Exploring sleep in farmed ungulates: A scoping review protocol.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Animal Behavior
• Animal Welfare Science

Background:

• Sleep is vital for animal health, behavior, and mental states, yet research in farmed ungulates remains limited.
• Existing research on sleep in farmed animals is growing, highlighting its potential impact on overall welfare.
• Understanding sleep patterns is essential for assessing and enhancing the well-being of livestock.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map existing research on sleep in farmed ungulates.
• To examine the implications of sleep research for animal welfare in livestock.
• To identify critical knowledge gaps for future research directions in ungulate sleep.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review protocol following PRISMA-P guidelines.
• Systematic literature search across three databases: CAB Abstracts, PubMed, and Scopus.
• Screening of articles using Covidence software, including studies measuring sleep in farmed ungulate species.

Main Results:

• A descriptive synthesis of published sleep studies in farmed ungulates will be presented.
• Analysis will include publication timelines, species studied, and methodologies for sleep estimation.
• The relationship between sleep and animal welfare outcomes will be explored.

Conclusions:

• This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of sleep research in farmed ungulates.
• Findings will highlight areas where further investigation is needed to improve livestock welfare through sleep management.
• The study aims to guide future research by identifying key knowledge gaps and welfare implications.