Applied Animal Behaviour Science最新文献

{"title":"Don’t play with your food: Differences in group feeding behaviours of feed efficient and inefficient Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)","authors":"Jordan E. Elvy ,&nbsp;Jane E. Symonds ,&nbsp;Zoë Hilton ,&nbsp;Seumas P. Walker ,&nbsp;Louis A. Tremblay ,&nbsp;Paula Casanovas ,&nbsp;Neill A. Herbert","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106589","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106589","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>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 (<em>Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)</em>. 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 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) and covering more distance (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) despite feed intake not differing to that of FCR_E fish (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). In addition, FCR_I fish spat out more pellets rather than ingesting them (<em>P</em> = 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.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106589"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143644346","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":"Feeding behavior quantification and recognition for intelligent fish farming application: A review","authors":"Yuchen Xiao ,&nbsp;Liuyi Huang ,&nbsp;Shubin Zhang ,&nbsp;Chunwei Bi ,&nbsp;Xinxing You ,&nbsp;Shuyue He ,&nbsp;Jianfeng Guan","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106588","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106588","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Experience-driven manual and mechanical feeding often fail to accurately address fish appetite needs in aquaculture. Analyzing the relationship between fish behavior and feeding activity through efficient modeling to develop intelligent feeding systems is a key challenge in current research. In this regard, computer vision has emerged as an effective tool for behavior analysis due to its cost-effectiveness and non-invasive nature. Based on this, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the research progress in applying computer vision to fish feeding behavior analysis and its practical implementations. Firstly, this study introduces the key indicators reflecting fish feeding states. Subsequently, we summarize and discuss the critical methods developed in recent years for quantifying and recognizing fish feeding behavior using computer vision. Additionally, the paper consolidates and analyzes case studies of intelligent feeding applications based on these methods. Finally, based on current research advancements, this paper highlights four key challenges future directions for intelligent feeding technology, including real-time performance, stability, efficiency, and fish welfare. The goal of this work is to offer a scientific foundation and valuable reference for the development of intelligent feeding systems in aquaculture, while also inspiring further reflection and exploration among researchers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106588"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143610380","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 motivation of laying hens to outdoor space access","authors":"Alice Cartoni Mancinelli ,&nbsp;Diletta Chiattelli ,&nbsp;Laura Menchetti ,&nbsp;Sara Mariotti ,&nbsp;Cesare Castellini ,&nbsp;Marco Birolo","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study aimed at evaluating the motivation of laying hens to access outdoor space and their behavior under indoor and outdoor conditions. A total of 54 laying hens (White Leghorns) at 38 weeks of age were housed in two experimental groups: indoors, 3 replicates of 9 hens each (10 hens/m²), and outdoors, 3 replicates of 9 hens each (10 m²/hen). The behavioral evaluation was performed using a video recording system, and the videos were analyzed using a scan sampling method. The motivation test was carried out in one of the replicates (9 hens in total) with outdoor access. To access the feed (used as gold standard) and to the outdoor area, hens had to push a transparent one-way door with increasing weight (100 g every two days). The test was interrupted when each hen did not pass through the door for two consecutive days. The motivational drive to access the two settings (i.e., feed and outdoor space) was quantified by constructing a behavioral demand function and calculating various indices based on economic theories. The number of visits per hen decreased when the door weight increased in both groups (P &lt; 0.001). Nevertheless, while no hen reached the feed when the door weighed 650 g, hens opened the door up to a weight of 750 g to access the outside space. Reservation price (the maximum weight each hen pushed to access a specific resource) and total travel consumer surplus (the cumulative effort exerted by each hen during the test to reach a specific resource) averaged 445 g and 6.881 kg, respectively, without differences between resources. Moreover, the budget allocation was similar for feed and outdoor space. However, the demand for outdoor access resulted in a more inelastic trend than that for feed (P = 0.002), and the expenditure rate (the daily effort exerted by each hen during the test to reach a specific resource) was significantly higher for outdoor space as compared to feed (P &lt; 0.001). In the group with access to an outdoor area, finally, the proportion of hens walking and self-grooming increased, while the proportion of hens resting decreased compared to the group kept indoors (P &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that laying hens are highly motivated to access outdoor space where they can find grass and other valuable resources and perform species-specific behaviors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106581"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143591696","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":"Ethology at the roof of the World: A cross-language systematic review of the behaviour and welfare of yaks (Bos mutus and Bos grunniens)","authors":"Dengsheng Sun ,&nbsp;Irene Camerlink","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106587","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106587","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The yak serves an important role in the Himalayan ecosystems of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Current management practices, and the change to more intensive farming methods, are a concern for their welfare especially in terms of behavioural expression. While focus has been on yaks within the context of the ecosystem, their behaviour has not been widely documented. The aim of this review is to evaluate the status quo on yak behaviour and welfare, and to synthesise the existing information on yak behaviour (domesticated and wild) to provide an ethogram that can benefit future empirical studies. Peer-reviewed literature was retrieved from three databases while making no restriction on language. We included 39 Chinese language papers, 19 English and 1 German source (total n = 59). Studies mostly considered grazing behaviour and activity time budgets. Other topics included reproductive and social behaviour and animal welfare. The data showed that yaks graze for nearly the full daytime when on summer pasture (11 h), with variations in behavioural patterns depending on the season. Social and reproductive behaviour occur limitedly when outside the mating season. Welfare issues are, amongst others, the lack of veterinary services, painful and stressful management procedures, and heat stress due to climate change. From the overall review a clear picture emerges about the behaviour of yaks, which was summarized into a comprehensive ethogram. However, there are still many knowledge gaps regarding yak welfare as well as known welfare issues that require urgent change in practice. We aspire that this review will open up discussion on yak welfare and their possibility for behavioural adaptation, especially in the light of climate change and new management systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106587"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143552507","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":"Effects of tactile stimulation and application of umbilical antiseptic on the welfare of pre-weaned beef calves","authors":"Victor Brusin,&nbsp;M. Claire Windeyer,&nbsp;Jennifer M. Pearson,&nbsp;Edmond A. Pajor,&nbsp;Maria Camila Ceballos","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objectives of the current study were to investigate the impacts of tactile stimulation and application of umbilical antiseptic in newborn beef calves on 1) reactivity when interacting with humans in handling facilities, and 2) risk of disease treatment, mortality, and average daily gain (ADG). A total of 120 calves (65 males and 55 females) were randomly allocated into one of four experimental groups: TSUA) calves with tactile stimulation and application of umbilical antiseptic; TS) calves with tactile stimulation but no application of umbilical antiseptic; UA) calves without tactile stimulation but with application of umbilical antiseptic, and C) control, calves without tactile stimulation or application of umbilical antiseptic. Welfare was assessed using behavioural indicators (calf reactivity during weighing inside the cage (RDW), reactivity inside the squeeze chute (RSC), flight speed (FS), and avoidance distance (AD)), health (treatment for disease and death from birth to pre-weaning), and productivity (ADG in two periods, ADG1 and ADG2). A factor analyses with varimax rotation was performed to analyse behaviours composing RDW, generating 4 principal components (PC) (elevated responsiveness, vigilance activity, agitation response, and vocalization) with eigenvalues exceeding 1 and together explaining a total of 67 % of the total variance. To evaluate the differences in calves' RDW PC’s scores, RSC, FS, AD, ADG1, and ADG2 among experimental groups, generalized linear mixed models were performed. Fisher's tests were performed for health indicators to investigate the association between the experimental groups and the occurrence of Neonatal Calf Diarrhea (NCD), Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), or both (DBRD). Only FS had a significant association with the experimental groups (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), with the lowest mean ± SE for TS (1.10 ± 0.03) compared with TSUA (1.23 ± 0.03, <em>P</em> = 0.01), UA (1.22 ± 0.04, P = 0.02), and C (1.22 ± 0.03, <em>P</em> = 0.02), which did not differ from each other (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). Other behavioural indicators did not differ among experimental groups (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). Likewise, there was no significant association of experimental groups with health or productivity indicators (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). In conclusion, the application of tactile stimulation early in beef calves' lives was associated with a decrease in one of the four reactivity tests evaluated (FS). While the evidence of a broader impact on calf welfare is limited because other welfare indicators were not affected by the interventions, these results suggest that tactile stimulation could positively influence reactivity in a specific scenario.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106583"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143591697","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":"Comparison of first- and last-born pigs revealed no effect of the birth process on acquisition and reversal of the cognitive holeboard task","authors":"Vivian L. Witjes ,&nbsp;Sanne Roelofs ,&nbsp;Ellen Meijer ,&nbsp;Puck H.C. Eicher ,&nbsp;Elly C. Zeinstra ,&nbsp;Christine H.Y. Oei ,&nbsp;J.C.M. (Hans) Vernooij ,&nbsp;Rebecca E. Nordquist ,&nbsp;F. Josef van der Staay","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106585","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106585","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hyperprolific pig breeds produce particularly large litters. Birth order within these litters, reflecting the duration of the expulsion phase of farrowing, may be associated with an increased risk of birth complications that may affect the later functioning of the pig. In this study, piglets from 12 litters were weighed at birth. The first-born (FB) and the last-born piglet, that went through the longest expulsion period, were identified and selected per litter. These pigs were tested in a cognitive holeboard (HB) task, which allows simultaneous assessment of spatial working memory (WM) and reference memory (RM) performance. In the HB, the pigs learned to find hidden rewards (M&amp;M's®) in 4 of 16 holes distributed in a 4 × 4 matrix. After task acquisition, a new pattern of baited holes was presented (reversal). Salivary cortisol samples were collected before and after the first reversal trial. We hypothesized that the FB piglets would be less likely to have their health and fitness compromised by the birthing process than the LB piglets. Also, the LB pigs would have lower birth weights, poorer memory performance in the holeboard, and be more stressed by the change to a new pattern of baited holes, as indicated by a more pronounced increase in salivary cortisol concentrations. Birth weights of FB and LB piglets did not differ, but mean birth weights decreased with increasing litter size. Acquisition of the WM and RM components of the HB task was similar in FB and LB pigs. When confronted with a reversed configuration of baited holes, FB and LB pigs showed an initial decrease in both WM and RM performance that was unaffected by birth order. Both groups reached high levels of performance on both memory components in the reversal phase. Switching to the reversed configuration of baited holes had no effect on salivary cortisol, i.e. it may not have stressed the pigs. The inter-visit interval, i.e., the average duration per hole visit, which is thought to reflect a pig's motivation to search for food rewards, was not differentially affected by birth order but was highly variable, presumably reflecting the influence of external conditions during training, most likely ambient temperature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106585"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143552506","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 current status of your manuscript in the online submission system","authors":"Irene Camerlink,&nbsp;Péter Pongrácz","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106571","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"284 ","pages":"Article 106571"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143528871","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":"From nature to nurture – How genes and environment interact to shape behaviour","authors":"Per Jensen","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106582","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106582","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The question of nature vs nurture caused animated discussions during the first half of the 20th century but is since long resolved: all animal behaviour is a result of both genetic and environmental factors. In the last couple of decades, biology has got access to new and unprecedented tools for analysing the genetic underpinnings of behaviour variation. In this paper, examples are given on how analyses have moved from gross estimates of heritability to detailed genetic mapping, with new insights into the genetic mechanisms causing differences in behaviour. At the same time, studies of the effects of environment and experience largely have been running in isolation from the genetic analysis. However, we are now in a position where we can start to understand the details of how genetics and environment interact, primarily through epigenetic mechanisms. Examples are given of how different experiences cause epigenetic modifications, that in turn regulate the expression of the genome. Furthermore, epigenetic modifications can be inherited and even possibly affect mutations specifically related to the experience causing the epigenetic change, opening the possibility for environmentally driven evolution. Lastly, examples are given of future research fields that may further advance our understanding of how nature and nurture interact, specifically how play behaviour and the gut-brain axis may affect (and be affected by) the epigenome. The paper concludes that unravelling the complex interaction between genome, environment and epigenome will give rise to a considerably more comprehensive picture of the nature-nurture interactions in shaping behaviour.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106582"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143552928","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":"Do ewe remember? Comparative foraging behaviour of sheep and alternative livestock species in a spatial memory task","authors":"Megan R. Quail,&nbsp;Mariecia D. Fraser","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106580","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Foraging strategy is fundamentally linked with resource availability and dietary preference. Adaptive feeding behaviours, such as the role of spatial memory when navigating to food sites, are found in wild foraging species. We hypothesised that domesticated livestock species also possess adaptive foraging, with potential interspecies differences in this ability resulting from variations in foraging strategy. As such, this study aimed to compare foraging behaviour, in relation to ability to remember and prioritize food sites of different value, in livestock species that have different dietary preferences and backgrounds: sheep (&lt;em&gt;Ovis aries&lt;/em&gt;), goats (&lt;em&gt;Capra hircus&lt;/em&gt;) and alpacas (&lt;em&gt;Vicugna pacos&lt;/em&gt;). A total of 705 trials were conducted across general training, criterion training and test trials. Eighteen sheep, 10 goats and 7 alpacas were presented with eight identical buckets, positioned on four cross mounts, that were placed into four corners of the test arena. Following acclimation and training, the subjects were required to search the arena for two randomly baited buckets, each of the two buckets containing either the large food reward or small food reward. After locating the reward, the animals re-entered the arena and were tasked to relocate the same buckets (Experiment 1). Each subject was allowed a maximum of two incorrect visits to non-baited buckets per trial, and the trial continued until both baits had been eaten or 7 min of inactivity had passed (more than two errors resulted in a ‘failure’ score for the individual trial). These conditions were then replicated, except that the animal was allowed to make a single selection between the large or small reward following their return to the arena after the initial search (Experiment 2). The goats passed the most trials across all three species (&lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.001) and made fewer errors when relocating the baited buckets in training and test trials across both experiments (&lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05 and &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.01, respectively). In contrast, the alpacas failed to pass the training criterion, with the exception of one individual, primarily due to exceeding the time limit for inactivity. We detected no significant difference in preference for the larger food quantity between species in either experiment (&lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; = 0.65 and &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; = 0.55, respectively). Equally, selection of either quantity did not deviate from random chance across all individuals (except for a single sheep, &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05, Experiment 2). Thus, goats exhibited the greatest spatial memory of the three species across both test conditions, which may reflect the adaptive foraging strategy that is required to navigate patchy distributions of browse in the complex natural habitats of this species. We recommend that further work should be carried out to determine the scale of selectivity and role of habitat perception on grazing distribution in these species. This information could be us","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106580"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143526942","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":"Behavioral and performance effects on female offspring from rabbit does housed in enriched cages during gestation and lactation","authors":"Gabriel Kioshi Cavalari Nakamura ,&nbsp;Daniele Alencar ,&nbsp;Leandro Batista Costa ,&nbsp;Ruan R. Daros","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In mammals, intrauterine experiences and early-life conditions can influence future behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of enriched and conventional cages for rabbit does during gestation and lactation on the behavior and performance of the first generation of offspring. A 2 × 2 factorial experimental design was used, with 16 White New Zealand does. During the last two thirds of gestation and lactation (birth to day 35), the does were housed individually in either enriched or conventional cages, resulting in the following four treatments: enriched-enriched (E-E), enriched-conventional (E-C), conventional-enriched (C-E), and conventional-conventional (C-C). Does entered the study after pregnancy confirmation (10 days after mating). Close to partum, on the 28th day of gestation, they were transferred to the cages assigned for their respective treatment group. Conventional cages measured 80x60x40 cm, while enriched cages were eight times larger, with hiding areas, resting platforms, space to stand, and a sawdust box. After weaning on day 35, the offspring were transferred to conventional cages. At 90 days of age, two females from each litter were randomly selected for behavioral tests (n = 32): open field, novel object, novel object recognition, and social interactions. The observed behaviors were analyzed using mixed linear regression to assess the effects of the treatments. Offspring from does housed in enriched cages during gestation had a reduced latency to interact with the object in the novel object recognition test compared to offspring from does housed in conventional cages during gestation; however, no other effects were seen in the behaviours measured in the other tests. Offspring of does housed in enriched environments during lactation exhibited a higher frequency of joy jumps. They also interacted less with the object compared to the conventional reared group. Regarding performance, offspring reared in the enriched cages weighed more at weaning compared to offspring reared in conventional cages in any phase. However, the number of weaned offspring was lower in the group exposed to environmental enrichment during gestation, compared to those of the conventional group. This study highlights the importance of the environment during gestation and lactation for does, showing that these stages significantly influence the behavior and performance of the offspring. While enriched housing during pregnancy positively influenced some behaviors of the offspring, it appeared to have a negative effect on the number of kittens weaned. After birth, environmental enrichment impacted exploration, curiosity, and weight gain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"285 ","pages":"Article 106576"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143591695","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}