Lima, A.F.; Lima, S.G.C.; Nogueira-Filho, S.L.G.; Held, S.D.E.; Mendl, M.; Nogueira, S.S.C. Object Play as a Positive Emotional State Indicator for Farmed Spotted Paca (Cuniculus paca). Animals2024, 14, 78.
Lima, A.F.; Lima, S.G.C.; Nogueira-Filho, S.L.G.; Held, S.D.E.; Mendl, M.; Nogueira, S.S.C. Object Play as a Positive Emotional State Indicator for Farmed Spotted Paca (Cuniculus paca). Animals 2024, 14, 78.
Lima, A.F.; Lima, S.G.C.; Nogueira-Filho, S.L.G.; Held, S.D.E.; Mendl, M.; Nogueira, S.S.C. Object Play as a Positive Emotional State Indicator for Farmed Spotted Paca (Cuniculus paca). Animals2024, 14, 78.
Lima, A.F.; Lima, S.G.C.; Nogueira-Filho, S.L.G.; Held, S.D.E.; Mendl, M.; Nogueira, S.S.C. Object Play as a Positive Emotional State Indicator for Farmed Spotted Paca (Cuniculus paca). Animals 2024, 14, 78.
Abstract
We aimed to assess whether play behavior can be used as a welfare indicator for farmed spotted pacas (Cuniculus paca) by examining its association with other positive welfare markers including affiliative behavior and low-amplitude vocalizations. We submitted six groups of spotted pacas (one male/two females per group) (N=18) to an ABA experimental design (A1/A2: without ball; B: with three boomer balls). Play behavior occurred only during phase B (mean=35.5s, SE=6.4). Spotted pacas spent more time in affiliative and exploratory behaviors, while they spent less time engaging in agonistic interactions during phase B than in both control phases (A1 and A2) (P<0.05). Moreover, spotted pacas emitted more low-amplitude bark vocalizations during phase B than during either control phase (P<0.05), which have previously been shown to indicate a positive affective state and low arousal level. Because the expression of play was associated with a decrease in aggression, an increase in affiliative behavior, and an increase in low-amplitude barking, indicating thus a positive state, we suggest that play behavior can be used as a non-invasive indicator of positive welfare in this species.
Biology and Life Sciences, Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Zoology
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