Age-dependent baseline values of faecal cortisol metabolites in the American mink (Neovison vison) under semi-natural housing conditions.

The welfare of an animal is ensured if it is able to fully satisfy its essential species-typical needs in all functional aspects of behaviour. In mink, stereotypies and apathy, internal and/or external injuries as well as increased susceptibility to disease have been known to occur as a result of chronic stress. The non-invasive method of analysing faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) allows conclusions to be drawn about the stress level in the respective housing system. The objective of this study is to find out how the cortisol metabolites content in the faecal changes with increasing age of the mink under semi-natural housing conditions. Thus, 40 American mink (Neovison vison) were housed in two outdoor enclosures imitating natural conditions. Throughout the entire study (13th to 32nd week of life), faecal samples were collected to measure cortisol metabolites. No differences in FCM concentrations between the two outdoor enclosures were found. In the young mink lower, less fluctuating FCM levels were found than in older animals. After the first faecal collection in the 13th/14th week of life, the level of metabolites decreased slightly (p = 0.032; 17th/18th week). From the 22nd/23rd week onwards until the 30th/31st week, shortly before the animals were pelted, continuously increasing concentrations were then measured. Increasing FCM levels with advancing age of the animals are probably attributable to the onset of sexual maturity and/or the respective season. This has to be taken into account in future studies using this method for assessing welfare and when comparing different mink housing systems.

Prevalence and severity of foot pad alterations in German turkey poults during the early rearing phase.

In the previously performed field study from 2007 to 2009, it became evident that foot pad alterations were already commonly found in turkeys at the age of 6 wk. At this early age, 45% of the clinically examined birds were diagnosed with epithelial necrosis. Therefore, it became important to specifically analyze the situation during the early rearing phase. The present study reflects the prevalence and severity of foot pad alterations of turkey poults up to the age of 35 d (5 wk), starting as early as the age of 3 d. From 24 turkey farms throughout Germany, in general 5,531 turkeys [3,131 male and 2,400 female] of the British United Turkeys 6 strain from 46 flocks, were examined to that effect. Prevalence and severity increased within the duration of stay in the stable, and the prevalence was higher (P < 0.001) during the second visit between d 22 to 35 (factor: 0.94). Therefore, 27.3% (d 3 to 5; male/female: 39.1/25.0%) and 63.3% (d 22 to 35: 61.3/65.7%) of the examined poults had alterations of the foot pads, such as hyperkeratosis (d 3 to 5: 20.4/14.2%; d 22 to 35: 17.6/17.1%), high-grade hyperkeratosis with adhesive dirt (d 3 to 5: 8.7/10.7%; d 22 to 35: 29.2/39.3%), and epithelial necrosis (d 3 to 5: 0.1/0.1%; d 22 to 35: 14.6/9.3%). Female poults showed a higher risk (P < 0.001) of developing food pad alterations (factor: 0.76) than male poults. Male poults developed a higher percentage of epithelial necrosis than hens shortly before relocation. A higher stocking density during the very early rearing phase (d 3 to 5) led to a worse foot pad health status (P < 0.001). Because even mild alterations in the foot pad condition can be indicators for suboptimal design of the rearing environment and are to be seen as a pre-state for severe cases of foot pad dermatitis, it is important to set the main focus on the early rearing phase.

Changes in hoof health and animal hygiene in a dairy herd after covering concrete slatted floor with slatted rubber mats: a case study.

The objective was to investigate the effect of changing the flooring in the alleys of a barn from slatted concrete to slatted rubber mats on hoof disorders and animal hygiene in 44 loose-housed Brown Swiss dairy cows. Cows were examined for disorders of the hind hooves (hemorrhages, white line fissures, ulcers, heel horn erosion, and digital dermatitis) and for skin lesions. The dirtiness of the animals and of the floor was recorded. Climatic (temperature, humidity) and ammonia gas conditions were measured. Evaluations were carried out when the cows were housed on a concrete slatted floor and after 4 and 10 mo on soft flooring (slatted rubber mats, 29-mm thick). The anatomical portion of claw (medial, lateral), number of lactations (parity), and days in milk were included as covariates in the statistical model. Changing the flooring from slatted concrete to slatted rubber mats increased the score for white line fissures [1.0 ± 0.3 (concrete) vs. 2.5 ± 0.4 (10 mo rubber mats)] and influenced air humidity (i.e., the difference in the absolute humidity between the inside and outside of the barn increased from 1.5 ± 0.1 to 1.7 ± 0.2g/m(3)), whereas the other hoof disorders, skin lesions (score of 8.7 ± 0.3), the dirtiness of the animals (score of 5.9 ± 0.3), and the floor (score of 2.1 ± 0.1), and ammonia gas concentration (2.6 ± 0.3mg/kg) were not affected (overall scores or measures; mean ± SE). Lateral claws were more affected (except for heel horn erosion) than medial claws (estimated effects between 1.3 ± 0.2 and 3.0 ± 0.6). Parity influenced hoof disorders (except for hemorrhages) and skin lesions (estimated effects between -0.6 ± 0.3 and 0.5 ± 0.2). Days in milk influenced hoof disorders, but had no effect on skin lesions and on the dirtiness of the animal. Irrespective of floor type, the slots (2.6 ± 0.1) were dirtier than the slats (1.6 ± 0.1). In conclusion, covering slatted concrete flooring with slatted rubber mats partially impaired hoof health but did not influence skin lesions or the dirtiness of the cows or the floor. Similar results were found for climatic conditions, as ammonia gas concentration was not affected, but absolute humidity increased in the barn when rubber mats were present.

Investigation of the prevalence and severity of foot pad dermatitis at the slaughterhouse in fattening turkeys reared in organic production systems in Germany.

The present study shows the prevalence and severity of foot pad dermatitis (FPD) in turkeys reared in organic production systems assessed at slaughterhouses in Germany. The investigations of altogether 1,860 turkeys of the strains Kelly Broad Breasted Bronze (Kelly BBB; 540 toms, 540 hens) and British United Turkeys (B.U.T.) 6 and the Test Product 7 (TP 7; 780 hens) showed that 97.7% of the examined turkeys were diagnosed with different degrees of FPD. Only 4.6% of the toms and 1.3% of the hens had feet without lesions. Most frequent were necrotic lesions measuring up to 2 cm in diameter (64.3% of all turkeys). Extensive necrotic lesions of the foot pads (toms: 29.8%; hens: 12.4%) and necrosis of superficial scales (toms: 11.3%; hens: 7.6%) were less frequent. Plantar abscesses were rare findings (1.9%). In general, the feet of the Kelly BBB hens were more affected by foot pad lesions than those of the Kelly BBB toms. There were significant differences between the investigated flocks concerning the occurrence of foot pad lesions. The aim in rearing turkeys must be the reduction of FPD.

What happens with cow behavior when replacing concrete slatted floor by rubber coating: a case study.

An enhanced productive life cycle and improved animal welfare are aims pursued in dairy husbandry. This study assesses experimental observations on floor-associated behavior during the stepwise replacement of concrete slatted flooring by rubber mats. For this purpose, estrus (mounting) and hygiene behavior (licking while standing on 3 legs and caudal licking) within a herd of 50 loose-housed Brown Swiss dairy cows were analyzed by video observation before and after floor reconstruction. Still photographs and pedometers were used to asses step length and number of steps, representing walking behavior. Compared with the concrete floor surface, rubber coating led to an increase in step length (58 +/- 1 vs. 70 +/- 1 cm; n = 35) and in steps per day (4,226 +/- 450 vs. 5,611 +/- 495; mean +/- SEM; n = 9). Mounting was higher on the flooring covered with rubber mats (23 vs. 112). Collapsing or slipping during mounting only occurred on concrete slatted flooring (in 19 out of 23 mounting actions). Licking while standing on 3 legs and caudal licking increased up to 4-fold (105 vs. 511 observations). In conclusion, improvements were found in behavior when rubber-coated slatted floor surfaces were used in dairy cattle housing in transition from concrete flooring. Disorders in estrus and hygiene behavior were associated with the flooring of the barn and were relatively easy to investigate within the framework of farm welfare assessments.

Evaluation of welfare parameters in laying hens on the basis of a Bavarian survey.

Health issues like infestation with poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) and behavioral problems such as feather pecking and cannibalism are reported as current problems on laying hen farms. However, the epidemiological prevalence of these issues in Bavaria, Germany, is not known. The objective of the present survey was to determine the epidemiological prevalence of health and behavioral parameters and the management of hen farms in practice. The survey was sent to all laying hen farmers with more than 1,000 hens in Bavaria, Germany, and contained questions regarding flock management, behavior problems and health issues. The response rate was 40.8% and surveys were answered regarding 293 individual flocks on 147 farms. Three-quarters (77.6%) of the respondents housed their hens under conventional conditions. Farming system had an influence (P ≤ 0.05) on several management measures and the hens' behavior. An infestation of the flocks with poultry red mite was stated in 65.7%, whereby a relationship existed with the farming system (P = 0.001) and the provision of an additional dust bath (P ≤ 0.001). The occurrence of feather pecking (18.5%) was related with the farming system (P = 0.001), the presence of roosters (P = 0.034), the locking of laying hens into the aviary (P = 0.006), not allowing access to the entire litter space after housing (P = 0.044) and nervous (P = 0.002) or chasing behavior (P ≤ 0.001) of laying hens. Similarly, cannibalism (15.0%) was related with locking hens into the aviary system (P ≤ 0.001) and not allowing access to the entire litter space (P = 0.026). According to these results, farmers should avoid locking the hens into the aviary or not allowing access to the entire litter space, because these measures relate to nervous behavior that may result in feather pecking or cannibalism. The provision of an additional dust bath is one of the management measures that can positively influence hens' health and behavior.

[Water supply for Peking ducks--possible alternatives for bathing]. / Wasserversorgung von Pekingenten--Badeersatzmöglichkeiten.

In order to investigate possible advantages of open water drinkers such as troughs and bells in the intensive husbandry of ducks, we evaluated in this study the effect of open water systems on the behavior and health of peking ducks. In this investigation six fattening trials each with 1152 Cherry Valley Peking ducks were analyzed. The average fattening period was 47 to 49 days. The ducks were kept on straw in six standardized compartments each 32 qm with 192 ducks. 25% of the compartment with perforated grid, with one of the tested water systems. In contrast to pens with nipple-drinkers only, the ducks in pens with open water troughs/showers had the opportunity to exhibit their natural drinking behavior and water associated activities in accordance with the animal welfare requirements. In the free-choice pens the open water systems were significantly preferred, and over a 24-hour period the ducks in watering areas with open water troughs showed higher activity. Limiting the access to the open water systems to eight, four or two hours per day led to an increased use per time unit. Ducks with access to nipple drinkers only showed a significantly higher percentage of plugged up nostrils than animals from pens with open water drinkers. Open water drinkers had also a positive impact on the plumage condition.

Dust-bathing behavior of laying hens in enriched colony housing systems and an aviary system.

The dust-bathing behavior of Lohmann Selected Leghorn hens was compared in 4 enriched colony housing systems and in an aviary system. The enriched colony housing systems differed especially in the alignment and division of the functional areas dust bath, nest, and perches. Forty-eight-hour video recordings were performed at 3 time-points during the laying period, and focal animal sampling and behavior sampling methods were used to analyze the dust-bathing behavior. Focal animal data included the relative fractions of dust-bathing hens overall, of hens bathing in the dust-bath area, and of those bathing on the wire floor throughout the day. Behavior data included the number of dust-bathing bouts within a predefined time range, the duration of 1 bout, the number of and reasons for interruptions, and the number of and reasons for the termination of dust-bathing bouts. Results showed that the average duration of dust bathing varied between the 4 enriched colony housing systems compared with the aviary system. The duration of dust-bathing bouts was shorter than reported under natural conditions. A positive correlation between dust-bathing activity and size of the dust-bath area was observed. Frequently, dust baths were interrupted and terminated by disturbing influences such as pecking by other hens. This was especially observed in the enriched colony housing systems. In none of the observed systems, neither in the enriched colony housing nor in the aviary system, were all of the observed dust baths terminated "normally." Dust bathing behavior on the wire mesh rather than in the provided dust-bath area generally was observed at different frequencies in all enriched colony housing systems during all observation periods, but never in the aviary system. The size and design of the dust-bath area influenced the prevalence of dust-bathing behavior in that small and subdivided dust-bath areas reduced the number of dust-bathing bouts but increased the incidence of sham dust bathing on the wire mesh.

[Animal welfare aspects regarding the raising of breeding ostriches in Germany]. / Tierschutzaspekte bei der Haltung von Zuchtstraussen in Deutschland.

The commercial housing of African Ostriches in Germany for the breed and meat production still represents a disputed topic under the criterion of the animal's welfare. Above all critics state that the frequently wet-cold weather in Germany impairs the well-being and health of the animals. So far however there are just a few scientifically documented data about requirements for housing conditions of ostriches in Central Europe and thus hardly answers whether housing in Germany is possible under the criteria of the animal's welfare. This study tried to evaluate ostrich housing under South German climatic conditions (Rhine level), on the basis of behavioral observations of breeding ostriches. The use of the stable and the influence of different climatic parameters on the behavior were considered. In addition the behavior of 18 adult animals in 5 breeding groups from January to December 2002 was observed. Parallel various climatic data were raised. The housing of the animals took place in open stables with unrestricted pasture possibility. The ostriches reacted in their behavior to different climatic conditions. Particularly at cold weather and adverse soil conditions they used the open stable increasingly as weather protection. In addition, with increased wind velocities the animals spent more time in the stables. The daily amount of precipitation showed no influence on the frequency or duration of the stable use. Rainfall did not animate the animals to look for protection within the stable, but more to set itself on the ground in the external enclosure. The locomotion activity of the animals was strongly in dependence to the reproduction time and the territorial behavior and therefore highest in spring. On cold days the animals performed their reproduction behavior mainly in the stable. For the comfort behaviour distinct weather dependence was seen particularly for sand bathing. Warm temperatures and dry sand were the preconditions for it. Regarding the results it seems, that with the conditions existing on the examined farm, housing of ostriches under respect of animal welfare in Germany is possible. New regulations are to be demanded, adjusted to the newest level of knowledge about ostrich husbandry, with requirements for care, support, accommodation and nutrition of the animals as well as about the qualification of the owners. An occasional hobby animal husbandry limited to few single ostriches is to be rejected. Further scientific investigations at other farms, possibly also under variable climatic conditions are however necessary.

Chicken egg antibodies for immunohistochemical labeling of growth hormone and prolactin in bovine pituitary gland.

We describe the production of polyclonal chicken antibodies specific for bovine growth hormone (bGH) and prolactin (PRL). Antibodies were generated by immunization of laying hens with recombinant bGH (rbGH), pituitary derived bGH (pbGH), and ovine PRL (oPRL). After the lipoprotein fraction was removed by dextran sulfate precipitation the antibodies were isolated from the egg yolks by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Immunization with rbGH and oPRL generated large amounts of specific antibodies, as revealed by ELISA and Western blot analysis. Antibodies against pbGH showed pronounced crossreactions with oPRL. The antibodies against rbGH and oPRL were well suited for sensitive and specific labeling of the GH- and PRL-synthesizing cells in bovine pituitary glands by immunohistochemistry. In addition, a quick and sensitive procedure for demonstration of both bGH- and PRL-synthesizing cells in a single paraffin section by double immunohistochemistry is presented. The chicken anti-bGH antibodies showed excellent results in combination with rabbit anti-PRL antibodies. The main advantage of avian antibodies in double immunostaining methods is the lack of crossreactions between avian antibodies and mammalian immunoglobulins and receptors which bind to the crystalline fragment of mammalian immunoglobulins (Fc receptors).

Isolation of immunogenic and lethal peptides of alpha-toxin from Clostridium novyi type B.

The lethal alpha-toxin was isolated from the culture filtrate of Clostridium novyi type B using ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. The alpha-toxin has a mol. wt of 190,000 and does not contain any disulfide cross-linkages. It consists of a single polypeptide chain. The peptide fragments resulting from the cyanogen-bromide cleavage were isolated using reversed phase and gel filtration HPLC. The immunogenic actions of these peptides and peptide mixtures were studied in Balb/c mice. Three polyclonal antisera recognizing the uncleaved native toxin could be found using an ELISA test (Br3, Bro2, Bro5). One peptide mixture (Tx5), which was proved lethal in shell-less quail eggs (in vitro), was rechromatographed with gel filtration HPLC that resulted in one peptide with mol. wt 3000 (Txleth), which again proved lethal in the shell-less quail egg lethality test. The immunogenic peptides differ from the lethal one, therefore we assumed different locations on the polypeptide chain. The separation of the immunogenic, non-toxic fragment from the lethal one may allow the production of a highly specific non-toxic vaccine. By using synthetically produced immunogenic peptides, time-consuming purification methods and working with the whole toxin will become unnecessary.

Development of specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent antibody assay systems for the detection of chicken immunoglobulins G, M, and A using monoclonal antibodies.

The aim of the present study was the development of a sensitive and specific ELISA system for the quantitative and qualitative assay of chicken Ig Isotypes G, M, and A using monoclonal antibodies. Five hybridoma cell lines were developed that synthesized specific antibodies against chicken IgG and three lines each producing specific antibodies against IgM or IgA. Using an immunodiffusion test, the subclasses were determined. Isolation of monoclonal antibodies from ascites was carried out by way of affinity chromatography with protein G sepharose. The purity of the eluates were determined by both SDS-PAGE and HPLC. A Sandwich ELISA was found to be the most suitable technique for the assay. Specificity testing was carried out by Western blotting. An epitope analysis was also carried out. By variation of the single steps concerning incubation times, quantities, and concentrations of the substances to be applied, the whole procedure was optimized. Assay limits for individual Ig isotypes were determined. The limits were 20 ng/mL for IgG, 80 ng/mL for IgM, and 160 ng/mL for IgA.

Adjuvant effects of various lipopeptides and interferon-gamma on the humoral immune response of chickens.

The adjuvant effects of various lipopeptides and recombinant chicken interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) on the humoral immune response of laying hens was investigated in four immunization studies. We used the lipopeptide Pam3Cys-Ser-(Lys)4 (PCSL), the conjugate P-Th1 consisting of the lipopeptide P3CS and the T-helper epitope Th1 (FISEAIIHVLHSRHPG), and the conjugate P-Th2 of the lipopeptide P3CSS and the T-helper epitope Th2, which corresponds to the peptide EWEFVNTPPLV, as adjuvants. Human serum albumin (HSA), recombinant bovine somatotropin (RBST), and human immunoglobulin G (IgG) served as antigens in the different experiments. All tested adjuvants enhanced the humoral immune response with various intensities. Chickens showed high antibody titers after the immunization with HSA even without adjuvant, but the adjuvant effects of PCSL and the combination of PCSL and recombinant chicken interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were much more pronounced using the antigens RBST and IgG. Especially after the third immunization, higher titers of antibodies were induced by the coadministration of P-Th1 and, to a greater extent, by the combination of PCSL and P-Th1 compared with the use of PCSL. Also, chickens that had received PCSL and P-Th2 showed the highest immune response, even after the second booster. The average concentrations of chicken immunoglobulin Y were significantly higher in 5-mo-old chickens (9.4 mg/mL serum and 10.1 mg/mL egg yolk) compared with 9-mo-old chickens (5.9 mg/mL serum and 5.1 mg/mL egg yolk). The specific serum antibody response was higher in the older chickens than in the younger chickens. Because chicken antibodies are likely to be used increasingly for diagnostic and therapy in the future, lipopeptides and recombinant chicken IFN-gamma may find many applications as adjuvants, thus contributing to the welfare of experimental animals.

Evaluation of various immunisation procedures in laying hens to induce high amounts of specific egg yolk antibodies.

The present study, involving 972 laying hens divided into 162 groups (n = 6), was aimed at the development of an immunisation protocol for laying hens to produce specific egg yolk antibodies. Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbst), Escherichia coli pilus antigen K88 (K88), human serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were used as antigens, each at four different doses (rbst, K88, LDL : 1µg, 10µg, 100µg, 1mg ; IgG : 0.5µg, 5µg, 50µg, 0.5mg). Three subcutaneous or intramuscular immunisations were performed at intervals of four weeks. The adjuvant used was either the lipopeptide Pam3Cys-Ser-(Lys)4 (PCSL) or Freund ` s incomplete adjuvant (FIA), in two different doses (PCSL: 0.1 and 0.25mg ; FIA: 0.1 and 0.25ml). In the four antigen control groups, hens were immunised without any adjuvant. In two negative control groups, only physiological saline was injected. The mean egg weight and egg yield were not influenced by the immunisation procedures. An antigen dose of 10-100g per injection was sufficient to induce high specific antibody titres in the egg yolk. The adjuvant efficacy of PCSL and FIA was proved to be the same (p < 0.05 versus antigen control). With PCSL as adjuvant, some groups showed a tendency to produce even higher specific antibody titres than did FIA groups. A second booster often caused a further significant increase in the amounts of specific antibodies, especially with PCSL. Subcutaneous administration of the antigen together with 250µg PCSL, resulted in a significantly higher immune response than when FIA was used.

The humoral immune response and the productivity of laying hens kept on the ground or in cages.

The effects of two different keeping systems on the humoral immune response and productivity were compared for 80 laying hens, divided into four groups. Two groups each of 20 hens were kept on the ground and two were kept in cages. All the birds were immunised subcutaneously with human serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) at a dose of 100(microg per injection. The immunisations were performed twice at 4-week intervals. The lipopeptide Pam(3)Cys-Ser-(Lys)(4) was used as an adjuvant at a dose of 0.25mg per injection in one group from each housing system. In the second group from each housing system, the hens were immunised without any adjuvant (antigen control groups). The mean egg yield was significantly higher in both the antigen control group and the adjuvant group, when laying hens were kept in cages. Total egg weight remained constant in both of the housing systems. Keeping hens in cages resulted in higher mean specific antibody titres and mean immunoglobulin Y concentrations in the egg yolk.

[Inappropriately rough play behaviour and predatory attacks against people by a tomcat. A case report]. / Unangemessen grobes Spielverhalten und jagdliche Attacken eines Katers gegenüber Menschen. Ein Fallbericht.

The owner of a 6-months-old tomcat came to seek help because the cat had attacked her face on a near-daily basis. Through a detailed behavioural history, the cat's behaviour was diagnosed as human-directed predatory attack behaviour, play-related aggression and reduced motor as well as emotional self-control. Within a few weeks, behavioural therapy produced a significant improvement. After 5 months of therapy, the cat showed neither predatory attacks nor inappropriately rough or aggressive behaviour in play towards its owner or other humans.

[Postcolostral immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in newborn piglets using three different ELISA detection systems]. / Untersuchungen zur postkolostralen Immun-globulin-G-Versorgung neugeborener Saugferkel mittels unterschiedlicher ELISA-Nachweissysteme.

UNLABELLED: Objective of the study was to evaluate whether the Colostrum Quality Counter (CQC), a new test method for immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in newborn piglets, is easy to handle and provides comparable results to established testing regimes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood samples from 219 piglets from four different farms were tested for their IgG-concentrations using three different ELISA tests. Furthermore, double samples from 30 piglets were taken from both the anterior vena cava and from the tail to determine whether the collection site affects the results. The three tests used were the Colostrum Quality Counter (CQC; FarmulaONE, NL-Best), the internal IgG-ELISA from our laboratory (MUC) and a commercially-available IgG-ELISA (NAT; NatuTec, Frankfurt/Main, Germany). RESULTS: MUC and NAT showed a higher correlation to each other than to the CQC when referring to the individual results per single piglet. The results from the CQC were higher and the standard deviation was significantly greater. The sampling site had no significant effect on the IgG concentrations measured. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The CQC is a straightforward and simple test, being very convenient for sampling a large number of piglets. CQC results were inhomogeneous with some unusually high IgG-concentrations. MUC and NAT provided comparable results to one another and the IgG-concentrations showed a good correlation.

[Behaviour therapy in the practice management of a veterinary practice. Survey among practicing veterinarians and veterinarians specializing in behaviour therapy]. / Verhaltenstherapie im Praxismanagement einer Tierarztpraxis. Befragung praktischer und auf Verhaltenstherapie spezialisierter Tierärzte.

OBJECTIVE: of the study was to investigate whether behaviour therapy may be an economic niche within practice management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was used to analyze to what extent veterinarians have already applied behaviour therapy (BT) and how they evaluate economic efficiency and patient owners' attitude. The descriptive analysis included the data from 312 practicing veterinarians (167 randomly selected, interviewed and 145 signed on for training sessions, veterinarians) and of 23 veterinarians specialized in BT. RESULTS: Two-thirds (67% of n=288) of the practicing veterinarians offered BT in their practices. The economic efficiency of BT was evaluated as positive by 64% (of n=281) of the practicing veterinarians and by 83% (of n=23) of specialists. 32% (of n = 146) of practitioners who offered behavioural therapy confirmed an increase in sales through the application of BT. Among the specialists, 84% (of n=19) confirmed this experience. In comparison to the specialists and literature data, most of the practicing veterinarians spent insufficient time (61% of n=180) for a behaviour consultation. Furthermore, most of them (86% of n=162) charged less for BT than the amounts fixed by the German Payment Regulations (Gebührenordnung für Tierärzte), as compared to the specialists. CONCLUSION: The specialized veterinarians offered, in contrast to most practitioners, a consultation of BT with sufficiently calculated time and accurate payment planning to realise a therapeutic and commercial outcome. Therefore, the assessment of the economic efficiency of BT and their sales increase through BT were better than the estimation of the practicing veterinarians. Behaviour therapy cannot be managed by providing advice free of charge or charging less. Veterinarians have to become aware that BT is a veterinary area of specialization for which an adequate qualification is necessary. If the veterinarian is not specialized in BT he should refer to a qualified colleague.