F B Rossi, C Simian, R Fonseca, M C Bosch, R H Marin, L Barberis, J M Kembro
{"title":"Potential of accelerometer tags for monitoring of Japanese quail (<i>Coturnix japonica</i>) reproductive behaviour.","authors":"F B Rossi, C Simian, R Fonseca, M C Bosch, R H Marin, L Barberis, J M Kembro","doi":"10.1080/00071668.2024.2399600","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>1. Monitoring behavioural dynamics in complex animal environments, such as poultry breeding facilities, poses a challenge. Utilising technological approaches, such as accelerometers, offers a solution to assess long-term changes in reproductive activity at an individual bird level. Specifically, these sensors measure acceleration associated with the position and movements of the body over time. However, it is important to assess the most suitable method for attaching accelerometer tags to ensure they do not negatively impact behaviour and yield high-quality data.2. The potential of tri-axial accelerometer tags for assessing reproductive behaviour in Japanese quail was evaluated. Two attachment methods - a backpack (plastic platform with elastic bands near wing bases) and a patch (accelerometer on fabric glued to the synsacrum region) - were compared. Controls were handled similarly but without tags. Eighteen pairs of females were housed in pens and assessed immediately and 24 h after handling. After a week of habituation, a male from the same treatment group was introduced into each pen on d 8. The reproductive behaviour of the males was recorded using accelerometers and video recordings.3. The results showed that birds with patches were able to remove their conspecific's accelerometer and displayed an increased initial immobility response compared to the control and backpack groups. The presence of accelerometer tags did not impact male/female reproductive interactions nor fear responses to a novel object. From accelerometer recordings, male reproductive behaviour was easily identified as high amplitude fluctuations in the three axial components of the acceleration vectors, which was reflected as large values of dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA).4. In conclusion, the use of backpacks with accelerometers is a useful strategy to address highly relevant and difficult to tackle behavioural topics such as the temporal dynamic of male reproductive behaviour within breeding groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":9322,"journal":{"name":"British Poultry Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"British Poultry Science","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2024.2399600","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
1. Monitoring behavioural dynamics in complex animal environments, such as poultry breeding facilities, poses a challenge. Utilising technological approaches, such as accelerometers, offers a solution to assess long-term changes in reproductive activity at an individual bird level. Specifically, these sensors measure acceleration associated with the position and movements of the body over time. However, it is important to assess the most suitable method for attaching accelerometer tags to ensure they do not negatively impact behaviour and yield high-quality data.2. The potential of tri-axial accelerometer tags for assessing reproductive behaviour in Japanese quail was evaluated. Two attachment methods - a backpack (plastic platform with elastic bands near wing bases) and a patch (accelerometer on fabric glued to the synsacrum region) - were compared. Controls were handled similarly but without tags. Eighteen pairs of females were housed in pens and assessed immediately and 24 h after handling. After a week of habituation, a male from the same treatment group was introduced into each pen on d 8. The reproductive behaviour of the males was recorded using accelerometers and video recordings.3. The results showed that birds with patches were able to remove their conspecific's accelerometer and displayed an increased initial immobility response compared to the control and backpack groups. The presence of accelerometer tags did not impact male/female reproductive interactions nor fear responses to a novel object. From accelerometer recordings, male reproductive behaviour was easily identified as high amplitude fluctuations in the three axial components of the acceleration vectors, which was reflected as large values of dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA).4. In conclusion, the use of backpacks with accelerometers is a useful strategy to address highly relevant and difficult to tackle behavioural topics such as the temporal dynamic of male reproductive behaviour within breeding groups.
期刊介绍:
From its first volume in 1960, British Poultry Science has been a leading international journal for poultry scientists and advisers to the poultry industry throughout the world. Over 60% of the independently refereed papers published originate outside the UK. Most typically they report the results of biological studies with an experimental approach which either make an original contribution to fundamental science or are of obvious application to the industry. Subjects which are covered include: anatomy, embryology, biochemistry, biophysics, physiology, reproduction and genetics, behaviour, microbiology, endocrinology, nutrition, environmental science, food science, feeding stuffs and feeding, management and housing welfare, breeding, hatching, poultry meat and egg yields and quality.Papers that adopt a modelling approach or describe the scientific background to new equipment or apparatus directly relevant to the industry are also published. The journal also features rapid publication of Short Communications. Summaries of papers presented at the Spring Meeting of the UK Branch of the WPSA are published in British Poultry Abstracts .