Early growth and sucking behaviour of Soay sheep in a fluctuating population

Annual variation in growth rate and sucking behaviour of lambs was studied in a fluctuating population of Soay sheep on Hirta, St. Kilda. Growth rates during the summer declined with increasing population size in the previous autumn despite an increase in time spent sucking in the first six weeks of life. The increase in time spent sucking was due largely to an increase in sucking frequency and, since a higher proportion of sucking attempts were rejected, probably reflected that lambs obtain little milk as a result of poor maternal condition following winters at high population density. After accounting for the density dependent variation, annual differences in lamb growth rates were positively related to the increase in biomass of live grasses and forbs between spring and summer. Since food availability was influenced strongly by the numbers surviving the winter, lambs born after the very high mortality at peak population density were able to compensate to some extent for their poor initial growth. However, improved food availability was never sufficient to facilitate complete catch-up growth and may permanently influence adult size and reproduction.     

Effect of accommodating sucking and nosing on the behaviour of artificially reared piglets

Neonatal piglets are often used in biomedical research applications that require artificial rearing. Social housing can be problematic because the piglets develop belly nosing, navel and ear sucking that can result in injury. Our objective was to determine the effectiveness of using feeding devices that provide various opportunities for sucking and nosing behaviour on reducing piglet-directed behaviour of group-housed laboratory piglets. Fifteen piglets were used in each of four trials. The piglets nursed their dam for approximately 72 h to obtain passive immunity before transfer to a laboratory facility where they were allotted, five per group, to one of three stainless steel isolator units. Each unit featured a different style of feeding system for the delivery of milk replacer: a plastic trough (T), a nipple (N) mounted on a smooth plexiglass wall, or a nipple mounted on a pliant bag of sterile water (artificial udder [AU]). Each system had five feeding spaces so that all piglets fed simultaneously. Milk was provided at 6-h intervals, and behaviour was recorded on alternate days for 12 days post-weaning. Although trough-fed piglets began to eat much sooner than those piglets fed from nipples, time spent nosing, chewing or sucking on pen-mates and belly nosing were markedly higher in T piglets than in either N or AU, overall (mean: P<0.05) and over time (quadratic: P<0.05). Over time, N piglets developed a stereotypic snout rubbing on the wall behind the nipples, while AU piglets massaged and often fell asleep in contact with the udder from day 2 of the trial. Resting patterns were also affected. N and AU piglets settled down to rest more quickly (P<0.01) and spent significantly more time resting in the hour following feeding than T piglets (P<0.05). A feeding device that accommodates both sucking and massage can significantly reduce piglet-directed behaviour and may facilitate social housing of artificially reared piglets.     

The phylogenetic development of brooding behaviour in the hirudinea

Summary Within the Clitellata the habit of brooding the eggs and offspring is known only in the Glossiphoniidae, suggesting that the habit probably arose de novo in that family. Within extant glossiphoniids, the degree of protection given to the offspring can be arranged in a continuous series of increasing complexity, which may approximate the phylogenetic development of the behaviour culminating with a well developed brood pouch in Marsupiobdella. Further analysis of this brooding behaviour may shed light on the relationships of the higher categories of the Hirudinea. Brooding, which may have been derived from the habit of ventilating newly laid cocoons, known in some erpobdellids, probably evolved as a mechanism for increased survival of the offspring by protecting the offspring from heavy predation. Resume Chez la Clitellata l'habitude de couver les oeufs et les petits n'est connue que chez la Glossiphoniidae, ce qui suggère que l'habitude s'est probablement produite de novo dans cette famille. Chez les glossiphoniids la mesure de protection accordée aux petits peut s'arranger dans une série continue de complexité croissante, qui peut se rapprocher de la développement phylogénétique de l'habitude, se culminent en une poche ventrale chez le Marsupiobdella. Une analyse de cette habitude de couver les oeufs et les petits pourrait peut-être éclairer les parentés des genres des hirudinées. Cette habitude, qui peut avoir développé de l'habitude de ventiler les cocons récemment pondus, connue chez quelques erpobdellids, a probablement évolvé comme un méchanisme qui produirait une plus grande survie chez les petits en les protégant de la prédation sévère.     

The development of nursing behaviour in swine

Certain aspects of nursing behaviour in the sow have been well documented. This literature has revealed that during parturition, nursing is asynchronous and continuous, while later in the lactation nursing is synchronous and cyclical. Fourteen Yorkshire sows and their litters were observed during the first week of lactation to study the transition from the first type of nursing to the second.The first type of nursing was termed neo-nursing and the second, cyclical nursing. Equivalent designations were assigned to suckling. The transition from neo-nursing to cyclical nursing occurred 10.7 ± 4.5 h following the birth of the first piglet. Using the video-taped behaviour of the sow and her piglets, the first cyclical nursing was defined as the first nursing of less than 30 min duration which was preceded by a period of at least 30 min in which less than one half of the litter was suckling. This transition was easily determined on the video-tapes, with little ambiguity. The transition tended to be fairly abrupt, and was probably due to the cessation of oxytocin release and the consequent cessation of continuous milk flow.     

The development of the refractive state in the newborn Thomson gazelle

Changes in refractive error during the first 3 months of life were studied retinoscopically in six Thomson gazelles (Gazella thomsoni). Animals were hand-raised to allow repeat testing over time without chemical restraint. Refraction results were correlated with ultrasound measurements of intraocular dimensions, and with values in adult gazelles. Gazelles are born hyperopic with a mean refractive error of 3.44±0.31 D. By day 50, the animals are virtually emmetropic (0.13±0.21 D) and remain so in adulthood (0.03±0.09 D). The refractive error is highly correlated with the axial length (r²=0.96) and with the vitreous chamber depth (r²=0.83), but not with anterior chamber depth. Significant with-the-rule astigmatism was recorded (P<0.001).     

The effects of indomethacin on the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia in the premature and mature newborn goat.

The effects of indomethacin on the pulmonary circulation and the response of the circulation to hypoxia were investigated in premature and mature newborns using an isolated perfusion technique on otherwise intact left lungs in situ. There was an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and augmentation of the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance during hypoxia following indomethacin. These effects were greater in the premature than in the mature newborn. Indomethacin effectively removes a dilator influence on the pulmonary circulation. The results are consistent with the concept that prostaglandins are important in regulating pulmonary vascular resistance.     

The development of feeding behaviour in the lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus

This study concerned the development of feeding in larval lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus , and tested the hypothesis that these large, well-developed larvae would not use typical 'larval-like' modal action patterns (MAPs) in high frequency during early feeding. The early behavioural repertoire of larvae is unique, owing to a well-developed, ventral adhesive disk used to adhere ( Cling ) to available surfaces. Most early feeding MAPs were performed from the Cling position; larvae did not swim in the water column to chase and capture prey during the first three weeks post-hatch. Changes in feeding were not as predicted. The original hypothesis was refined to include a 'state of development' criterion as well as larval size.     

Transfer of gamma-glutamyltransferase from mother colostrum to newborn goat and foal

In goat and mare colostrum, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity is relatively low (mean values are, respectively, 900 and 350 U/l). In the serum of newborns before suckling, GGT is also low (less than or equal to 28 U/l in goats and less than or equal to U/l in foals); then in goats GGT is much increased on the 1st day (mean = 127 U/l), and it decreases during the following days. In foals, serum GGT slowly but regularly increases for the first 5 days, then decreases. Such differences can be attributed to intestinal protein absorption capabilities which are selective in newborn foals and unselective in goats. Therefore, serum GGT measurement can be a good test of colostrum intake in newborn goats, but not in foals.     

The contribution of the olfactory and tactile modalities to the nipple-search behaviour of newborn rabbits

By performing uni- and bilateral olfactory bulb lesions and uni- and bilateral transsections of the infraorbital branches of the trigeminal nerves in 2-day-old rabbits, it could be shown that: Both the olfactory and tactile modalities are essential for the successful performance of nipple-search behaviour. While bilateral bulbectomy completely eliminates searching, and hence suckling, unilateral bulbectomy has relatively little effect. Bilateral denervation of the muzzle does not eliminate searching, but pups are unable to suckle as they fail to show the mouth-opening component necessary for nipple attachment. In contrast to unilateral bulbectomy, unilateral denervation of the muzzle results in a lateralization of head movements during searching, nipple grasping and nipple release.     

The development of shoaling behaviour in the European minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus

The effects of development and disturbance on schooling and shoaling were observed in laboratory-raised minnows. Both behaviours were present at the onset of free swimming. Shoaling increased to become the most important behaviour by 3 weeks after emergence from gravel, while the main increase in schooling behaviour occurred at 4 weeks. These changes were accompanied by rises in elective group size and in the number of following responses, and by a decrease in nearest neighbour distance. The increases in social behaviour were observed at an earlier stage in the same minnows threatened by a standard net chase. The main increase in schooling in disturbed minnows took place between 3 and 4 weeks after emergence; after this time schooling became the dominant behaviour. Disturbed fish were also more likely to follow another minnow during an encounter.     

The development of social behaviour in the vole (Microtus agrestis)

Juvenile voles of the species Microtus agrestis investigated the bodies of other juveniles with the nose, by touching the dorsal surface from snout to tail. Play movements often followed such nosing contacts and augmented further contacts. The most important scent stimulating play was produced by the skin at the back of the head. The secretion of the nose and mouth region may convey sexual identity, the rump region and feet individual identity.
Young born in the spring and early summer often interacted and played, the autumn young seldom. The behaviour of overwintering sexually immature adults was similar to that of the autumn juveniles. It is suggested that this seasonal difference in the behaviour of juveniles has consequences for subsequent mature males, and that this developmental factor may have an important effect on the annual population cycle.     

The impact of different types of bath in the behaviour and physiology of 'rooming in' newborn babies

The new scientific knowledge about the behaviour of the newborn and their interactions as a developing factor, as well as the new neurosciences findings about the initial brain formation, gave us several elements for a new vision and reflection about the perinatal routines in hospitals. This study raises questions about the first experiences of the rooming in newborns during the specific act of bath, as the only determining factor in altering both behaviour and physiology. Through the monitoring of the heart rate frequency and observing the changes in the states of consciousness level, this article shows how the type of bath that the newborn is subjected to influences his/her organisation. The study showed significant results in the parameters observed during the electric shower bath, leading to unbalance of the subsystems where the individuals organise themselves; such findings made us classify this procedure as very stressing to the baby. To the contrary the bath in the "Tummy Tub" presented insignificant changes, showing a relaxed baby with normal bath behaviours and physiological status; thus this procedure appears to contribute to an energetic and interactive balance of the baby's various systems. The aggressive approach (electric shower) does not allow the newborn auto-regulation to occur and to get proper stimulation and learn basic interactive responses which would facilitate his /her healthy early infancy development.