Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.9
2.7
Journals
Animals
Special Issues
Exploring Stress Responses in Farm Animals: A Focus on Physiological...
share announcement

Exploring Stress Responses in Farm Animals: A Focus on Physiological and Behavioral Aspects

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Physiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 4464

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Désirée Gellatly

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Olds College of Agriculture and Technology, 4500 50th Street, Olds, AB T4H 1R6, Canada
Interests: behavior; beef cattle; distress; health; temperament; welfare
Dr. Tiago da Silva Valente

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Interests: beef cattle; genetics; feed efficiency; stress; temperament; welfare

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Animal husbandry often employs stress-inducing practices that can result in pain, chronic diseases, and reduced productivity. Efforts are being made to address these issues through evolving animal management and welfare practices. However, it is essential to investigate both the physiological and behavioral responses, in conjunction with the management practices employed by the livestock industry, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of their effects and continually enhance the welfare of farm animals. By investigating these indicators, modern research aims to shed light on daily practices and offer a comprehensive perspective on intricate strategies for mitigating stress and/or pain, ultimately improving the welfare and performance of farm animals.

The goal of the Special Issue “Exploring Stress Responses in Farm Animals: A Focus on Physiological and Behavioral Aspects” is to offer an up-to-date resource for high-quality research focused on farm animal stress management. This includes exploring its impact on physiological and behavioral responses, strategies for alleviating stress, and the introduction of innovative husbandry techniques.

We invite original research papers that address how various stressors affect animal health, growth, reproduction, and behavioral responses.

Dr. Désirée Gellatly
Dr. Tiago da Silva Valente
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • stress indicators
  • physiological response
  • behavior
  • pain-mitigation
  • farm animals
  • livestock

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 18545 KiB  
Article
Stress Responses in Horses Housed in Different Stable Designs during Summer in a Tropical Savanna Climate
by Chanoknun Poochipakorn, Thita Wonghanchao, Kanokpan Sanigavatee and Metha Chanda
Animals 2024, 14(15), 2263; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14152263 - 4 Aug 2024
Viewed by 843
Abstract
Single-confinement housing can pose welfare risks to domestic horses. This study investigated horses’ stress responses when confined to single stalls in different stable designs in a tropical savanna region to address a gap in the literature. In total, 23 horses were assigned to [...] Read more.
Single-confinement housing can pose welfare risks to domestic horses. This study investigated horses’ stress responses when confined to single stalls in different stable designs in a tropical savanna region to address a gap in the literature. In total, 23 horses were assigned to a stable with a central corridor and solid external walls (A) (N = 8), a stable with one side corridor and solid external walls (B) (N = 6), or a stable with a central corridor and no solid external walls (C) (N = 9). Air velocity, relative humidity, air temperature, and noxious gases were measured inside the stables, and the heart rate and HRV of the horses were also determined. The relative humidity was lower in stable C than in stable A (p < 0.05), while the air temperature was higher in stable C than in stable B (p < 0.05) during the day. The airflow and ammonia levels were higher in stable C than in stables B and A (p < 0.01–0.0001). Overall, horses’ HRV in stable A was lower than in those in stables B and C (p < 0.05–0.01). Horses in stable A tended to experience more stress than those in other stables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Stress Responses in Farm Animals: A Focus on Physiological and Behavioral Aspects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 989 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Effects of Stress on Dairy Cattle Behaviour
by Viktor Jurkovich, Péter Hejel and Levente Kovács
Animals 2024, 14(14), 2038; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14142038 - 11 Jul 2024
Viewed by 3114
Abstract
In this narrative review, the authors summarise the relationship between stress and behaviour and how dairy cattle cope with stressors. Based on the available literature, the most common stressors in intensive dairy cattle farming, such as pain, disease, heat stress, poor comfort caused [...] Read more.
In this narrative review, the authors summarise the relationship between stress and behaviour and how dairy cattle cope with stressors. Based on the available literature, the most common stressors in intensive dairy cattle farming, such as pain, disease, heat stress, poor comfort caused by technology, and social stress, are surveyed. The authors describe how these stressors modify the behaviour of dairy cattle, influencing their feeding patterns, social interactions, and overall well-being. Additionally, the review explores the effectiveness of various coping mechanisms employed by dairy cattle to mitigate stress, including physiological adaptations and behavioural responses. This review is a valuable resource for understanding and grading stress in dairy cattle through behavioural reactions. Elucidating the intricate interplay between stressors and behaviour offers insights into potential interventions to improve animal welfare and productivity in dairy farming. Furthermore, this review highlights areas for future research, suggesting avenues for more comprehensive behavioural studies to enhance our understanding of stress management strategies in dairy cattle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Stress Responses in Farm Animals: A Focus on Physiological and Behavioral Aspects)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop