Applied Animal Behaviour Science最新文献

{"title":"Entering the unique world of your research: the art of writing a good Introduction","authors":"Péter Pongrácz, Irene Camerlink","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106531","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106531","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"283 ","pages":"Article 106531"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143377051","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":"Light spectrum and intensity preferences of fast- and slower-growing broilers vary by age, behaviour and time of day","authors":"Malou van der Sluis ,&nbsp;Jerine A.J. van der Eijk ,&nbsp;Tomas Izquierdo Garcia-Faria ,&nbsp;Dennis E. te Beest ,&nbsp;Maaike Wolthuis-Fillerup ,&nbsp;Ingrid C. de Jong","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106532","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106532","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Light is an important management factor in broiler production. However, our knowledge of broiler preferences for different lighting conditions is limited, especially regarding changes in preference with age, across breeds with different growth rates and for different behaviours. Here we investigated preferences of fast- (Ross 308; <strong>R</strong>) and slower-growing (Hubbard JA757; <strong>H</strong>) broilers for a combination of light spectra (sky blue (<strong>S</strong>) and green (<strong>G</strong>) light) and intensities (15 and 100 lux), examining over time 1) where broilers chose to spend most time, 2) what behaviours were performed, and 3) the feed intake of the birds. A choice test setup was applied, where broilers were housed in replicate pens with four compartments that they could freely move between, with the four light conditions (15S, 15G, 100S and 100G) provided in the separate compartments. The birds’ locations were scored every five minutes, two days a week, using an automated computer vision approach. Behaviour was observed through instantaneous scan sampling at five ages per breed and feed intake was recorded per compartment approximately every week. It was observed that broilers initially spent most of the daytime in bright, G light (week 1), before a preference for bright, S light came up (weeks 2–3 for R broilers, week 2 for H broilers) and then no clear preference was visible for weeks 4–6 for R and 3–6 for H broilers. For H broilers, a preference for low intensity light was shown in weeks 7–8 with no clear preference for G or S light. We observed differences in the proportions of behaviours shown in the light treatments, with more inactive behaviour in dimmer and S light conditions and more active behaviours in brighter and/or G light conditions. Furthermore, there was an initial higher feed intake in 100G for R birds, and a higher feed intake in 100S than in 15S later on. For H birds, there was a higher feed intake at 15 lux than at 100 lux (for both spectra) at the end of the production period. Overall, the outcomes of this study highlight that broiler preferences for specific light conditions differ between breeds, ages and for different behaviours. These outcomes can inform the development of functional lighting programs for fast- and slower-growing broilers and suggest that providing broilers with variation in light conditions in space and time may better suit the birds’ behavioural needs and preferences, hereby potentially improving broiler welfare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"283 ","pages":"Article 106532"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143163286","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":"Impact of feeding a high fibre diet and roughage on motivation for feeding in fast-growing broiler breeder pullets","authors":"Kaitlin E. Wurtz ,&nbsp;Karen Thodberg,&nbsp;Marleen Elise van der Heide,&nbsp;Anja B. Riber","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106529","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106529","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alternative feeding methods for broiler breeders, such as qualitative feed restriction in the form of diluting the diet with a fibre source, have been proposed to help alleviate chronic hunger associated with feed restriction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a fibre-rich diet containing oat-hulls and a daily allocation of roughage (EXP) versus a standard commercial diet (CON) on motivation for feeding in fast-growing broiler breeder pullets. Day-old female Ross 308 breeder chicks (N = 600) were randomly allocated to 12 pens of 50 birds each, with each pen receiving one of the two dietary treatments. Motivation for feeding was assessed by measuring feeding rate and frustration associated with thwarted feeding at 8 and 17 weeks of age. Appetitive foraging motivation was assessed at 12 weeks of age. In week 8, CON birds tended to consume feed faster than EXP birds (<em>P</em> = 0.0672). When assessing frustration associated with thwarted feeding in week 8, EXP birds performed longer durations of locomotion (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001) and tended to perform more behavioural transitions than CON birds (<em>P</em> = 0.0659), and CON birds tended to peck at the trough for longer than EXP birds (<em>P</em> = 0.0857). In week 17, there was a tendency for CON birds to consume more feed than the EXP birds during the feed intake motivation test (<em>P</em> = 0.0651). During the appetitive foraging motivation test, dietary treatment did not affect latency to cross, number of crossings, probability of failing to cross, or number of inspections into the litter compartment. CON birds spent a greater proportion of time foraging (<em>P</em> = 0.0351) and tended to spend a lesser proportion of time engaged in locomotion (<em>P</em> = 0.0955) than EXP birds when in the litter compartment. In summary, results from our study show that feeding a diet high in insoluble fibre and supplemented with roughage appears to result in some reduction in the motivation to feed during rearing compared to feeding a standard commercial diet. However, as caloric intake remained similar between the two diets, there likely was no difference in metabolic hunger between the two treatments. Therefore, further modifications to management and breeding are necessary to address the concern of prolonged hunger.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"283 ","pages":"Article 106529"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143162385","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 a combination of feed dilution and roughage on home pen behaviour in Ross 308 broiler breeder cockerels","authors":"Guro Vasdal ,&nbsp;Kathe E. Kittelsen ,&nbsp;Ingrid C. de Jong ,&nbsp;Fernanda M. Tahamtani","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106514","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106514","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Restricted feeding during the rearing phase is an ongoing welfare challenge in the broiler breeder industry, and there is especially a knowledge gap regarding potential effects of alternative feeding strategies for broiler breeder cockerels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a qualitative feed restriction using diluted feed with insoluble fibres combined with roughage on the home pen behaviour of broiler breeder cockerels. A total of 200 Ross 308 broiler breeder cockerels were housed in 12 pens (6 pens/treatment), 17 birds/pen from 5 to 10 weeks of age. The treatments were standard feed (Control) and feed diluted with 20 % insoluble oat hulls and 150 g of lucerne roughage daily/pen (D+R). The D+R birds received 20 % more feed per day. Observation of home pen behaviours were performed in week 6, 8 and 10 during three different periods of the day relative to feeding time: 1 h prior to feeding, 1 h during feeding and 4 h after feeding. There were no differences between treatments with regards to time spent standing, foraging, locomotion, oral behaviours or aggression. Differences between treatments with regards to drinking and comfort behaviour were found, but the direction of these effects were not consistent across age or time of day. In conclusion, limited effects of diluted feed on home pen behaviour in Ross 308 broiler breeder cockerels were found.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"283 ","pages":"Article 106514"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143163277","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":"The difference in roaming behavior between owned and unowned dogs in a satoyama landscape area","authors":"Tsung-Han Kuo ,&nbsp;Gau-Ming Chang ,&nbsp;Pin-Huan Yu ,&nbsp;Wei-Hsuan Chen ,&nbsp;Shih-Ching Yen","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106521","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106521","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The One Health approach aims to achieve the joint health of humans, animals, and the environment, which will contribute to human survival and ecosystem sustainability. One of the major threats to One Health is free-roaming dogs, including owned unrestricted dogs and unowned dogs, which are common in many areas of the world and can potentially transmit diseases to humans and wildlife. Studying their roaming behavior can help evaluate the epidemic patterns of dog-caused infectious diseases. However, previous studies on roaming behavior have focused mainly on owned dogs. In this study, we aimed to examine and compare the roaming patterns of both owned and unowned dogs. We hypothesized that unowned dogs, which have no stable food sources and home to rely on, will exhibit greater roaming behavior than will owned dogs. By using a global positioning system (GPS) tracking technique, a total of 12 owned dogs and 10 unowned dogs were tracked during 2019–2021 in Yangmingshan, Taiwan, which is a satoyama landscape area. Generalized linear model analyses suggested that the most important factor influencing roaming behavior was ownership status, with unowned dogs having a 742 % larger home range size (163.3 ± 135.3 ha versus 22.0 ± 23.5 ha; mean ± SD), 867 % larger core area size (5.2 ± 5.5 ha versus 0.6 ± 0.4 ha), 5800 % farther distance from artificial environments (58 m versus 1 m; median), and a 529 % higher proportion using natural environments (68.3 ± 16.0 % versus 12.9 ± 8.8 %) than owned dogs. We found no detectable effect of sex, sterilization status, or weight. In addition, unowned dogs were closer to roads and artificial environments on weekends than on weekdays, probably due to human activities attracting them, while owned dogs did not show temporal variation in space use<strong>.</strong> Our results clearly suggest that dogs' roaming behavior is mainly affected by human factors. The range of roaming for unowned dogs was wider and more in-depth in natural environments than that for owned dogs, potentially posing greater risks to public health and wildlife conservation. Decreasing the number of unowned dogs and improving responsible ownership would be the primary management objectives in satoyama landscapes to achieve the One Health goal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"283 ","pages":"Article 106521"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143163278","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":"“Decoding ambiguity”: Asian elephants’ (Elephas maximus) use previous experiences and sensory information to make decisions regarding ambiguity","authors":"Sagarika Phalke ,&nbsp;Cécile Sarabian ,&nbsp;Alice C. Hughes ,&nbsp;Hannah S. Mumby","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106525","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106525","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Animals rely on sensory information from the environment to make optimal decisions. However, animals are often faced with incomplete or ambiguous information. Some species use sensory information and previous experiences to generate expectations about ambiguity. To test this, we used a cognitive bias test experimentally modified for Asian elephants (<em>Elephas maximus</em>) to investigate how they respond to ambiguous cues after positive (rewarded) and negative (unrewarded) experiences. We manipulated the degree of ambiguity by associating the spatial position and colour of the cues to either previously experienced positive or negative experiences. We demonstrate that elephants use previous experiences, and the valence (affective value) attached to those experiences to make decisions regarding ambiguity. Elephants show a positive bias by opening the ambiguous positive box three times as often and twice as quickly compared to the negative cue. Conversely, they are less likely to open and slower to respond to the ambiguous negative cue. These results are consistent with responses of farm animals and captive wild mammals when faced with unconditioned ambiguous cues with perceptual overlaps. Our findings indicate that when making decisions under ambiguity, animals rely on cognitive and sensory mechanisms. A greater understanding of decision-making mechanisms could aid in understanding animals' responses to their immediate environment with potential implications for conservation and welfare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"283 ","pages":"Article 106525"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143162381","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":"Refinement of personality measures in European minks: Effect of sex, age and maternal factors","authors":"Lorena Ortiz-Jiménez ,&nbsp;Gloria Fernández-Lázaro ,&nbsp;Roberto Latorre ,&nbsp;Isabel Barja","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106520","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106520","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The incorporation of animal personality has been proven to enhance animal welfare and conservation programs. However, there is a need of refinement of its methodology and more research on its plasticity. We investigated European mink personality at a Spanish conservation center using behavioral coding (control and novel object tests) and caregiver trait ratings (questionnaires). Mink behavior was assessed through individual focal sampling with 1–0 time recording and using four novel objects. We examined differences by age, sex, and maternal lineage or litter effects. Findings showed good interrater reliability for seven of nine adjectives and significant correlations with behavioral measures, validating the method. More aggressive minks were generally more active, exited the nest box sooner, and approached and manipulated novel objects more quickly. Minks showed particular interest in one object (a red frisbee), indicating the need for careful consideration of object characteristics. Sex and age impacted personality traits. Males approached and manipulated novel objects sooner and more frequently than females. Adults exited the nest box sooner, exhibited greater locomotion, and approached and manipulated novel objects sooner and longer than subadults. Females were rated as more intelligent than males, adults more intelligent than subadults, with adult females scoring highest for intelligence. Results suggest potential maternal and litter effects on personality, emphasizing the need for further research. Overall, we detected some areas to further explore and give some suggestions to enhance the application of personality research into conservation programs of this critically endangered species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"283 ","pages":"Article 106520"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143163276","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":"","authors":"Dodi Siregar,&nbsp;Yohanes Nambut,&nbsp;Venansius Jerahu,&nbsp;Meysin Anjliany","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106518","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106518","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"283 ","pages":"Article 106518"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143163274","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":"Assessing the circadian rhythm of cats living in a group using accelerometers","authors":"Alia Chebly ,&nbsp;Alix Enault ,&nbsp;Leslie Moinet ,&nbsp;Thierry Bedossa ,&nbsp;Sarah Jeannin ,&nbsp;Thierry Legou","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106523","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106523","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biological rhythms play a vital role in an organism’s survival, helping it align with environmental conditions like temperature, daylight, humidity, and available food. Research on the rhythmic behaviors of domestic cats remains sparse, and existing studies have produced varying results. This study aims to deepen our understanding of biological rhythms in domestic cats living in groups by using embedded accelerometers to track their activity patterns. Twelve cats from the AVA shelter in Cuy-Saint-Fiacre, France, wore collars with IMU sensors over a period of approximately three weeks, generating data that allowed us to quantify their activity patterns and explore their biological rhythms. Using this data, we calculated the cats' time budgets, categorizing behaviors into active and inactive states, and examined their day/night activity distribution as well as their hourly activity levels. Results showed that the cats were active 14.86 % of the day, on average, with higher activity levels during the day than at night. Moreover, a bimodal activity pattern with increased activity at the time of the caretaker's interventions at feeding time was found. These findings provide insights into the daily rhythms of domestic cats living in groups and highlight the influence of human interactions on their activity patterns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"283 ","pages":"Article 106523"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143162377","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":"The effects of owner-cat interaction on oxytocin secretion in pet cats with different attachment styles","authors":"Hao Chang ,&nbsp;Jie Zhang ,&nbsp;Haitao Huang ,&nbsp;Edgar O. Aviles-Rosa ,&nbsp;Huiwen Huang ,&nbsp;Yan Guo ,&nbsp;Zaili Xiao ,&nbsp;Qingshen Liu ,&nbsp;Baichuan Deng ,&nbsp;Lingna Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106524","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106524","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The caretaking and interactive style of owners affect the behavioral health of pets. Research has indicated that attachment style is correlated to the social-cognitive ability and behavioral health of dogs, and oxytocin might be involved in the human-dog affiliative social interaction and emotional attachment. Studies that evaluate the relationship between attachment behavior, owner-cat interaction, and the potential roles of oxytocin are non-existent in pet cats. To address the current gap in knowledge, we recruited 30 pet cats of different attachment styles, as determined by the secure base test (SBT) and observed behaviors of the cats and owners during the free owner-cat interaction. Salivary samples were collected in cats before and after the owner-cat interactions for the detection of oxytocin. Additionally, a questionnaire was conducted to collect individual and behavior-related information of cats. Oxytocin release during free-owner-cat interaction varied in cats of different attachment styles. Oxytocin increased in securely attached cats (<em>P</em> = 0.03) whereas it tended to decrease in cats with an anxious attachment (<em>P</em> = 0.08). The baseline salivary oxytocin in cats of anxious attachment was at higher level (<em>P</em> = 0.03) than securely attached cats. Cats of different attachment styles interacted differentially with their owners (<em>P</em> = 0.02). Overall, securely attached cats initiated more interactions, showed more approach-hovering behavior and fewer escape attempts, and their owners exhibited less forced interactions in comparison with owners of insecurely attached cats. Cat approach-hovering behavior was positively correlated to an increase in oxytocin during free owner-cat interaction (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) and negatively correlated to the baseline oxytocin (<em>P</em> = 0.01). Cats with secure attachment style also showed fewer behavioral problems and had lower fear score (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) compared to insecurely attached cats. In summary, we found that cats of different attachment styles varied in their occurrence of behavioral problems, and exhibited different interactive style with owners and change of oxytocin during owner-cat interaction which is likely due to the varied basal oxytocin in cats of different attachment styles. The reason for the varied basal oxytocin levels in cats of different attachment styles requires further study. The results of the current study increased our understanding of the relationship of human-cat interaction and cat attachment behavior, and the oxytocin-related endocrinal mechanism that might be underlining the emotional connection between pet cats and owners.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"283 ","pages":"Article 106524"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143162383","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}