Scottish Animal Welfare Commission: welfare of isolated populations of feral animals - report

8. Glossary

Term / Definition

Adaptation

In biology, adaptation describes the ability of an animal to function and survive in an environment. This is considered as an evolutionary process, whereby natural selection ensures ‘fitness’ for an environment of a species and individuals within the species. In genetics this occurs through changes in allele frequencies (alternative forms of the same gene that can occur at the same place in the chromosome).

Animal welfare

The physical and mental state of an individual as it experiences and engages with its environment (SAWC definition).

Autonomy

In animals sometimes also called ‘agency’ – the state of being able to be self-regulating, free to make choices and to live largely independent of human constraints.

Body condition

A term referring to the amount of muscle and fat coverage of an animal. An animal in low body condition will have less muscle and fat and therefore fewer reserves compared to an animal described in good condition. In farmed sheep this is typically scored by palpation of the spinous and transverse processes of the vertebrae over the loin area and assigning a score from 0 to 5.

Castration

De-sexing of male animals usually by removal of the testes and scrotum, although male animals can be rendered infertile by other methods. For example, other permanent methods of infertility include short scrotum castration (or cryptorchidism), where the testes are retained in the abdominal cavity and only the scrotum is removed. The heat of the animal’s body prevents the development of sperm and thus the animal is incapable of leaving offspring. Non-permanent methods of castration include use of antibodies, which can target hormones in the reproductive pathways of male animals and prevent the maturation and development of the testes (immunocastration).

Cleitan

Stone storage structures built by the former St Kildan community from piled stones (no mortar) and turf roofs. These remain as a defining feature of the landscape of the islands.

Closed season

A period of the year for some species when taking or killing of the species is not permitted. This typically coincides with late pregnancy, birth and the dependency period of young animals who may be left to die if their mothers are killed.

Darting

A remote method to deliver a sedative or anaesthetic to help in the capture of an unhandled animal. A syringe is fired from a dart gun and on impact with the animal compressed air or an internal charge pushes the plunger to deliver the drug. Dosages need to be calculated based on the size, weight and stress level of the animal, and effects can take a few minutes to occur so need to be delivered in a place where the animal can be safely sedated.

Dis-budding

The removal of the horn buds in neonatal goat kids usually within the first 7 days of life by cautery with hot irons to prevent the growth of horns as the animal ages. In the UK this must be done by a veterinary surgeon and involves the use of local anaesthics and analgesics. The skull in goat kids is very thin and there is a risk of causing damage to underlying structures if this is not carried out by highly skilled operators.

Domestication

A process whereby one species (humans) takes over control and care for another (e.g., small ruminants) for many generations. This allows humans to control and select breeding of animals for traits deemed important to humans, as well as providing food, shelter, protection from predation and veterinary treatment. Domestication can lead to marked changes in species morphology (appearance) and may lead to changes in behaviour (usually the threshold when a behaviour is elicited or the intensity of expression of a behaviour).

Faecal egg counts (FEC)

A measure of the parasitic worm burden in an animal as assessed by evaluating the number of parasite eggs present per gramme of faeces. A number of different parasite species can usually be identified and, in managed animals, FECs can be used to plan treatments to reduce parasite numbers.

Feral

Animals that were once under human control and can be considered to have been domesticated at some point in their evolution, but are now living without human intervention like a wild animal.

Feralisation

The reverse of domestication, where a species escapes (or is deliberately released) from human control and adapts to living in the wild, often undergoing natural selection to redevelop survival skills (e.g., changes in morphology and changes in behavioural frequencies). Feralised animals differ from strays as they have typically been born in a wild state and are not socialised with humans.

Functionally-wild

Animals that may have once been domesticated, but live as if they are wild animals – showing similar behaviours and environmental adaptations to wild species of the same genus.

Heft

Social pattern observed in sheep and goats (both wild and domestic), where animals show a fidelity to a particular area of land or home range. In farming a ‘heft’ is considered to be both the area of land and the animals on it.

Hider

Goats adopt a form of maternal care called ‘hiding’, where the offspring are hidden in the first few days or weeks of life whilst the doe moves away to feed, returning to feed the newborn kid at intervals. During this period goat kids show a behaviour called ‘lying out’, where they remain still and flat to the ground to avoid detection by possible predators in the area. Some species may also have immature scent glands at this stage. Over time goat kids move to a ‘following’ strategy. Sheep show ‘follower’ maternal care from birth, where the ewe and lamb maintain a close contact immediately and the lamb accompanies the ewe into the social group, typically remaining close behind her in the first few days and weeks of life. Hiding is shown by goats, cattle and deer, whereas following is seen in sheep, wildebeest and some other ungulate species.

Invasive species

An intentionally or accidentally introduced non-native species (often brought by human activity), which harms the new environment. This may be through ecological, environmental or economic damage.

Kidding

The term to denote birth of goat offspring, which is usually seasonal in both small ruminant species (lambing in sheep)

Monogastric

An organism, such as humans, pigs or dogs, with a single stomach, where digestion takes place using acids and enzymes rather than a multi-step microbial fermentation as occurs in ruminants.

Naturalised

A similar term to feralisation, which describes the change from a domestic state back to a functionally wild state. This term can sometimes also mean an animal that has been introduced from another country becoming widespread as a wild species (e.g., rabbits).

Parasitism

Parasitism is where one organism lives on or within the body of another and benefits from that association although the host organism does not benefit or may experience harm. In small ruminants these can be external (e.g., mites, lice) or internal (gut worms). In this report we are primarily concerned with internal, gastrointestinal parasites (nematodes are common worm species in small ruminants in the UK) – all grazing animals become infected with worms in their lifetime to some extent. Over time, they may develop a degree of protective immunity to these parasites, although this does require the animal to use protein sources and energy to maintain this immune response.

Re-wilding

A form of ecological restoration of a landscape that aims at increasing biodiversity and restoring natural processes. For some animals this can involve a process of deliberate feralisation, where animals are placed into an ecosystem and managed with minimal human intervention.

Rut

The annual and seasonal period when male sheep and goats (also seen in other species which breed seasonally such as deer) show intense reproductive behaviours. Can be used to describe the behaviours of males (typically) and the breeding season.

Sexual dimorphism

Distinct differences in the appearance of males and females of the same species. This can be very marked in some species (e.g., birds), but in small ruminants can mean differences in growth of horns, ‘ruffs’ or longer hair around the neck in males, size and muscularity.

Small ruminant

Umbrella term to cover ruminants that are not cattle – typically in farmed populations this refers to sheep and goats. Ruminants are grazing or browsing herbivores that maximise nutrition by microorganisms in specialised parts of the digestive system (foregut fermentation) requiring rechewing of materials (rumination or chewing the cud).

Starvation

An extreme form of malnutrition where there is a severe deficiency in caloric energy intake that prevents an organism maintaining its basic functions. The body makes use of its own reserves of fat and proteins (muscle) until these are depleted and then critical organs begin to fail.

Weaning

The period when a mother and her offspring separate or the young animal is no longer dependent on the mother for its survival. In mammals, this involves the young animal no longer requiring milk for nutrition and a process of psychological separation, where the young forms new relationships and social contacts.