Effects of exposing pigs to moving and odors in a simulated slaughter chute

Pigs in the finishing stage are infrequently handled and can be difficult to handle when experiencing novel situations. This study sought to determine the effects of minimal training and a novel odor/taste reward on the ease of handling finishing pigs in a novel environment. Pigs were assigned to one of four treatments organized in a factorial arrangement: training and odor exposure at the barn or not (trained or non-trained, respectively) and provision or not of maple syrup in the simulated pre-stun area of a slaughter plant (reward or no reward, respectively). Trained pigs (n = 14 pens) were let out of their home pens and onto a trailer for 10 min/d for 10 d and could chew on maple syrup-soaked flags. Non-trained pigs (n = 14 pens) were not handled or exposed to maple syrup. After the 10 d, trained and non-trained pigs were transported, unloaded and then experienced a novel simulated pre-stun area. A maple syrup-soaked flag (reward) was dragged through the simulated pre-stun area and put in a simulated CO₂ stun box. Non-rewarded pigs were not exposed to maple syrup. Trained pigs unloaded the trailer and reached the resting pen faster (P = 0.014) than non-trained pigs. Trained pigs had fewer (P = 0.02) blood neutrophils and more (P = 0.03) lymphocytes than non-trained pigs. Rewarded pigs received fewer (P = 0.02) taps before reaching the simulated CO₂ stun box than non-rewarded pigs. Cortisol concentration increased (P = 0.004) when the total time to reach the simulated CO₂ stun box increased. Pigs that were allowed to exercise out of their home pen and were given access to an odor/taste reward moved faster and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was decreased when exposed to a novel environment containing the same odor/taste reward.     

The effect of long or chopped straw on pig behaviour

In the EU, pigs must have permanent access to manipulable materials such as straw, rope, wood, etc. Long straw can fulfil this function, but can increase labour requirements for cleaning pens, and result in problems with blocked slatted floors and slurry systems. Chopped straw might be more practical, but what is the effect on pigs’ behaviour of using chopped straw instead of long straw? Commercial pigs in 1/3 slatted, 2/3 solid pens of 15 pigs were provided with either 100 g/pig per day of long straw (20 pens) or of chopped straw (19 pens). Behavioural observations were made of three focal pigs per pen (one from each of small, medium and large weight tertiles) for one full day between 0600 and 2300 h at each of ~40 and ~80 kg. The time spent rooting/investigating overall (709 s/pig per hour at 40 kg to 533 s/pig per hour at 80 kg), or directed to the straw/solid floor (497 s/pig per hour at 40 kg to 343 s/pig per hour at 80 kg), was not affected by straw length but reduced with age. Time spent investigating other pigs (83 s/pig per hour at 40 kg), the slatted floor (57 s/pig per hour) or pen fixtures (21 s/pig per hour) was not affected by age or straw length. Aggressive behaviour was infrequent, but lasted about twice as long in pens with chopped straw (2.3 s/pig per hour at 40 kg) compared with pens with long straw (1.0 s/pig per hour at 40 kg, P=0.060). There were no significant effects of straw length on tail or ear lesions, but shoulders were significantly more likely to have minor scratches with chopped straw (P=0.031), which may reflect the higher levels of aggression. Smaller pigs showed more rooting/investigatory behaviour, and in particular directed towards the straw/solid floor and the slatted floor than their larger pen-mates. Females exhibited more straw and pen fixture-directed behaviour than males. There were no effects of pig size or sex on behaviour directed towards other pigs. In summary, pigs spent similar amounts of time interacting with straw/solid floor when long and chopped straw were provided, and most aspects of pig-directed behaviour and injuries were not affected by straw length. There was an increase in pigs with minor shoulder lesions with chopped straw, perhaps because of increased aggression. The use of chopped straw as an enrichment material for pigs warrants further investigation in larger and more detailed studies.     

Effects of enrichment items on activity and social interactions in domestic horses (Equus caballus)

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of items intended to provide enrichment during turnout, both for individual and group kept horses in an attempt to reduce the amount of passive behaviours. The study was divided into two parts, where study 1 involved eight horses rotated through eight individual paddocks, each containing one of seven enrichment items and one paddock being kept without item, functioning as a control. The horses’ item-directed behaviours; passive behaviours or other non-item related activities were scored using instantaneous sampling, every minute for 1 h at the beginning and the end of the turnout period. Study 2 involved six horse groups (3–6 horses) and the same scoring methods and ethogram as in study 1. The four items that the horses interacted the most with during study 1 (straw STRA, ball filled with concentrates CBALL, branches BRAN and scratching pole POLE) are investigated in study 2. In addition, the amount of social interactions was recorded.Both horses kept individually (P < 0.05) and in groups (P < 0.0001) performed significantly more item-directed behaviours towards edible items like STRA and CBALL than other objects. There was, however, no overall relation between the numbers of item-directed behaviours and the number of passive behaviours observed, indicating that the enrichment items did not alone reduce the amount of passive behaviours during turnout periods. Such a reduction was, however, only apparent when horses spent more time eating green leaves growing on the paddock surface (R = ?0.97 study 1, R = ?0.67 study 2, P < 0.0001). Access to STRA in group kept horses also seemed to reduce the amount of agonistic behaviours (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, if grass is not available in paddocks, the provision of roughage reduces the amount of passive behaviours in singly kept horses and it also reduces the risk of agonistic interactions between horses kept in group.     

Rabbit preference for cages and pens with or without mirrors

Five-week-old Pannon White rabbits were housed in a closed climatized rabbitry and randomly assigned to either pens (56 rabbits) having a basic area of 1 m² with a stocking density of 16 and 12 rabbits/m² or to 18 individual cages (0.24 m²/cage). The pens and the cages were divided into two halves and animals could move freely between the two halves through swing doors. The walls of one half of the pens and cages were completely covered with mirrors while the other half was covered with white plastic panels. A 24 h video recording was made twice a week using infrared cameras and the number of rabbits in each pen and cage was counted every 15 min. The duration of the trial was 6 weeks. The lighting period was 16L/8D. In each half of the cage or pen, a feeder and nipple drinkers were available and feed intake was measured separately. Throughout the entire rearing period, 72% of the individually caged rabbits showed a preference for the cage half enriched with mirrors (P < 0.001). This preference decreased slightly with increasing age. Preference toward the cage half provided with mirror walls was independent of the time of day; in other words, during the active period (23:00–05:00) corresponding to the dark part of the day, rabbits continued to prefer the mirrored half even if the vision of the reflected image was reduced. The presence of conspecifics at different stocking densities (12 vs. 16 rabbits/m²) did not reduce this interest in mirrors: averaging the ages, 66% of animals living at 16 rabbits/m² stocking density and 63% of those living at 12 rabbits/m² density were found in the half pen with mirrors (P < 0.001). Group-penned rabbits showed a marked preference toward mirrors during the active period (73–76% for 12 and 16 rabbits/m² stocking densities, respectively; P < 0.001). The results suggest that the presence of mirrors offers advantages perhaps related to comfort and welfare, and therefore might be used as environmental enrichment for fattening rabbits and advised for rabbits caged individually for long periods.     

Impact of social stress during gestation and environmental enrichment during lactation on the maternal behavior of sows

The impact of a social stress in gestation and an enriched pen in lactation on components of sow maternal behavior was studied in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment. At breeding, 41 sows were assigned to a social mixing stress treatment (T) during mid-gestation or a control group (C). During lactation, half of the T and C sows were housed in straw enriched pens (E) (1.57 m × 4.10 m) and the others in standard farrowing crates (S) (0.68 m × 2.10 m). The mixing stress consisted in introducing each T sow to the home pen of two unfamiliar sows twice for 1 week, from d 39 to 45 and 59 to 65 of gestation. Aggressive behavior was observed and lesion scores were taken to confirm that a social stress occurred. During lactation, the responses of sows to a simulated piglet crush test on d 3 and an isolated piglet playback test on d 21 were observed. Postural budgets of sows were automatically detected using accelerometers on d 5 and 19 of lactation. Sow-initiated social contacts with the piglets were observed continuously from video recordings on d 6 and 20 of lactation. Data were analyzed with a mixed models procedure. The social stress treatment had an impact on the response of sows to isolated piglet vocalizations with T sows showing longer latencies to respond vocally than C sows (P = 0.035). In early lactation, T sows spent more time lying ventrally than C sows (P = 0.007). Furthermore, the social stress had an impact on the space use in the enriched housing, with T sows spending less time in the nesting straw area of the pen than C sows (P = 0.018). Housing also impacted maternal behavior with E sows tending to spend more time lying ventrally than S sows in late lactation (P = 0.067) and tending to have more social contacts with their piglets than S sows in early lactation (P = 0.058). In conclusion, the social stress during gestation had a slight negative impact on sow maternal behavior, and while an enriched farrowing pen allowed for more opportunities to express maternal behavior, it did not counteract the negative effects of gestation stress.     

Fatty acid profiles,growth, and immune responses of neonatal lambs fed milk replacer and supplemented with fish oil or safflower oil

Diets supplemented with long chain, n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have improved the health and performance of neonatal and growing animals. This study was conducted with lambs that were orphaned at approximately 1 day of age to determine whether supplementing milk replacer fed lambs with oils rich in long chain n − 3 or n − 6 PUFA would alter plasma lipid profiles and affect growth characteristics and immune functions. From days 1 to 28 of age, lambs had ad libitum access to commercial milk replacer. From days 7 to 28 of age, lambs received twice daily either 1 g of soybean oil, 1 g of fish oil, or 1 g of safflower oil per os in a gelatin capsule (n = 60 pens; 20 pens/treatment; one ewe and one ram with similar initial body weights/pen). On days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of age, lambs were weighed, and jugular blood was collected from ram lambs. Lymphocyte proliferation in vitro, differential white blood cell (WBC) counts, and weight gains were quantified. Plasma from days 7 and 28 was used for fatty acid analyses. Fish oil increased (P < 0.001) plasma total n − 3 fatty acid concentration and total n − 3:total n − 6 fatty acid ratio. Pen body weight (i.e., total lamb weight per pen) increased (P < 0.001) with day (day 7, 11.9 kg; day 14, 15.1 kg; day 21, 18.2 kg; and day 28, 21.2 kg), but oil treatment did not affect pen body weight. Neither oil treatment, day, nor oil treatment × day interaction were significant for pen body weight gains (3.5 kg), pen average daily gains (0.5 kg), pen milk intakes (19.0 kg), or pen gain:feed ratio (0.18) measured during three intervals: days 7–14; days 14–21; and days 21–28. Day, but not oil treatment, affected (P < 0.001) unstimulated, concanavalin A stimulated, and lipopolysaccharides stimulated lymphocyte proliferation: days 14, 21, and 28 proliferation > day 7 proliferation. For neutrophils per 100 WBC, the treatment × day interaction was significant (P < 0.05). Oil treatment and day affected (P < 0.01 and <0.05, respectively) lymphocyte numbers per 100 WBC. For monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, neither oil treatment, day, nor the oil treatment × day interaction were significant. Fish oil altered plasma fatty acid profiles, but it did not seem to improve measures of the performance or immune function of healthy, milk replacer fed lambs.     

Diversity of anaerobic fungal populations in cattle revealed by selective enrichment culture using different carbon sources

We employed most probable numbers (MPNs) enumeration of enrichment cultures, combined with the use of a range of carbon sources (glucose, cellobiose, cellulose, xylan and wheat straw), to recover and identify morphologically different groups of anaerobic fungi (monocentric rhizoidal [Neocallimastix, Piromyces spp.], polycentric rhizoidal [Anaeromyces, Orpinomyces spp.], bulbous non-rhizoidal [Caecomyces, Cyllamyces spp.]) from rumen digesta, and fresh or frozen–thawed faeces of silage-fed cattle. Highest MPN counts (>10⁶ thallus forming units [TFU] g^?1 dry matter (DM)) were obtained using wheat straw but use of other carbon sources revealed large variation in the relative abundance of the morphotypes recovered in culture. Polycentric morphotypes were overall the most abundant fungi, comprising ca. 60 % of observations and recovered most frequently with xylan and wheat straw. Bulbous morphotypes showed a reciprocal pattern of occurrence, being most frequently observed on glucose, cellobiose and cellulose. Monocentric morphotypes were surprisingly the least abundant (<10 % overall), occurring mostly on glucose and wheat straw. Freezing of faeces (?20 °C/5 weeks) and thawing prior to enrichment culture reduced MPN counts by ca. 40 % from a mean of 1.8 × 10⁵ TFU g^?1 DM, but greater relative abundance of polycentric morphotypes in frozen–thawed faeces suggested differential survival in response to environmental stresses. PCR–RFLP demonstrated the simultaneous presence of seven ribotypes in one animal, but not all ribotypes could be associated with a particular genus.     

Influence of a raised slatted area in front of the nest on leg health,mating behaviour and floor eggs in broiler breeders

European farms for broiler breeders often have raised slatted areas in front of the nests, but in other regions of the world no raised slatted areas are provided. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a raised slatted area on leg health, mating behaviour and floor laying behaviour. Ten groups of 33 broiler breeder hens and three males were housed in two pen types: with or without a raised slatted area in front of the nests. Each pen had one plastic and one wooden nest. Between 25 and 31 weeks of age, ten marked hens per pen were weighed and assessed weekly on foot pad dermatitis, hock burn and wounds. At the end of week 31, animals were euthanized and bone strength of the tibia and humerus of these individuals was assessed. At 24, 27 and 30 weeks of age, mating behaviour was observed for an hour per pen, noting both numbers of successful and unsuccessful copulations. The number of eggs laid in the nests and on the floor was recorded daily between 20 and 31 weeks of age. Foot pad dermatitis scores were affected by age, but not by pen type. Generally, there were only minor issues with foot pad dermatitis (scores < 11 on a 0–100 scale), probably due to the young age of the hens. Body weight was not affected by pen type, while the prevalence of hock burns was too low to analyse and no difference in bone strength was found for the tibia and the humerus. Overall, mating behaviour was less frequent in pens with raised slats than in pens without raised slats (29 ± 2 vs 35 ± 3 times/h) and more frequent at 27 weeks of age than at 24 and 30 weeks of age (38 ± 1 vs 31 ± 4 and 27 ± 2 times/h). The pens with raised slats had a lower percentage of floor eggs than pens without raised slats (11.2 ± 0.4 vs 19.3 ± 0.5%). The wooden nest was preferred over the plastic nest as on average 63% of the eggs were laid in the wooden nest. This study shows that providing raised slats decreases mating behaviour and percentage of floor eggs, although its effects on leg health remain inconclusive.     

Accuracy of laying hens in jumping upwards and downwards between perches in different light environments

Eighty Lohmann Brown layer hens were reared in floor pens fitted with perches from 1 day of age. After the peak of lay (25 weeks of age), their ability to jump to and from perches in different light environments was assessed in two experiments using digital video techniques that allowed detailed measurements of take-off, flight and landing behaviours.In Experiment 1, birds jumped up or down (angles of 10 and 18°) between two horizontal perches that were separated by a gap of 60 cm under different lighting conditions (5, 10 or 20 lux; incandescent or high- or low-frequency fluorescent). In Experiment 2, the horizontal distance was increased to 80 cm and contrast between perch and background was varied. Fifty-two hens (65%) achieved the training criterion for Experiment 1: jumping a 60 cm gap five times of which three in a row. Thirty-two of these hens (62%) subsequently failed to achieve the 80 cm jump criterion for Experiment 2.In Experiment 1, birds took off sooner (P<0.001), turned their heads further downward relative to the landing perch (P<0.001), beat their wings more often during flight (P<0.001), and took longer to achieve balance (P<0.001) when jumping downward rather than upward. In Experiment 2, refusals to jump, and clumsy or missed landings, occurred more frequently on downward than upward jumps (P<0.001). These behaviours were unaffected by lighting conditions, or by the amount of contrast between the perch and its background.In conclusion, behaviours indicating inaccurate control of landing were more frequent on downward than on upward jumps (P<0.001). However, these behaviours were not affected by light intensity, light type or contrast. The results suggest that there is a difference between the two types of jumps in the risk of injury to hens housed in aviaries where perches must be used to gain access to resources.     

Effect of group size on feed intake,aggressive behaviour and growth rate in goat kids and lambs

The effects of different group sizes on feed intake, growth and behaviour in penned kids and lambs were studied in an experiment (Exp. 1) with 30 kids and 30 lambs used in 3 periods. In each period, animals were divided into five group sizes. The group sizes were one, two, three, four or five animals per pen. In a second experiment (Exp. 2) 36 kids and 36 lambs were allotted to two groups of one and five animals per group. The diet consisted of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) and Acacia (Acacia mangium) foliages, sugar-cane (Saccharum officinarum) and concentrate. The foliages were given ad libitum, equal to 130% of intake of fresh matter of the group the previous day, and concentrate and sugar-cane were given at a level of 10 g dry matter (DM)/kg initial body weight. The time for each period in Exp. 1 was 21 days, with the last 7 days for data collection. The behaviour observations were done during the last 4 days of each data collection period. The time for Exp. 2 was 84 days.In Exp. 1, the kids had a higher total DM intake (DMI) (P = 0.011) and DMI of Jackfruit (P < 0.001) than the lambs. Total intake increased linearly as group size increased (P = 0.03). When feeding Jackfruit or sugar-cane aggressive behaviours recorded per pen or per animal increased linearly with group size. In Exp. 2, there was no difference in total DMI between kids and lambs, but kids had a significantly higher DMI of Jackfruit and a lower DMI of sugar-cane. Total DMI and DMI of Jackfruit and sugar-cane were similar for the group sizes of five animals and one animal, but kids showed a higher total intake and intake of Jackfruit in the group sizes of five animals, while a higher intake was obtained in single pens for lambs. The weight gain was higher (P < 0.05) for the lambs compared to the kids, but similar for the animals in the group size of one or five animals. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower for the lambs compared to the kids, but not different between group sizes. The water intake of the lambs was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the kids in both experiments and the animals in the pens with high density drank more water than the animals in individual pens only in Exp. 2. In conclusion, increasing the number of animals in the pens increased feed and water intake and also aggressive behaviours and did not improve growth rate or feed conversion ratio.     

An investigation into the effectiveness of compressed straw blocks in reducing abnormal behaviour in growing pigs

The provision of manipulable material to pigs is a legal requirement to ensure their good welfare. Loose straw is edible, chewable, investigable and manipulable, and has been proven to be effective in reducing abnormal behaviour. However, it is incompatible with slatted systems and therefore not a viable option for many intensive units. Thus, there is a need to identify enrichment materials that are as effective as loose straw and compatible with slatted floors. This study investigated the viability of using compressed straw blocks on a commercial farm in terms of cost and effectiveness in reducing biting relative to plastic hanging toys. A total of 880 slaughter pigs were used, among which half (n = 440, 8 groups) were provided with commercial pig toys (TOY) and the other half (n = 440, 8 groups) were provided compressed straw blocks (STRAW BLOCK). Animals were separated according to sex to investigate whether there was a higher propensity to tail and ear bite depending on sex. Pigs were monitored from weaning to slaughter, with tails being examined post scalding and any condemnations recorded at the abattoir. Throughout their life, the tails and ears of all pigs were examined individually, and behavioural observations of each pig group were conducted fortnightly. Salivary cortisol was also obtained from a subsample of pigs from each group every fortnight to monitor stress levels. The highest straw usage was recorded in the second weaner stage (39 to 67 days after weaning). Enrichment type or sex had no effect on tail lesion scores or cold carcass weight recorded at the abattoir. There was also no effect of enrichment type or sex on body, tail, or ear lesion scores during either the weaner (0 to 39 days after weaning) or finisher stage (67 to145 days after weaning). Female pigs showed more biting behaviour than males, and female pigs that were provided STRAW BLOCK performed better than those provided TOY. In both the weaner and finisher accommodation, more instances of interaction were recorded with TOY pens as enrichment than with STRAW BLOCK, but the interaction duration was not recorded. There was no effect of sex on either stage. More instances of aggression were observed with the TOY than with STRAW BLOCK in the weaner stage (P < 0.05). Enrichment type or sex had no effect on cortisol levels. Thus, relative to plastic hanging toys, compressed straw blocks provided in this manner did not benefit pig welfare.     

Preference of growing pigs for illuminance

This experiment investigated the preference of juvenile pigs for illuminance, and indirectly photoperiod, at two ages. The animals were equally familiar with all illuminances prior to testing. Four groups, each of four pigs, occupied a four-compartment preference chamber in which a different illuminance was applied to each compartment: minimum (2.4), 4, 40 and 400 lx. Illuminances were rearranged every 2 days to avoid positional bias. The pigs significantly preferred the dimmest illuminance (mean occupancy 7 h 20 min per 24 h, backtransformed data) and spent the least time in the brightest (4 h 49 min per 24 h), with an intermediate and similar length of time spent in the other illuminances (6 h 25 min and 5 h 25 min in 4 and 40 lx, respectively, F_3,127 = 8.93, P < 0.001). The most common behaviours of the pigs when in the darkest compartment were resting and sleeping. The EU directive 2001/88 requires a minimum illuminance of 40 lx for pig production; this illuminance was neither aversive nor strongly preferred by the pigs. Our findings also suggest that pigs should be provided with an appropriate period of rest at an illuminance of 2.4 lx for at least 6 h per day. The only active behaviour affected by illuminance was defecation; the pigs preferred to defecate in the brighter illuminances. Spatial provision of minimal illuminance could potentially improve pig welfare by providing a preferred light environment for resting and also by creating a resting area distinct from dunging areas, thus improving hygiene.     

Characterizing the ensiling properties of sugarbeets with dry feedstuffs

A study was conducted to evaluate the ensiling characteristics of chopped sugarbeets with dry feedstuffs and the corresponding change in the nutritive composition of the silages with the addition of dry substrates. Pre-calculated amounts of each feedstuff were weighed individually to achieve desired proportions of each silage product and thoroughly mixed for 5 min. After mixing, the silage was distributed evenly into three 19-L buckets and sealed to provide an anaerobic environment. The treatments for this study were arranged in a 4 × 4 + 1 factorial design to determine the effects of DM level and source of dry feedstuff on the ensiling properties of sugarbeets following a 42-d fermentation period. Treatments were ensiled sugarbeets alone (250 g/kg) or based on (1) formulated silage DM concentrations of 275, 350, 425, and 500 g/kg and (2) the inclusion of dry feedstuffs (alfalfa hay, dry-rolled corn, wheat middlings, and wheat straw). Fermentation and nutritive characteristics of ensiled sugarbeets were influenced with the addition of dry substrates. A linear increase (P<0.001) in silage pH was observed with the addition of alfalfa, dry-rolled corn, wheat middlings, and wheat straw to ensiled sugarbeets. Lactic acid increased (P<0.001) with the addition of wheat middlings. Alfalfa addition to sugarbeet silage did not alter (P<0.001) lactate concentration. Concentration of lactate decreased (P=0.01) when corn was added, while wheat straw addition did not influence (P=0.37) lactate. A contrast was used to compare ensiling characteristics of sugarbeets alone (250 g/kg DM) to 350 g/kg DM (sugarbeets with dry substrates). Results indicated fermentative parameters were altered; pH increased (P<0.001) for all dry substrates while lactate was lower (P=0.003) for the sugarbeets ensiled with dry-rolled corn compared with sugarbeets ensiled alone. Alfalfa, wheat straw, and wheat middlings decreased (P<0.001) while dry-rolled corn did not affect (P=0.54) in vitro DM digestion. These results indicate the inclusion of dry feedstuffs with sugarbeets altered fermentation and with the exception of corn, decreased in vitro DM digestion. Nutrient composition and DM content of ensiled sugarbeets was altered with the addition of dry substrates.     

Preference and motivation for different diet forms and their effect on motivation for a foraging enrichment in captive Orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica)

Motivation tests were conducted to assess preference strength for diet form and a cage enrichment device by Orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica) held in individual cages, N = 10. Each cage was equipped with two trough-type feeders, one of which had a hinged lid that required lifting to access feeder content; cost of lifting the lid could be increased by the addition of up to 480 g upon it, ～1.5 times the mass of an Amazon parrot. Motivation tests were conducted using three different diet forms of pellets (regular-sized, 0.16 g/pellet (cylindrical-shaped); large-sized, 3.4 g/pellet (cylindrical); and over-sized, 3–5 g/pellet (cuboid-to-spheroid)) manufactured from the same diet formulation. When regular pellets were concomitantly freely available, birds were still highly motivated to gain access to either large-sized or over-sized pellets, with 7 of 10 birds lifting the maximum weight of 480 g. In motivation tests comparing over-sized vs. large-sized pellets, birds worked more for over-sized pellets (when large-sized pellets were freely available) than vice versa: motivation for over-sized pellets exceeded that for large-sized pellets by approximately 242.67 ± 64.4 g (F = 14.2, P = 0.0055; Sign Test, P = 0.0078). Additional tests assessed motivation to access 2.5 cm/side wooden cube enrichment devices when regular or over-sized pellets were freely available. Birds removed more cubes when fed regular pellets (Sign Test, P = 0.0078) and lifted an average of 221.33 ± 64.62 g more to access them (F = 11.73, P = 0.009; Sign Test, P = 0.0063), than when over-sized pellets were freely available, suggesting that enrichment devices may act as foraging substitutes. Likewise, both wooden cubes and over-sized pellets elicited comparable podomandibulation (handling with beak and foot) behavior, and podomandibulation was reduced when parrots were fed regular as opposed to over-sized pellets (58 ± 10 s [mean ± SE] vs. 4.27 min ± 31 s; P < 0.0001). Finally, there was no evidence of contrafreeloading: in control experiments, birds only removed pellets which were freely available, when the same pellets were concomitantly available in weighted-lid feeders (F = 120.20, P < 0.0001). In summary, these results show that captive Orange-winged Amazon parrots strongly prefer pellet forms that are substantially larger than what is commercially recommended for them; preferred forms more closely resemble that of native wild foods, such as palm fruits.     

The influence of drinker location and colour on drinking behaviour and water intake of newborn pigs under hot environments

The effect of drinker location within the farrowing crate in relation to its microenvironment and the effect of dispenser colour on drinking behaviour and water intake of newborn pigs for the first two days of their lives were studied. In the first trial, 16 sows were randomly assigned to four treatment groups with the piglet's water dispenser placed in the front right (FR), front left (FL), back right (BR) or back left (BL) corner of the farrowing pen, respectively. In the second trial nine sows were randomly assigned to three treatment groups with the piglets’ water dispenser, placed in the front left corner of the farrowing pen, and coloured as red (CR), green (CG) or blue (CB), respectively. Trials commenced between 08:00 and 10:00 h on the first morning after the litters were born and the piglets’ age was considered to be zero (“age”) by that time.The average age of the piglets at their first visit to water dispensers was 15.9 ± 1.8 h. The newborn pigs visited the drinker more frequently (P < 0.001) during daytime than during night, with two peaks soon after sow feeding time. The duration of drinking time was long at the time of higher (noon) and shorter at the time of lowest (early morning) temperatures (P < 0.01) in the farrowing house, respectively. The greatest attention at the drinkers occurred soon after suckling (P < 0.001). The longest time spends at the drinker during the first visits and decreased as the pigs visited dispensers repeatedly. The profile of visit frequency and duration differed between piglet sexes (P < 0.001). The pigs that did not visit the drinker grew slower and were lighter at 48 h of age than the pigs visited the drinker. First visit and overall mean visit age were significantly shorter for BL than for FR and BR groups. Piglets visited the FL drinker for shorter time than the others. Water consumption per pig/24 h was lower for FL and higher for BL groups (P < 0.05). Water consumption was higher for CR and CB groups than for CG group. The overall mean visit age was shorter for CG than for CB group. Significant interactions were observed between sex and colour groups for the number of visits (P < 0.05). The results of the present study revealed that water dispenser use by newborn piglets is characterised by diurnal and between two successive milk consumptions distributions. Water consumption by piglets from birth to 48 h of their lives is strongly influenced by water dispenser location in the farrowing pen and the dispenser colour. It also appears that males and females behave differently to the three colour dispensers used in this study.     

Socio-spatial criteria are important for the establishment of maternal preference in lambs

At lambing, ewes (Ovis aries) tend to isolate themselves from the flock and this is believed to be beneficial to the early relationship with their young. Later, they return to the flock and lambs progressively interact with other conspecifics. This study focused on the importance of isolation and socio-spatial factors on maternal recognition in lambs. All the ewes gave birth in individual 2 m² pens and lambs were able to interact freely with their mothers. A first experiment investigated the role of isolation: INT1 lambs could progressively interact with other mothers and young in a pen which was increased in surface area from birth to 24 h (0–6 h: 1 ewe, 1 litter, 2 m²; 6–12 h: 2 ewes, 2 litters, 4 m²; 12–24 h: 4 ewes, 4 litters, 8 m²); ISO lambs remained in small pens (2 m²) and only with their mothers for 24 h. The lambs were submitted to a 5 min choice test between their own mothers and an alien ewe. At 12 h INT1 lambs, unlike ISO lambs, showed a clear preference for their mothers. ISO lambs still did not show any maternal preference at 24 h. The second experiment investigated the relative importance of social interactions while keeping the same space allowance for the two groups: INT2 lambs as described for INT1 in Experiment 1, and SPA lambs that remained isolated from the flock with their mothers but had the same increase in pen surface area as INT2 lambs. Both INT2 and SPA lambs displayed a preference for their own mothers at 12 h but INT2 lambs did so more rapidly. Our data also suggest that INT1 and INT2 lambs chose their own mothers at a distance. These results demonstrate that progressively increasing social interactions with flock members other than the mother facilitates the establishment of a preference for the mother in lambs. Increasing space allowance only also seems to have facilitating effects. This suggests that a rich socio-spatial environment from birth has beneficial effects on the development of filial bonding.     

Dynamics of thermographic skin temperature response during squat exercise at two different speeds

Low intensity resistance training with slow movement and tonic force generation has been shown to create blood flow restriction within muscles that may affect thermoregulation through the skin. We aimed to investigate the influence of two speeds of exercise execution on skin temperature dynamics using infrared thermography. Thirteen active males performed randomly two sessions of squat exercise (normal speed, 1 s eccentric/1 s concentric phase, 1 s; slow speed, 5 s eccentric/5 s concentric phase, 5 s), using ~50% of 1 maximal repetition. Thermal images of ST above muscles quadriceps were recorded at a rate of 0.05 Hz before the exercise (to determine basal ST) and for 480 s following the initiation of the exercise (to determine the nonsteady-state time course of ST). Results showed that ST changed more slowly during the 5 s exercise (p=0.002), whereas the delta (with respect to basal) excursions were similar for the two exercises (p>0.05). In summary, our data provided a detailed nonsteady-state portrait of ST changes following squat exercises executed at two different speeds. These results lay the basis for further investigations entailing the joint use of infrared thermography and Doppler flowmetry to study the events taking place both at the skin and the muscle level during exercises executed at slow speed.     

A brief report on intra-species aggressive biting in a goat herd

This study aimed at analysing the effects of age, horn and places on biting and butting as intra-species aggressive activities. Seventy-two Turkish Saanen goats were used as animal material and 22,686 aggressive behaviours were recorded in different places from a total of 118 h direct observation. Of the observations of aggressive behaviours, 32.7% was biting behaviour and the rest was butting behaviour. The frequency of biting behaviour in 3 or more years old goats was significantly higher than that of biting behaviour in 1 and 2 years old animals (P ≤ 0.01). The observations revealed that horned or hornless goats exhibited biting behaviour; however the frequency of biting behaviour in hornless goats was 2.38 times higher than in horned goats (P ≤ 0.01). Biting and butting behaviours were found to be well correlated with the area of places (P ≤ 0.01). As the area of places got narrowed, the frequency of biting increased. However, such a trend was not observed in butting behaviour. The frequency of butting behaviour again increased with the increase in social hierarchy (P ≤ 0.01), whereas the frequency of biting behaviour was not affected by social hierarchy (P = 0.30). In conclusion, intra-species biting behaviour, which is thought to have developed as a result of horn absence, should be questioned whether this is unique to the herd or to the genotype.     

The effects of confinement on periparturient behaviour and circulating prolactin,prostaglandin F2α and oxytocin in gilts with access to a variety of nest materials

In a 2×2 factorial experiment, the effects of gestation and farrowing housing on (1) periparturient behaviour and circulating prolactin, prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) and oxytocin in gilts with access to peat, straw and branches, and (2) correlational relationships between the periparturient behaviour and hormones were studied. The treatments consisted of housing in stalls or pens from mating to day 110 of gestation followed by farrowing crates or pens until after parturition. Landrace×Yorkshire gilts were observed from video recordings (n=25) from 20 h prepartum and blood sampled via jugular catheters (n=16) from 24 h prepartum until 2 h after the birth of the first piglet.There was an interaction between gestation and farrowing housing affecting the start of nest-building (P=0.03). Gilts that experienced a change in type of housing accommodation commenced nest-building closer to parturition than gilts that were penned both during gestation and at farrowing (both P<0.05). There were no effects of the housing environment on the timing of termination of nest-building, behaviour during parturition, or the course of parturition. However, relative to base level, crated gilts sat more from 16 to 6 h prepartum, whereas this was the case for penned gilts only from 9 to 7 h prepartum. Crated gilts also tended to change posture more often (P=0.07) and lie more in sternal recumbency (P=0.095). This suggests that familiarity with the environment in combination with space to move about and/or availability of materials is important in the timing of nest-building. Confinement during farrowing did not appear to impair feed-back from the materials and the nest, although increased number of postural changes may reflect the motivation but inability to nest-build, or general discomfort in the crate.There was a development over time in postural and nest-building behaviours as well as in plasma concentrations of prolactin, PGF_2α (measured by the metabolite PGFM) and oxytocin, but there were only few effects of housing treatments on hormones or associations between behaviour and hormones. The results suggest that nest-building occurs independently of a prepartum rise in prolactin, but that oxytocin may be associated with the termination of nest-building as there was a negative correlational relationship with nosing (P<0.01) and arranging nest-building materials (P<0.001).Farrowing crate housing appeared to have fewer effects on periparturient behaviour and course of parturition than reported in previous studies where effects of confinement and provision of nest-building materials may have been confounded. Thus, provision of nest-building materials to crated sows may have beneficial effects on sow behaviour and welfare.     

Effects of mulberry leaves to replace rapeseed meal on performance of sheep feeding on ammoniated rice straw diet

This study was conducted to investigate effects of leaves of mulberry tree (Morus alba) as a protein supplement to isonitrogenously replace rapeseed meal (RSM) on performance of growing lambs offered ammoniated rice straw (ABRS) (Trial 1), and to evaluate the digestive characteristics of the ABRS supplemented with different ratios of RSM and mulberry leaves in terms of in vitro gas production (Trial 2). In Trial 1, 45 Huzhou lambs were divided into five equal groups according to their body weight and gender. Lambs in each group were kept in three pens (male, female and mixed (one male and two females)), and received one of the following dietary treatments: 100 g RSM (A), 75 g RSM plus 60 g mulberry leaves (B), 50 g RSM plus 120 g mulberry leaves (C), 25 g RSM plus 180 g mulberry leaves (D), and 240 g mulberry leaves (E). All animals were given ABRS ad libitum along with 100 g ground corn per head per day. The intake of ABRS was slightly increased with the supplementary level of mulberry leaves, and hence total intake increased with the increasing level of mulberry leaves. The growth rates were higher in diets A and E than those in other treatments (P<0.05), with little difference between diets A and E, and the slowest in C. Animals of all genders showed a similar trend, though male lambs was higher in weight gain than the female. While feed efficiency was higher in diet A, concentrate consumption per kilogram of weight gain was lower when higher level of mulberry leaves was supplemented (diets D and E). Feed cost per kilogram gain was lower in diets E and A compared to other treatments. Degradation of dry matter in the rumen of sheep were higher for mulberry leaves than for RSM, but crude protein was less degraded for mulberry leaves than for RSM. The potential GP was significantly higher in diet A than those in B, C and D (P<0.05), and higher in E than in C (P<0.05) (Trial 2), indicating a negative associate effect of mulberry leaves and RSM on digestion. It is inferred that mulberry leaves may be used as a protein supplement to ammoniated straw diets to fully substitute for RSM, but these two supplements should unlikely be supplemented together to avoid the negative associate effect.