Validation and efficacy of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites as indicators of animal welfare
Grantee: Miriam Zemanova
Institution: University of Fribourg, Animalfree Research, Switzerland, Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics, United Kingdom
Grant amount: $28,500
Grant type: Small grants
Disciplines: Physiology, animal welfare science
Research location: Switzerland, United Kingdom
Project summary
One of the central components of the stress response is the production of glucocorticoids (GC). The measurement of glucocorticoid levels in blood serum is therefore often used in animal welfare studies. However, it is not always apparent how valuable these measurements are for understanding stress reactions and their relationship to animal welfare. Moreover, blood sampling causes discomfort and is impossible without restraint or immobilization, which can be harmful to the animal and distort the experimental results. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) may be a suitable non-invasive alternative to blood analysis. While there have been several reviews written on fecal glucocorticoids, no systematic review of their validity as an animal welfare indicator is currently available. Therefore, through a systematic review process, this project seeks to provide an evidence base for the efficacy of non-invasive measurement of stress levels in wild animals using fecal glucocorticoids. Evidence will be compiled from studies that have assessed the correlation between fecal glucocorticoids and at least one other credible animal welfare indicator or factor that may be assumed to lead to impaired welfare. The project also aims to compare the performances of blood and fecal samples to assess stress levels.
Why we funded this project
This study will review the evidence base for the validity and efficacy of non-invasively obtained glucocorticoid measurements and identify both challenges and best practices for working with fecal samples across multiple animal taxa. This is important because WAI is supporting multiple projects utilizing FGM as a physiological welfare indicator. Invasive measurements of stress, such as blood-based GCs, are disadvantageous because, without proper strategy and training, the stress induced by the sampling procedure can influence the measurement. Therefore, non-invasive measurement techniques are not only better for the animals, but may make the science less expensive and more reliable. Another reason we are supporting this study is that it will help to address a general need for better validation of the link between glucocorticoids and animal welfare, which is related to but conceptually distinct from physiological stress.
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