Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
1975
Abstract
Disruptions of an animal's social behaviour can, in some respects at least, mimic the effects of such classical stressors as infection and exposure to low temperatures. For example, Barnett (1958) found enlarged adrenals among wild rats which were subjected to attack by other rats in the laboratory. However, the experience of being attacked was not necessary for this physiological response, as the aggressors showed much the same changes as the victims. In fact Archer (1969) reported heightened adrenocortical activity among individually caged mice simply as a result of their being housed next to other mice, without actual physical contact. If adrenocortical activity is increased by social interaction, it seems reasonable that it should be reduced by solitary confinement. Up to a point this appears to be true for male mice (Brain & Nowell, 1970), but prolonged social isolation, lasting a month or more, may have the opposite effect (Sigg et al., 1966).
Recommended Citation
Wood-Gush, D.G.M., et al. (1975). Social stress and welfare problems in agricultural animals. In ESE Hafez (Ed.), Behaviour of Domestic Animals, Baillière Tindall, London: pp. 182-200.
Included in
Agribusiness Commons, Animal Studies Commons, Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons
Comments
In compliance with the publisher’s copyright and archiving policies, this is a post-print version of the document. Post-print materials contain the same content as their final edited versions, but are not formatted according to the layout of the published book or journal.