on behavior problems for which pathophysiologic causes have been ruled out. General discussions of marking, urination, and defecation, the specific postures used for each behavior, and procedures for diagnosis and treatment are discussed briefly. New information is provided about cat's preferences for different types of litter materials.     

Parrot psychology and behavior problems.

Behavior modification training, like veterinary medicine, is an exacting science, requiring a knowledge of not only wild avian behavior, but of child and adult human behavior as well. It is important to note that absolutely any changes in a bird's or its owner's environment may trigger a vast assortment undesirable behaviors. Some behavior problems are simple, but most have multiple causes and each of those causes must be determined and corrected before a high rate of success is evident. As in veterinary medicine, some birds respond to general "shotgun" techniques; however, parrots are intelligent and complex creatures. They consider themselves an integral part of their human "flock" and respond as such. Most commonly seen negative behaviors can be altered, at least to some extent, and, in most cases, they can be alleviated completely. Yelling at the bird, striking it, or any other type of confrontational behavior modification technique is virtually useless and can actually worsen most situations. A high percentage of success involves extensive history taking, an understanding of human and wild animal flock behavior, and the time to create a complete program for each individual and its owner.     

绿色畜产品发展存在的主要问题及其建议

随着我国人民群众生活水平的不断提高,人们对食品的卫生、安全、营养和风味越来越重视,随之应运而生的绿色食品成为国内健康消费的新时尚,也是产品打入国际大市场的重要措施。绿色畜产品是绿色食品中重要一员,直接影响着绿色食品的发展。但目前我国许多消费者对绿色畜产品的认识还比较模糊,加之生产监管措施不到位,市场准入机制不健全等,致使目前国内一些市场对绿色畜产品不能实现优质优价,以致生     

我国新兽药开发现状及存在问题

兽药是一种特殊的产品，它既与人用药物类似就是能够预防疾病，又与人用药物不同，就是使用时避免给人的食物带来不良影响——兽药残留。我国兽药行业经过二十年的发展，虽然生产总量在提高，研究开发能力在增强，但是和国外的同行相比，我们的研究开发能力还很弱，完全能够自己创新开发新兽药的企业还不多，得到国际认可的属于自己知识产权和产品还很少，新兽药的开发仍然处于仿制为主的阶段。     

动物胚胎移植技术发展概况及存在问题

动物胚胎移植实际是生产胚胎的供体和养育胚胎的受体分工合作繁殖后代的过程。其目的是使经济效益低、生产性能不高、不符合社会需要和人们生活需求的母畜作为受体生产出经济效益高、生产性能好、符合社会和人们需求的良种后代,以便迅速增加良种畜禽的数量,大大提高受体母畜的繁殖效率和经济效益。本文就国内外和甘肃省的胚胎移植技术发展概况进行阐述,并从胚胎移植推广应用角度分析了胚胎移植技术存在的主要问题。     

Preventing behavior problems in puppies and kittens

There are many common issues that owners find problematic with their puppy's or kitten's behavior, such as eliminating in inappropriate locations, chewing, mouthing, growling, and biting. Many of these issues can be prevented or managed by helping owners understand normal canine and feline behavior and by teaching the puppy and kitten socially acceptable behaviors. The focus always should be on rewarding acceptable behaviors rather than punishing unacceptable ones. Puppy Preschool and Kitten Kindergarten classes are an ideal avenue to introduce pet owners to modern, humane ways to train and socialize their pets to be a valuable part of today's society.