Behavioural mechanisms in animals and options of their modelling

An increased demand for knowledge on the subject of ethology is reflected by the fact that the symposium attracted over 200 attendees from all over the country.

This year saw the third international Veterinary Symposium entitled ,Behavioural mechanisms in animals and options of their modelling.’ The event was co-organized by the Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Department of immunology, Pathophysiology and Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Lower Silesian Chamber of Veterinary Medicine. Moreover, it was held under a honorary patronage of the Rector of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, prof. dr hab. Roman Kołacz.

This year we had the privilege to welcome many eminent international guests, including prof. Kennet Booth, who came to visit us from as far as the Republic of South Africa! Apart from prof. Booth, we also had the honour to host famous European specialists in veterinary medicine, including prof. Patrick Pageat (France), Claudio Fugazza (italy) and Jean-Marc Landry (Switzerland), as well as renowned Polish ethologists and behaviourists: prof. Ewa Godzińska, prof. Tadeusz Jezierski, mgr Andrzej Kłosiński, lek. wet. Aleksandra Słyk-Przeździecka, dr Jagna Kudła, dr Krzysztof Skorupski. The attendees of this year’s symposium had a chance to participate in a poster session where more than 20 posters were presented. The competing works were evaluated in three categories by the jury headed by prof. dr hab. Tadeusz Jezierski and featuring prof. dr hab. Tadeusz Stefaniak, dr n. wet. Jagna Kudła. The jury presented three statuette awards and one distinction.

In the category of experimental works the winners were Dominika Chojnacka and Jarosław Barski from the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice who presented a work entitled Complex social behaviour and evolution of brain size in fishes with an example of Labroides dimidiatus'.

In the category of application works the award went to researchers Andrzej Krzywiński, Armin Kobus, Bogdan Kasperczyk who presented three works on re-introduction of wild animal species: 1. Mother’s role in the process of introduction of endangered species by means of the so-called ,born to be free’ method (forest gallinaceous birds, lynxes and other); 2. Perspectives on utilizing carnivorous animals in limiting the damages caused by middle sized carnivores during the process of the introduction of forest gallinaceous birds; 3. Perspectives on adapting young wolves, lynxes, and other animal species to unbounded habitation on forested areas by means of Polish hunting spaniel bitches.

In the category of animal welfare posters, the award went to the team (Sylwia Sobolewska, Marita Świniarska, Anna Budny, Maria Chrzanowska) from the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences for their work entitled, Behaviour of egg laying hens maintained in modified cages versus production indicators’.

The award of distinction went to the team composed of Karolina Niespodziańska, irena Zwolińska-Bartczak from the UPWr for the work An examination of stress levels in dogs maintained in shelters’.

The range of subjects examined during the symposium extends every year, including issues relating to more and more animal species. Whereas in the case of first edition the main focus of the dogs and cats, during the second one emphasis was placed also on horses and cattle. This year’s symposium was record in terms of number of animal species discussed: starting from ants, through dogs, cats, horses, sheep, goats and ending with wolves. The speeches delivered during the event touched a broad variety of subjects. Apart from the annually re-addressed issue of the use of pheromones in therapy of animal behavioural problems, this year’s discussions also focused on the question of stress and its impact on the behaviour of animals as well as on the issue of behavioural mechanisms in horses. The reasons of behavioural disruptions were brought closer to the attendees thanks to interesting lectures on the impact of emotions and abnormalities in the process of behavioural development on the behaviour of cats and dogs. Furthermore, an innovative method of dog training based on dogs’ innate ability of imitation and social learning called ,Do as i Do’ was presented. This was followed by the discussion on conscious and unconscious errors in equine training. The attendees were also offered an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the issue of re-introduction of wolves around human settlements and attempts of preventing losses caused by these animals by means of traditional methods- namely using shepherd dogs-as well as by means of innovative methods involving the application of pheromones, repellent collars or associative conditioning methods. The lecturers showed excellent didactic and oratorical skills, presented their subjects in a remarkably interesting fashion and illustrated their presentations with numerous photographs, videos and clinical, scientific and training case studies.

The last point of the symposium programme were the morning workshops organized with the participation of the members of the academic community of the UPWr. They were coordinated by prof. Kennet Booth and focused on the subject of deactivation of vomeronasal organs in sheep. This innovative method developed by prof. Booth turns to be highly useful not only in the process of thorough scientific examination of the activity mechanisms of semiochemical substances, but also opens perspectives for its practical application in sheep breeding: to allow or facilitate the process of adoption of lambs by surrogate dams.

The unique event owes its existence to the support of its sponsors, including the following companies and institutions: Ceva Polska, Semi- chem (Over Group), Purina Nestle, ScanVet, COAPE, Wydawnictwo Elamed, the Cztery Lapy monthly and Klub Gaja.

lek. wet. Sylwia Prochowska
dr Michał Dzięcioł