Don’t play with your food: Differences in group feeding behaviours of feed efficient and inefficient Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Applied Animal Behaviour Science Pub Date : 2025-03-05 DOI:10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106589

Jordan E. Elvy , Jane E. Symonds , Zoë Hilton , Seumas P. Walker , Louis A. Tremblay , Paula Casanovas , Neill A. Herbert

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Production costs in finfish aquaculture can be reduced by improving feed conversion ratio (FCR, the ratio of feed intake to weight gain) but to improve FCR it is important to understand what influences it. As feed intake is one of the two main variables of FCR, analysing feeding behaviours of individuals during meals could explain differences in energy expenditure that influences individual FCR variation in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The aim of this study was to assess the influence of feeding behaviour on FCR. Feeding behaviours exhibited by feed efficient (FCR_E), and inefficient (FCR_I) Chinook salmon fed to satiation were characterised using video imaging across three separate meals, each a week apart. To quantify behaviour a scoring criterion was developed based on turning angles, distance travelled, acceptance/rejection of pellets, consumption/spitting of pellets as well as the time taken to make those decisions. Feeding behaviour was found to be consistent within the same group of individuals over a three-week period. FCR_I fish exerted more effort during feeding, by carrying out more turns (P < 0.001) and covering more distance (P < 0.001) despite feed intake not differing to that of FCR_E fish (P > 0.05). In addition, FCR_I fish spat out more pellets rather than ingesting them (P = 0.02), thus further increasing their energy expenditure. These behaviours were recorded in fish fed to satiation as this is consistent with on-farm practices and it is hypothesised that this feeding practice allows for increased energy expenditure in FCR_I fish, in particular spitting behaviours, which reduces feed efficiency.

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来源期刊

Applied Animal Behaviour Science 农林科学-行为科学

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

21.70%

发文量

191

审稿时长

18.1 weeks

期刊介绍： This journal publishes relevant information on the behaviour of domesticated and utilized animals. Topics covered include: -Behaviour of farm, zoo and laboratory animals in relation to animal management and welfare -Behaviour of companion animals in relation to behavioural problems, for example, in relation to the training of dogs for different purposes, in relation to behavioural problems -Studies of the behaviour of wild animals when these studies are relevant from an applied perspective, for example in relation to wildlife management, pest management or nature conservation -Methodological studies within relevant fields The principal subjects are farm, companion and laboratory animals, including, of course, poultry. The journal also deals with the following animal subjects: -Those involved in any farming system, e.g. deer, rabbits and fur-bearing animals -Those in ANY form of confinement, e.g. zoos, safari parks and other forms of display -Feral animals, and any animal species which impinge on farming operations, e.g. as causes of loss or damage -Species used for hunting, recreation etc. may also be considered as acceptable subjects in some instances -Laboratory animals, if the material relates to their behavioural requirements