Applied Animal Behaviour Science最新文献

{"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}

{"title":"Improving effectiveness of environmental enrichment: The role of light intensity in rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) rearing","authors":"Zhe Li ,&nbsp;Jingjing He ,&nbsp;Shanshan Zhou ,&nbsp;Jie Ying ,&nbsp;Kaida Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106421","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106421","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental enrichment is a potential approach to enhance the fitness and survival of hatchery fish stocked for conservation purposes. Its effectiveness presumably depends not only on ecologically relevant features of physical enrichment but also on light condition applied. Despite the importance, few studies have reported on the role of light in enriched rearing. This study sought to optimize the enriched rearing of juvenile rock bream (<em>Oplegnathus fasciatus</em>) particularly regarding their physiological and behavioral performance by regulating light intensity. Juveniles were reared in either standard tanks (no enrichment) or enriched tanks with polyethylene ropes simulating drifting algae at three different light intensities (400, 800 or 1600 lux) for 32 days. Our findings revealed that cortisol levels of the fish increased with light intensity even in the presence of the physical structure. No significant effect of light intensity was detected on growth. Compared to standard fish, fish reared with enrichment showed higher levels of caudal fin damage and cortisol at all the light intensities, suggesting increased chronic stress; in addition, the fish displayed higher shelter-seeking behavior. These results highlight the importance of maintaining low light intensities to minimize chronic stress in the fish. Moreover, adjustments to the enriched rearing condition are recommended to mitigate adverse effects on physiological aspects before incorporated into practical implementation in stock enhancement programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106421"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142658701","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":"Multiparous ewes have greater mating success when competing with nulliparous ones","authors":"Gustavo Campos Bueno Dias ,&nbsp;Aline Freitas-de-Melo ,&nbsp;Juan Pedro Bottino ,&nbsp;Maria Jesús Frisch-Braga ,&nbsp;Adroaldo José Zanella ,&nbsp;Germana Vizzotto Osowski ,&nbsp;Raquel Pérez-Clariget ,&nbsp;Rodolfo Ungerfeld","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The hypothesis of this study was that multiparous ewes are more attractive to rams than nulliparous ewes, leading to more intense courtship and mating displays by rams in competitive environments. Thus, this study aimed to compare the sexual interactions of multiparous or nulliparous estrous ewes tested together or individually with sexually active males. Seven sexually experienced Corriedale rams, 21 multiparous, and 21 nulliparous Corriedale ewes were used. Competitive and individual sexual behavior tests were performed for 3 consecutive days immediately after estrous detection. Seven rams were tested with seven different dyads of one multiparous and one nulliparous female daily, totaling 14 ewes per day. The competitive sexual behavioral test evaluated a ram together in a pen with one multiparous ewe and one nulliparous ewe for 10 min. In the individual sexual behavioral test, each ram was tested twice for 10 min, with the same multiparous and nulliparous females used in the competitive sexual tests. The sexual behaviors of rams were recorded in both tests, and ewes' behaviors were registered in the competitive sexual tests. During the competitive sexual tests, rams approached, mated, and tended to sniff the multiparous ewes before the nulliparous ewes (p=0.03; p=0.01; p=0.056, respectively). In those tests, rams mated the multiparous ewes more efficiently than nulliparous ones (p=0.002), meaning that rams mounted multiparous fewer times to ejaculate. The number of flehmens and their length were greater in nulliparous than in multiparous (0.01 and 0.002, respectively). The nulliparous ewes urinated more times and tended to do it in greater duration and tended to walk more than the multiparous (p=0.01; p=0.06; p=0.08, respectively). During the individual sexual behavioral tests, rams showed no differences in the sexual behaviors displayed toward multiparous and nulliparous females. In conclusion, multiparous ewes were preferred as sexual partners over nulliparous ewes, with rams showing greater efficiency in ejaculating with multiparous ewes. This increased sexual attractiveness was primarily due to the ewes' attractive signals rather than their proceptive behaviors. However, multiparous and nulliparous ewes were courted and mated similarly when rams had no choice, increasing the likelihood of reproduction in both groups. While nulliparous ewes signaled their reproductive status more frequently through urination, this signal did not compensate for the other signals provided by multiparous ewes, which contributed to their higher sexual attractiveness. These findings offer practical insights, emphasizing the importance of separating multiparous and nulliparous ewes to optimize reproductive outcomes in collective breedings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106443"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142658688","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":"Attendance patterns of provisioned Australian humpback dolphins (Sousa sahulensis) in Tin Can Bay, Australia – Further indication of male bonding and alliance","authors":"T.M. Barber ,&nbsp;A.S. Cooke","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106435","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106435","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tin Can Bay, Queensland, is one of four free-ranging dolphin feed provisioning sites in Australia and the only one featuring Australian humpback dolphins (<em>Sousa sahulensis</em>). The site attracts the same 5–10 dolphins a year, most of which return regularly, and some which have been in attendance since the 1990s. Historical records were obtained for the period March 2010 to March 2021 covering dolphin attendance to the provisioning station including dolphin name, arrival time, and departure time. Tourist numbers were also obtained which included the total number and how many of that total directly took part in provisioning. Attendance of dolphins to the provisioning site has increased over the years both in frequency and total numbers. There was evidence of group cohesion between four particular dolphins (one mother-offspring pair and one male pair). The strongest pairing was seen between two males, indicating bond formation in adult male humpback dolphins, which may be indicative of an alliance. Specific events were also looked at in detail including cyclones, flooding COVID-19 restrictions, which reduced dolphin and/or human attendance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106435"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142586732","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":"Modelling behavior of Crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) using classification algorithms","authors":"Jakub Pacoń,&nbsp;Barbara Kosińska-Selbi,&nbsp;Jarosław Wełeszczuk,&nbsp;Joanna Kochan,&nbsp;Wojciech Kruszyński","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106436","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106436","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Animal behavior plays a crucial role in evolution of many species. Many studies focused on animal behavior enhance the ability to collect large and detailed data. However, this kind of data is surpassing the capability of traditional statistical methods for analysis. In this study we propose to use artificial intelligence (AI) with machine learning models (ML) as tools to study animal behavior and potentially assumed evolution patterns in their behavior. For the Crested gecko (<em>Correlophus ciliatus</em>), some guidelines have been published regarding the breeding of these reptiles, focusing on their behavior. However, little is known about moderating their behavior using AI and advanced ML algorithms. In this study, based on information collected from twenty individuals, we proposed building a supervised classifier model using simple Decision Tree classifier (DT), Gradient Boosting classifier (GB) and Extreme Gradient Boosting classifier (XGBoost). Our results show that the highest accuracy (above 60 %) was achieved for variables which were not complex in terms of animal behavior. The analysis presented in this study, demonstrates that it is possible to model Crested Gecko behavior using ML models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106436"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142658700","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":"Salivary oxytocin response of dairy cows to nursing and permanent separation from their calves, and the influence of the cow-calf bond","authors":"Heather W. Neave ,&nbsp;Jean-Loup Rault ,&nbsp;Emma Hvidtfeldt Jensen ,&nbsp;Margit Bak Jensen","doi":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106429","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106429","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Oxytocin is a hormone involved in milk let-down, facilitating maternal behavior and parent-young bonding, and attenuating the stress response under challenge, but the release of oxytocin also appears to be dependent upon the social context. Dairy cows are commonly separated from their calves at birth, preventing maternal behavior and the establishment of a social bond. The growing interest in maintaining cow-calf contact provides a practically relevant context to study how oxytocin is affected by differing levels of cow-calf contact. Furthermore, the oxytocinergic system is likely affected by the stress of permanent cow-calf separation, depending on weaning method and strength of the cow-calf bond. Dairy cows were managed with full-time (23 h/d of calf contact), part-time (10 h/d of calf contact) or no calf contact (separated 48 h after birth), and then weaned by either: 50 % reduction in original calf contact time in wk 8 and 9 (‘reduced-contact’), or calf contact time remained unchanged (‘unchanged-contact’). Permanent separation from their calves occurred at wk 10 (n=14 for each treatment combination). Saliva was sampled in wk 8 before and after a nursing event over 3d, and in wk 10 before and after permanent separation (2 h after, and every 24 h thereafter for 3d), and analysed for oxytocin concentration. Cow-calf bond was measured as: motivation for cows to reunite with their calves (pressure cows were willing to exert on a weighted gate), and frequency and duration of social interactions between dam and calf. Cows with the most opportunity for calf contact (full-time; unchanged-contact) tended to have higher oxytocin concentrations around nursing, and oxytocin concentration around nursing tended to be positively related to proportion of total daily time together spent in physical contact. Over the 4-d post separation period, oxytocin response was generally stable for cows with male calves, but the pattern was variable for cows with female calves and in opposing directions for full- and part-time cows. Reduced-contact cows had greater oxytocin concentration over the separation period than unchanged-contact cows, but only if they had a male calf. In unchanged-contact cows, the oxytocin response to separation tended to increase if the cow-calf bond was stronger. These results highlight the complexity of the oxytocin response to different social situations, which depended on prior level of calf contact, calf sex, and strength of the cow-calf bond. Future research should explore how management practices influence social bonds and the oxytocinergic system, given their role in modulating stress resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8222,"journal":{"name":"Applied Animal Behaviour Science","volume":"281 ","pages":"Article 106429"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142658702","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}