Rabbit welfare: determining priority welfare issues for pet rabbits using a modified Delphi method

Rioja-Lang, Fiona C.; Bacon, Heather; Connor, Melanie; Dwyer, CM

doi:10.1136/vetreco-2019-000363

Cited by 40 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…By comparing the outcomes from our data with those of other studies that have attempted similar types of assessments, we have found that there are common welfare concerns that are raised frequently with different groups, which lends greater weight to arguments that these are important issues for horse welfare. In particular, lack of owner knowledge, or application of knowledge to the management of horses, is an important welfare concern, which has also been seen in other species [21,51]. In addition, many of the other issues that have been highlighted may also stem from poor owner knowledge or the application of traditional or culturally mediated methods of managing or using horses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determining a Welfare Prioritization for Horses Using a Delphi Method

Rioja-Lang

Connor

Bacon

et al. 2020

Animals

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Simple Summary: Horses are used for a wide range of different purposes and may be vulnerable to a large number of different welfare issues, some of which are unique to equines, such as responses to being ridden or trained. Compared to farmed livestock, their welfare has received less attention, but concern for their welfare is increasing. Welfare issues can arise from the environments in which animals are kept, how they are treated by their human caregivers and their health. To determine which of the issues are most important and may need the greatest attention in terms of research effort or owner education, we used a process of eliciting expert opinion. Through a series of surveys and ranking of issues, we determined that, in the opinion of equine experts, the most important issues for horses were poor disease prevention, issues arising when old or sick horses are not promptly euthanized, lack of owner knowledge of welfare needs of horses, fear and stress involved in horse use, inability of owners to recognize pain behaviour, obesity and inadequate feeding practices. Prioritizing different welfare issues can help to focus attention on the most pressing or severe issues causing the greatest amount of suffering.Abstract: Equine welfare issues are receiving increasing attention in the UK, but welfare problems can arise from a wide range of causes. In order to identify the most important welfare concerns for horses, we used a Delphi method with 19 equine welfare experts. An initial list of 84 equine welfare issues was generated using an online discussion board and NVivo thematic analysis. Subsequently, experts ranked these welfare issues for perceived prevalence, severity and duration of suffering associated with each issue on a 6-point Likert scale. All issues with a mean score of 3 or above (n = 37) were included in subsequent rounds. Finally, a subset of experts attended a two-day workshop to determine the final priority list of welfare issues. The welfare issues perceived to be most prevalent were lack of biosecurity, delayed euthanasia, lack of owner knowledge of equine welfare needs, fear and stress from use, and obesity. The issues considered to cause greatest suffering for individual horses were delayed euthanasia, lack of recognition by owners of pain behaviour, large worm burdens, obesity and being fed unsuitable diets for equine feeding behaviour. These outcomes can help to focus research and education interventions on the most pressing welfare issues for horses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study formed part of a larger study to identify and prioritise welfare issues for a range of different species. Detailed methods were as previously described [21] and are given in brief here.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determining a Welfare Prioritization for Horses Using a Delphi Method

Rioja-Lang

Connor

Bacon

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…Pet rabbits are the third most popular pet in the western world [ 1 ], however with an increasing interest in their welfare from within the veterinary profession and the welfare science community, widespread welfare deficits have become apparent [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) noted with consternation that 78% of UK vets believe pet rabbits’ welfare needs were not being met, reporting rabbits being housed inappropriately or alone and within an inappropriate environment [ 1 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both Rooney et al [ 7 ] and Mullan and Main [ 4 ] state that this inappropriate housing, without conspecifics, and often an inappropriate diet, would limit the behavioral repertoire and welfare of pet rabbits [ 4 , 7 ]. This welfare deficit due to potential husbandry failings within our pet rabbit population could lead to welfare compromise, a shortened lifespan, and painful medical problems such as dental disease [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Welch et al [ 8 ] carried out a large survey of 2890 rabbit owners (focused in the USA and Canada, but also covering some areas outside of North America), which focused on their knowledge of rabbit husbandry and their rabbits’ neutered status.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘All Ears’: A Questionnaire of 1516 Owner Perceptions of the Mental Abilities of Pet Rabbits, Subsequent Resource Provision, and the Effect on Welfare

McMahon

Wigham

2020

Animals

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Pet rabbit welfare is a hidden crisis: Inappropriately housed, fed, and not routinely provided healthcare—rabbits can often suffer painful conditions and shortened lifespans. This study provides novel understanding of owners’ perceptions of rabbits’ mental capabilities; how this impacts their husbandry; and subsequent effects on rabbits’ welfare. A survey was designed to investigate owner and rabbit demographics, owner perception of rabbits, resources provided, and rabbit behavior. Distributed online and by the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund, the survey received 1516 responses. It was found that increased owner perceptions of pain, emotions. and intelligence resulted in increased likelihood of providing a partner, increased enrichment variation, and a more appropriate diet and type of housing. Welfare scores were associated with diet, housing, variety of enrichment, and time spent with owners. These results suggest that a practical approach to improving the welfare standard provided to rabbits may be to target improving owner perceptions of the species’ intelligence, emotionality, and experience of pain. This information would be beneficial in tailoring public education programs to increase provision of welfare enhancing resources, improve the human–animal relationship, and thus improve the welfare standards for this species.

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“…All research generated from this study was approved by the University of Edinburgh's Human Ethics Review Committee (HERC). The full description of the methods can be found in Rioja-Lang et al (13). The results presented here are part of a larger study that identified priority welfare issues for a number of managed animal species in the UK.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prioritization of Farm Animal Welfare Issues Using Expert Consensus

et al. 2020

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Prioritization of animal welfare issues can help identify which areas most require research funding and raise awareness of best practices. A modified Delphi method was used to obtain expert opinion on the highest priority welfare issues for UK farmed livestock. Fifty-eight UK-based experts were recruited onto the study, with a minimum of 3 years experience of working with either cattle, pigs, poultry, or small ruminants (12-16 experts per group). Experts were chosen to represent a broad range of opinions. Two rounds of surveys were conducted online using Online Survey, and the final round was an in-person workshop with 21 experts. In the first survey, experts were provided with a comprehensive list of species-specific welfare issues derived from the literature. Participants were asked to score each welfare issue, for (i) severity, (ii) duration, and (iii) prevalence on a 6-point Likert scale. The results of the first survey were reviewed and the welfare issues which scored a neutral-to-high response (scores 3-6) were carried forward. In round 2, participants were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the rankings that were made from the results of round 1. The final stage of the process was a workshop, which consisted of a combination of group exercises and discussions, to reach the final consensus. Welfare priority lists were divided into two categories: severity/duration, and prevalence, to identify the priority welfare issues affecting individual animals and the population, respectively. Across all farmed species common concerns were inadequate or inappropriate nutrition, inability of stockpeople to recognize or treat welfare issues (such as pain or behavioral problems), lameness, chronic or endemic health issues, euthanasia and mortality and morbidity of neonates. Specific concerns related to behavioral restriction and damaging or abnormal behavior in pigs, poultry and dairy animals, inadequate housing for pigs and poultry, consequences of breeding decisions in pigs and poultry, and lack of access to veterinary care in sheep and beef. This Delphi process resulted in consensus on the most significant welfare challenges faced by UK livestock species and can help to guide future research and education priority decisions.

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Rabbit welfare: determining priority welfare issues for pet rabbits using a modified Delphi method

Cited by 40 publications

References 26 publications

Determining a Welfare Prioritization for Horses Using a Delphi Method

Determining a Welfare Prioritization for Horses Using a Delphi Method

‘All Ears’: A Questionnaire of 1516 Owner Perceptions of the Mental Abilities of Pet Rabbits, Subsequent Resource Provision, and the Effect on Welfare

Prioritization of Farm Animal Welfare Issues Using Expert Consensus

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