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Operant animal welfare: productive approaches and persistent difficulties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

EG Patterson-Kane ,
M Pittman  and
EA Pajor
EG Patterson-Kane
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare and Behavior, Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, Poultry Science Building, 125 S Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2042, USA
M Pittman
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare and Behavior, Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, Poultry Science Building, 125 S Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2042, USA
EA Pajor*
Affiliation:
Animal Welfare and Behavior, Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, Poultry Science Building, 125 S Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2042, USA
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: pajor@purdue.edu
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Abstract

Operant procedures occupy a prominent role within animal welfare science because they provide information about the strength of animals’ preferences. It is assumed that strongly motivated choices commonly indicate conditions necessary for uncompromised welfare. A review of the literature shows that members of many species will work for access to resources not commonly provided to them; including a secure resting place (perches for hens or boxes for rodents) and substrates for species-typical activities such as nesting, digging and rooting (in hens, rats, mice and pigs). Despite a recent surge in popularity, operant techniques remain under-utilised and studies employing them struggle to find the best method for prioritising resources. In order to fully exploit the potential of operant procedures a wider appreciation of the relevant theories and techniques might be beneficial; including greater employment of the basic principles of reinforcement theory and further development of more complex economic analogies. If these two strands of research develop together, operant approaches have a key role to play in refining and replacing husbandry practices that undermine animal welfare.

Keywords

animal welfareeconomic demandenvironmental enrichmentoperant conditioningreinforcementreview
Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , May 2008 , pp. 139 - 148
Copyright
© 2008 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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