Dataset for: Pharmacological validation of an attention bias test for conventional broiler chickens

Fear and anxiety are considered concerns for animal welfare as they are associated with negative affective states. This study aimed to pharmacologically validate an attention bias test (ABT) for broiler chickens as a cognitive bias test to determine anxiety. Control birds were 45 s faster to begin feeding than anxiogenic birds. Birds from the control group vocalized 40 s later and stepped 57 s later than birds from the anxiogenic group. The occurrence of vigilance behaviors did not differ between treatments. This study successfully validated an attention bias test for fast-growing broiler chickens, testing three birds simultaneously. Our findings showed that latencies to begin feeding, first vocalization, and first step were valid measures to quantify anxiety.

恐惧与焦虑被视为动物福利的关切因素，因其与消极情感状态相关。本研究旨在通过药理学验证一种针对肉鸡的注意力偏差测试（ABT），作为认知偏差测试以确定焦虑水平。对照组鸡开始进食的速度比促焦虑鸡快45秒。对照组鸡发声时间晚于促焦虑组鸡40秒，首次迈步时间晚于促焦虑组鸡57秒。两种处理方式下的警觉行为发生频率无显著差异。本研究成功验证了一种针对快速生长肉鸡的注意力偏差测试，能够同时测试三只鸡。我们的研究发现，开始进食的潜伏期、首次发声和首次迈步是量化焦虑的有效指标。