Applied Animal Behaviour Science最新文献

{"title":"Dietary enrichment and feed preferences of threatened goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) in captivity","authors":"Adil Uztemur ,&nbsp;Abdülkadir Orman ,&nbsp;Çağdaş Kara ,&nbsp;Torsten Wronski","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106454","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arid-adapted ungulates species, such as gazelles, have faced tremendous population declines in recent decades. Numerous breeding stations were established across Asia and the Middle East to facilitate the captive breeding of endangered gazelle species. We intended to improve the feed quality of goitered gazelle (<em>Gazella subguttorosa</em>) in captivity at the Kızılkuyu Gazelle Breeding Station in Şanlıurfa Province in southern Turkey. In a feed choice experiment, five different types of supplementary feed were offered to the gazelles (black barley, white barley, forage wheat, white barley flake and a combination of black barley and white barley flake). Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the amount of feed types consumed. The mixture of black barley and white barley flake was the most preferred feed type. Black barley alone was the least preferred feed type, while white barley flake was the second most consumed feed, suggesting that white barley flake was particularly attractive to the gazelles. However, nutrient content analysis revealed no significant difference between feed types. When feed consumption was examined between sampling days, a significant difference was unravelled between day 1, 2, 8 and day 3–7. Results were discussed with respect to improving the gastro-intestinal health of captive gazelles, which is imperative when choosing suitable individuals for reintroduction, which should be in good physical condition to increase the chances for survival in the wild.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106454"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142745698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circadian modulation of behavioural stress indicators varies between diurnal and nocturnal fish species","authors":"Santiago Pintos ,&nbsp;Gonzalo De Alba ,&nbsp;Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato ,&nbsp;Francelly Geralda Campos ,&nbsp;Francisco Javier Sánchez-Vázquez ,&nbsp;Cristiano Bertolucci ,&nbsp;Luisa María Vera","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the wild, most animals experience daily fluctuations in threats and resources that are synchronised with environmental time cues such as the light-dark cycle. Consequently, animals have evolved daily behavioural patterns (i.e., diurnal or nocturnal) that enhance their fitness by, for example, reducing the temporal overlapping with predators. In fish, previous studies revealed stronger physiological stress responses during the resting period of the species. However, little is known about the circadian modulation of stress indicators and how they are influenced by daily behavioural patterns. In this research, we investigated the behavioural stress responses of two farmed fish species with different activity patterns: the diurnal Nile tilapia (<em>Oreochromis niloticus)</em> and the nocturnal tench (<em>Tinca tinca)</em>. To this end, we examined the behavioural response of individuals exposed to the diving test every 4 h over a 24 h cycle (n = 12 fish/species/time point). Results indicated that most behavioural indicators varied according to the time of day, aligning with the daily rhythmic pattern of the two species. Tilapia exhibited stronger stress responses to novelty during the dark phase, while tench displayed higher stress during the light phase. This was supported by stress-related behaviours such as freezing and erratic movements (in both tilapia and tench) and bottom-dwelling (in tench only). These results indicated that stress responses peaked during the resting phase of each species, although behavioural indicators exhibiting this daily variation did not completely coincide between the studied species. Overall, these findings suggest interspecific differences in the daily modulation of behavioural stress indicators in farmed fish, an effect with potential relevance for welfare. Understanding the activity rhythmic patterns, resting periods, and associated daily variation in stress for each fish species of interest can precisely help tailor farming procedures to minimise suffering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106458"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142756668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enjoy the silence: Preference and short-term effect of exposure to different acoustical stimuli in dogs","authors":"Cécile Guérineau,&nbsp;Miina Lõoke,&nbsp;Anna Broseghini,&nbsp;Paolo Mongillo,&nbsp;Lieta Marinelli","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106452","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106452","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Prior research has demonstrated that animal vocalizations and music can elicit emotional responses in dogs, but their preferences for different acoustic stimuli remain underexplored. This study aimed to develop a methodology to assess dogs’ preferences and behavioral reactions to various acoustic stimuli and examine the role of familiarity in shaping these responses. In the first experiment, 90 pet dogs were exposed to one of six types of sound stimuli: conspecific agonistic vocalizations, conspecific vocalizations recorded in positive contexts, classical music, relaxing music, dog-directed speech, and neutral background noise. The setup involved a room virtually divided into two areas, in which the dog could freely move. Sounds were turned on or off, depending on which of the two zones the dog was in, thereby giving subjects the possibility to choose whether to be exposed to the sound or not. Preferences were determined by relative amount of time spent in the sound versus quiet zone and behaviors were analyzed for emotional indicators. Dogs actively avoided agonistic vocalizations exhibiting increased attention-seeking behaviors toward their owners. No distinct preferences or aversions emerged for the other stimuli, although conspecific vocalizations in positive contexts and dog-directed speech elicited dogs’ attention. Both types of music resulted in lower attention towards the sound compared to the neutral condition. In Experiment 2, the same procedure was used with 20 dogs, half of whom were routinely exposed to classical music at home, to test whether familiarity with classical music affected behavioral responses and preferences. Although no significant behavioral changes or preferences for classical music were observed, dogs with prior exposure spent twice as much time in the sound zone compared to those without, suggesting enhanced likability due to familiarity. These dogs also exhibited more relaxed behaviors, indicating that familiarity may influence emotional responses.</div><div>Overall, the study introduces a novel approach for evaluating dogs' preferences for acoustic stimuli. It revealed that none of the stimuli allegedly inducing positive emotions led to a clear preference. However, behavioral data suggest that familiarity can enhance the likability of specific sounds. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into how different soundscapes influence dogs' emotions and behavior over time, and whether dogs may inherently prefer silence. Moreover, the results underscore the importance of carefully considering acoustic enrichment strategies, particularly the role of familiarization in shaping dogs' responses to their auditory environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106452"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142723912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The influence of scented toy enrichment on owned dog activity levels in a household setting","authors":"Rituparna Sonowal,&nbsp;Alissa Cisneros,&nbsp;Nathaniel J. Hall,&nbsp;Anastasia C. Stellato","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106451","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106451","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental enrichment with toys can improve the physical and mental well-being of dogs. Despite dogs’ keen sense of smell, there is little known on how providing scented toys influences owned dog behavior. We investigated whether providing scented toys would influence activity levels (dog activity, toy movement, and play) in owned dogs. Experiment 1 assessed owned dog preference (N=30) between scented (beef, chicken, peanut butter, sausage), and non-scented Playology® plush toys using multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) test over 4-days, and measured engagement through ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers over a 72-hour period. Experiment 2 assessed the influence of familiar or novel scented toys on the physical activity and engagement of dogs (N=33), using three equal sized treatment groups: scented familiar (their preferred scented toy from Experiment 1), scented novel (peanut butter scent), and non-scented. Results suggest that MSWO did not predict in-home toy engagement. Dogs did show higher play levels for their most engaging scented toy compared to the non-scented toy, but the specific preferred scent varied by individual dog. Overall activity and play declined with age. In Experiment 2, a habituation effect was observed for dogs in the scented familiar group, as toy movement levels reduced when their preferred scented toy was reintroduced (p = 0.006). While no single scent was preferred across all dogs, individual preference for specific scents increased activity levels, suggesting that personalized enrichment can enhance welfare. Tailoring enrichment practices to individual dog preferences can optimize engagement, while considering the potential impact of habituation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106451"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142705342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the effect of counterconditioning to reduce neophobic response in horses (Equus ferus Caballus)","authors":"Francisca Droguett ,&nbsp;Gonzalo Miguez ,&nbsp;Vanetza E. Quezada-Scholz ,&nbsp;Tamara Tadich ,&nbsp;Mario A. Laborda","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106453","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106453","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Horses may exhibit evasive and flight behaviors to novel situations. These reactive behaviors threaten the safety of horses, owners, handlers, and riders. Poor handling of these reactions also negatively impacts the animal's behavior and, consequently, its well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a counterconditioning technique to reduce fear responses in horses through a brief exposure procedure. It was conducted with 20 naive horses (16 females and 4 males) of Quarter Horse and Chilean Creole breeds. A pre-post design with experimental and control groups was used. Two training sessions of seven minutes each were conducted, applying counterconditioning in the experimental group and measuring Partial and Total Exposure responses to the fear-inducing situation, Resistance to Handling, Exploratory Behavior Towards Frightening Situation, Exploratory Behavior Towards Handler, and Heart Rate. Mixed ANOVAs were used to analyze the effects of counterconditioning on each dependent variable. The experimental group showed significantly lower resistance to handling compared to the control group (<em>F</em>(1,18) = 5.89, <em>p</em> = 0.02), with a reduction in fear-related reactions (mean decrease of 20 %, SD = 5.6). Additionally, exploratory behavior towards the handler increased significantly in the experimental group (<em>F</em>(1,18) = 6.34, <em>p</em> = 0.019), suggesting a shift in focus from the fear-inducing stimulus to the handler. Heart rate differences were not statistically significant (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05). These results suggest that counterconditioning can reduce resistance and promote positive human-animal interactions during exposure to fear-inducing stimuli. These findings show that counterconditioning operates as an active technique, manifesting effects exclusively when implemented. It also serves as an effective strategy for enhancing a horse’s exposure to novel or fear-inducing situations. The change in behavioral reaction can be attributed to a process of re-evaluative learning, in which horses shift their focus towards the positive stimuli provided by humans, reducing the prior negative association with fear-inducing situations. Reducing resistance behaviors and guiding the horse's attention toward the favorable aspects of human interaction holds significant importance for ensuring safe exposure and reinforcing the bond between humans and animals. An alternative approach explores appetitive stimulation as a reinforcer for coping, exposure, and collaborative behavior, influencing motivation and bonding. Ultimately, preliminary findings suggest that the appetitive technique positively impacts proximity to humans, indicating the potential for a secure horse-handler relationship. Further research is needed to assess this technique's long-term effects and nuances on the human-animal bond within the context of horses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106453"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142705259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Field evaluation of cat fur and TMT odours as repellents of commensal rodents in poultry farms","authors":"Gabriela S. Hillar,&nbsp;Vanina A. León,&nbsp;María Busch,&nbsp;Dana Esquenazi,&nbsp;Jimena Fraschina","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106450","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106450","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Behavioural responses of prey to predation can be used as a management tool in breeding systems where rodents cause economic losses and pose a health risk for humans and domestic animals. In this work we assessed the effect of cat fur and TMT odours on food consumption and activity of rodents in poultry farms of the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina<strong>.</strong> The study was conducted in 8 poultry farms that are devoted to breeding broiler chickens. At each farm we randomly selected three sheds, which were assigned to TMT, cat fur odour or control treatments. Odours were applied on a 5 ×5 cm piece of cloth that was either placed inside feeders or over footprint tracking tiles. Food consumption was measured in each shed at 20 stations with 10 g of wheat seeds, while rodent activity was measured in 10 footprints tracking tiles. Both feeders and footprint tracking tiles were placed outside sheds along walls. Food consumption and activity were assessed 2, 4 and 6 days after the application of treatments. The odour of cat fur caused a reduction in food consumption by rodents, but there was not a significant effect on activity. We did not detect an effect of TMT neither on food consumption, nor in activity. We conclude that cat fur has the potential to be used as repellent for commensal rodents in field conditions. However, its application for large-scale rodent control requires the development of a product that incorporates the active substance responsible for the aversion effect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106450"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142705338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"More inattentive dogs benefit from repetitive but not permissive training","authors":"Tímea Kovács ,&nbsp;Vivien Reicher ,&nbsp;Barbara Csibra ,&nbsp;Márta Gácsi","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106449","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106449","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dogs’ learning performance is influenced by various factors, including training style and post-learning sleep. Family dogs naturally display a large variation in their inattention and impulsivity, traits that can affect both their behaviour and learning outcomes. In this study, we conducted a complementary analysis on the dataset from Reicher et al. (2024) to investigate the effect of dogs' inattention and impulsivity on their behaviour and learning performance. We also revealed to what extent the dogs’ training level, and the owner’s strictness influence the results. Family dogs (N=25) were trained under both Permissive and Controlling conditions in a counterbalanced within-subject design. Each training session was followed by a learning performance test, a two-hour sleep session, and a post-sleep retest. Owner-rated inattention and impulsivity scores were retained from a validated questionnaire (DAFRS). More impulsive dogs tended to learn slightly faster, regardless of the training condition. Dogs with higher inattention scores performed better during the pre-sleep test on the second training occasion (regardless of the condition) and in the post-sleep retest under the Controlling condition. In the Permissive condition, less inattentive dogs showed greater performance improvement from pre- to post-sleep. Furthermore, dogs with stricter owners performed better in the retest, regardless of the training condition, while the dogs’ training level did not affect their performance. Our results revealed complex interactions between training style, training order, sleep, and dogs’ impulsivity and inattention. Some advantages of more impulsive and inattentive dogs may be less surprising considering our typical dog sample, not including individuals with extremely high inattention or impulsivity scores. Although dogs performed better on the first training occasion (Reicher et al., 2024), more inattentive dogs seemed to be less affected by proactive interference (prior learned information impeding subsequent learning within a similar context) on the second session, and they appeared to benefit from a Controlling training style and the repetitive nature of the training procedure. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of different training styles depends on individual dog traits, such as inattentiveness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106449"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142705341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of training of Saanen goats for the first milking on behavior, milk yield, and milk quality traits","authors":"Mayara Andrioli ,&nbsp;Joseph K. Grajales-Cedeño ,&nbsp;João Alberto Negrão ,&nbsp;Mateus J.R. Paranhos da Costa","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to assess the effects of prepartum milking training of primiparous goats on behavior, plasma cortisol concentration, and milk yield and quality traits. Thirty-one primiparous Saanen goats were assigned into two treatments: CT = milking-trained (n = 16) and ST = not milking-trained (n = 15) goats. Milking training consisted of the handler entering the pen where the goats were and walking calmly among them for 20 minutes/day for seven days, and then driving the goats to the milking parlor, positioning them in the stanchion, and gently touching their ribs, legs, and udders for five minutes for seven days. Behavioral assessments were carried out measuring the latency that each goat took to get close to a known person (voluntary approach = LC) and the flight distance (FD) before training (BT), just after training (AT), at the beginning (between days five and seven, d5–7) and 30 days of lactation (d30). Milking reactivity was assessed by recording the step-kick (SK) and head, ear and tail movement (MOV) scores. Plasma cortisol concentrations (PCC) were measured after milking. All measurements were recorded at 5–7 (d5–7), 30 (d30), and 60 (d60) days of lactation, defining the assessment days. The number of animals that required restraint during milking was also recorded. Milk yield was recorded daily throughout the 120 days of the lactation period, and milk quality traits (dry matter, density, fat, protein, lactose, minerals, acidity, SCC, Staphylococcus and total bacterial count - TBC) at d5–7, d30, d60, d90, and d120. The goats’ reactivity decreased throughout lactation. CT goats showed a lower LC on d30 than before training. PCC showed higher values on d60 than prepartum. At the beginning of lactation, 73 % of ST goats were restrained for milking, while for CT goats, 45 %. Milk yield was highest in the period from 8 to 90 days of lactation and 0.5 kg/day higher (although not significant) in CT than in ST. Milk quality traits showed significant differences between assessment days, except for TBC and <em>Staphylococcus</em> counts. In conclusion, the training protocol did not significantly impact goats' reactivity during milking, PCC, and milk quality traits. However, there was a tendency to increase milk yield and reduce the number of animals restrained during milking.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106444"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142658185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Visitor impacts on social dynamics and space use in captive Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in a naturalistic zoo exhibit: A new methodological approach","authors":"Hugo Leroy ,&nbsp;Calogero Montedoro ,&nbsp;Jean-Pascal Guery ,&nbsp;Thierry Hance","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106433","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106433","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The welfare of zoo animals has come under increasing scrutiny, yet the effects of visitors on captive species, particularly in relation to environmental factors and individual variability, remain insufficiently studied. This study introduces a novel methodology to assess how visitors influence the social and spatial dynamics of Western lowland gorillas (<em>Gorilla gorilla gorilla</em>) in naturalistic enclosures. We conducted daily observation sessions to track the positioning of gorillas relative to one another and their environment. Key visitor-related factors such as mere presence, density, movement and activity along two independent paths, adjacent to the enclosure were recorded and related to the gorillas' spatial distribution. Two indices – the Retreat Index (RI) and the Exposure Tolerance Index (ETI) – were developed to quantify each individual’s tendency to retreat from exposed areas or tolerate visitor observation. For the first time, Ripley's functions were employed to assess changes in distribution patterns among individuals in response to visitor presence. Our results show that visitor pressure significantly reduces inter-individual distances, a trend further amplified by environmental factors such as wind, temperature, and humidity. Among visitor-related variables, movement of new visitors, rather than mere presence or crowd size, was the primary factor triggering behavioural changes. Social network analysis revealed increased interactions, particularly between females and their offspring, along with enhanced comfort and resting behaviours in the presence of visitors. Additionally, we observed a dichotomy in the gorillas' behavioural response, with less pronounced reactions in areas where visitors were less visible. Ripley's functions identified substantial aggregation of gorillas in visitor-influenced scenarios, in contrast to a near-random distribution when visitors were absent. This pilot study establishes a foundation for developing a comprehensive methodology, applicable across various zoo settings, to evaluate the impact of visitor-induced disturbances on gorillas, offering fresh insights into the welfare of captive animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106433"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142705343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring baseline behaviour in group-housed, pre-weaned dairy calves","authors":"Sarah E. McPherson ,&nbsp;Laura E. Webb ,&nbsp;Marie C. McFadden ,&nbsp;Anna Flynn ,&nbsp;Eddie A.M. Bokkers ,&nbsp;Emer Kennedy","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106446","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106446","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With increasing public concern for farm animal welfare, understanding their current welfare status is paramount. Animal welfare can be inferred from their behaviour, as behaviour represents the combination of internal and external cues. The aims of this study were to quantify a behavioural baseline for group-housed, pre-weaned dairy calves that were reared under conventional management conditions, and to determine how different internal (i.e. age) and external (i.e. temperature) factors affected this behaviour. Female dairy calves (n=47) were allocated to 1 of 3 pens based on birth date and reared under conventional Irish management conditions; after 3–4 d in individual pens, calves were moved into group pens where they had <em>ad libitum</em> access to water, concentrates, and forage (first barley straw, then hay). Milk replacer (6 L/d) was fed through an automatic milk feeder; calves were gradually weaned from day 42–84. A 24 h period/week of video recording was used for behaviour scoring for 8 consecutive weeks (scan sampling at 10-min intervals). Behaviours included posture (lying or standing) and activity (17 behaviours). Calves were scored for clinical health twice weekly and only healthy calves were used in the analysis (n=39). Behaviour proportions were analysed using generalised linear mixed models. Proportion of time spent lying decreased as calves aged (week 1 vs. 9; percentage mean ± standard deviation; 79.8 ± 4.04 vs. 72.1 ± 6.52 %; P=0.004), while time spent ruminating (2.0 ± 2.51 vs. 14.1 ± 8.72 %; P&lt;0.001), eating bedding (0.8 ± 1.16 vs. 6.1 ± 4.66 %; P&lt;0.001), eating forage (0.9 ± 1.20 vs. 1.8 ± 1.81 %; P=0.007), and eating concentrates (0.5 ± 1.15 vs. 2.2 ± 1.72 %; P=0.018) increased with age. On days when the minimum shed temperature was &lt;4°C compared to &gt;6°C, calves spent more time lying (75.9 ± 5.27 vs. 72.3 ± 5.78 %; P&lt;0.001) and less time eating concentrates (0.8 ± 1.11 vs. 1.4 ± 1.49 %; P=0.035), eating forage (0.8 ± 0.91 vs. 1.5 ± 1.57 %; P=0.005), eating bedding (2.7 ± 2.87 vs. 4.0 ± 4.78 %; P=0.003), and walking (1.5 ± 1.20 vs. 2.0 ± 1.40 %; P=0.017), independent of age. These findings provide a normal behaviour baseline for future calf behaviour studies and highlight potential areas of improvement in current, conventional calf rearing practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106446"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142658703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}