Spatial Preferences of farrowing sows

1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 ◽  
pp. 63-63
Author(s):  
A M Petchey
Keyword(s):  
Nest Site ◽  
Enriched Environment ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Body Width ◽  
Freedom Of Movement ◽  
Building Activity ◽  
High Standards

To satisfy stringent welfare criteria a farrowing pen must meet the sows’ needs for freedom of movement and allow her to exhibit most normal behaviours.Pens must be designed which provide adequate space for the loose housed farrowing sow but which have additional features to promote high standards of pig care. The sow should not be left to farrow indiscriminately within the pen but must be provided with an enriched environment to satisfy both her needs and those of the piglets. Within the pen the sow requires a suitable nest site and material to manipulate immediately pre-farrowing. These features can only be provided when it becomes known what the sows’ find desirable. In previous work it was shown that sows’ preferred to build their nests and farrow within a cubicle rather than in a corner or against a straight but open wall and that sows exhibit intensive nest building activity in the 14 hours before farrowing. In this trial the objective was to determine the farrowing sows’ response to an arrangement of parallel walls spaced 0.55, 0.95 and 1.35 m apart. The rationale behind the measurements was that they approximated to the body width, height and length of a generalised sow. Information about the sows’ response to such a wall arrangement would be useful if pens with walk-through nests were being designed.

Pairing and nest site selection in solitary and yellow-throated vireos with a description of a ritualized nest building display

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 1163-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross D. James
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Pair Formation ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Nest Construction ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Building Activity ◽  
Vireo Solitarius

Solitary (Vireo solitarius) and yellow-throated (Vireo flavifrons) vireos were studied in May and June, in Ontario between 1969 and 1975, and in British Columbia in 1976. Most unmated males search for nest sites and begin to build nests prior to the arrival of females in their territories. Upon the female's arrival, the first displays by the male are precopulatory. Displays involving chasing are seldom seen. Nests started by males, and other suitable nest sites serve as display areas during pair formation. The presence of more than one display site indicates that nests started by males are more important in pairing than as sites for final nests. A nest building display occurs most often and vigorously in the early building period when the male is actively assisting in nest construction. The frequency and duration of the display then wanes along with the male's building activity. The nest building display is not part of the precopulatory display, but has become important in pair formation. The males appear to choose the site for a final nest.

Nest site choice by farrowing sows offered cubicles or parallel walls

1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 ◽  
pp. 220-220
Author(s):  
A M Petchey
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Physical Protection ◽  
Freedom Of Movement ◽  
Straight Wall ◽  
Nest Site Choice ◽  
Building Activities

Freedom of movement and the opportunity to express normal behaviours are important requirements for any housing system which satisfies the welfare codes (MAFF, 1983). Intensive pig production systems generally house farrowing sows in crates to minimise the probability that piglets will be crushed. To satisfy the welfare codes there is, therefore, a need to develop a loose housing system which satisfies a multiplicity of conditions. It must give the sow unrestrained movement, allow nest building activities, provide physical protection and warm environmental conditions for the young piglets. In a previous choice trial sows sited their nests within cubicles rather than a corner or beside a straight wall (Hunt and Petchey, 1989). In another trial they were offered an arrangement of parallel walls spaced 0.55,0.95 or 1.35 m apart, most sows (0.44) chose to farrow between the 0.55 m spaced walls (Petchey, 1991). Sows making this choice (ie 0.55 m spacing) also exhibited more nest building behaviours and built significantly bigger nests (P<0.05). The trial reported here offers sows the preferred sites of the two previous trials.

Size spectra, body width and morphotypes of intertidal nematodes: an ecological interpretation

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 1007-1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Tita ◽  
M. Vincx ◽  
G. Desrosiers
Keyword(s):  
Nematode Species ◽  
The Body ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
Tidal Level ◽  
Body Width ◽  
Size Spectra ◽  
Lawrence Estuary ◽  
Quality Food ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sandy Sediments

Nematode species from three intertidal assemblages (St Lawrence Estuary, Quebec, Canada) were studied in order to form an ecological interpretation of three allometric attributes: body width, size spectra, and morphotypes. The three assemblages were characterized by a very similar sediment grain median (Md) but different silt–clay proportions: A1 (upper-tidal level; Md=122 μm; silt=34.8%), A3 (mid-tidal level; Md=182 μm; silt=12.8%), and A5 (lower-tidal level; Md=122 μm; silt=6.8%). Silt–clay proportions were an influential factor in determining the mean nematode body width, used as a morphological discriminant between burrowing and interstitial organisms. A plot of the number of species vs the body width-classes showed two peaks: between 19.3 and 22.6 μm (interstitial), and between 32.0 and 45.5 μm (burrowers). As for the size spectra, in sandy sediments the mean nematode individual biomass was smaller than in muddy sediments. As a consequence, the estimated mean individual respiration rate was greater in muddy (A1=2.26 nl O2 h−1) than sandy sediments (A3=1.25 nl O2 h−1; A5=1.12 nl O2 h−1). In contrast, estimated metabolic ratios were lower in A1 (2.78 nl O2 h−1 μg−1 dry weight, DW) than in A3 (2.95 nl O2 h−1 μg−1 DW) and A5 (3.01 nl O2 h−1 μg−1 DW) suggesting different productivity and/or physiological adaptations to different lifestyles (burrowing vs interstitial) between species inhabiting muddy or sandy sediments. Morphotypes (body width/body length ratio=w/l ratio) were found to be associated with feeding groups. Small w/l ratios were typical of microvores, while greater ratios were typical of epigrowth feeders and predators. Ciliate-feeders, deposit-feeders and facultative predators had intermediate ratios. A morphotype food-related hypothesis is proposed: the species morphotype reflects the quality of exploited food; a small w/l ratio (i.e. long gut) would favour digestive efficiency and would be an adaptation to low quality food (microvores); inversely, a greater w/l ratio (i.e. short gut) would be an adaptation to high quality food (epigrowth-feeders and predators).

Growth, development and allometry of Philophthalmus nocturnus in the eyes of domestic chicks

1992 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. G. M. Swarnakumari ◽  
R. Madhavi
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Adult Stage ◽  
The Body ◽  
Lag Phase ◽  
Allometric Growth ◽  
Body Width ◽  
Rapid Phase ◽  
Growth Development ◽  
Two Phases

ABSTRACTFifty day-old chicks were each infected with 10 excysted metaccreariae of Philophthalimus nocturnus Looss. 1907 around each orbit and growth, development and allometry were studied. The growth rate showed two phases over a period of 35 days, a limited lag phase lasting two days post-infection in which flukes did not exceed 440 μm in length, and a rapid phase during which growth was rapid and flukes reached a size of 3·008–3·504 mm on day 35. Five developmental stages were noticed during the course of development of the metacercaria to the egg-producing adult stage. Eggs appeared in the uterus on day 14 and oculate miracidia on day 25. The hindhody, testes and ovary showed positive allometric growth, the pharnyx less so, whereas negative allometric growth was shown by the forebody. Body width, oral sucker and ventral sucker were close to isometry, growing at the same rate as the body length.

scholarly journals Intra-specific morphological and morphometric variability of Radopholus similis (Cobb, 1893) Thorne, 1949

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 841-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Roy ◽  
K Roy ◽  
S. Sarkar ◽  
A Rathod ◽  
J. Hore
Keyword(s):  
The Body ◽  
Radopholus Similis ◽  
Body Width ◽  
Head Region ◽  
Morphometric Characters ◽  
Lateral Field ◽  
Oesophageal Gland ◽  
Morphometric Features ◽  
Basal Bulb ◽  
Stylet Length

All the root inhabiting migratory endoparasitic nematode populations of Radopholus procured from banana crop of Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala were identified as Radopholus similis. Heat killed females were straight to slightly ventrally curved posteriorly. Female’s head was low, rounded, continuous or slightly setoff with the body contour. Females were 500-660 µm long and were comparatively longer than males. Males had button shaped head set off by a constriction; female with three to five lip annuli, four crenate and areolated lateral incisures, stylet 14-18 µm long with rounded knobs, vulva post-equatorial (58%), sometimes with slight protuberant lips, ovary paired and equally developed, oesophageal gland overlapped the intestine dorsally, tail elongate-conoid with narrowly rounded terminus. The stylet length (µm), width of stylet knob (µm), distance of excretory pore from anterior end (µm), distance from head to basal bulb (µm), lateral field structure, shape of stylet knob, head region, position of phasmid, tail shape with its terminus, morphometric values like m%, o% and v% and a, c and c´ ratios of females were stable (CV<12%) features. There is an existence of intra-specific variability in the morphological and morphometric features of R. similis. The main morphological diversity was observed with P% of male and female, b ratio of female and stylet length, distance of DEGO from stylet base, o% and T% of male. All the root inhabiting migratory endoparasitic nematode populations of Radopholus Thorne, 1949 procured from banana of Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala were identified as Radopholus similis (Cobb, 1893) Thorne, 1949. A high degree of intra-specific morphometric variability was observed with regard to the total body length (µm), body width (µm), stylet length (µm), distance of dosrsal oesophageal gland orifice (DEGO) from stylet base (µm), number of lip annuli, lip height (µm), distance from head to basal bulb (µm), distance of anus from anterior end (µm), tail length (µm), anal body width (µm), distance of phasmid from tail terminus (µm), number of lateral lines, width of lateral field (µm), b ratio and P % among females of R. similis. Morphometric features like m%, o% and v% of females of R. similis showed least variability. These can be considered as the stable morphometric characters for discrimination of females of R. similis. Ratios like ‘a’ and ‘c’ of females of R. similis were found moderately variable. The morphometric feature and of male i.e. distance from head to basal bulb (µm) was found least variable; while number of lip annuli and spicule length (µm) were moderately variable.  

scholarly journals Intra-specific differences in cognition: bumblebee queens learn better than workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 20210280
Author(s):  
Felicity Muth
Keyword(s):  
Social Insects ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Comparative Cognition ◽  
The Body ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Future Success ◽  
Learning Capabilities ◽  
Foraging Experience ◽  
Better Than

Species’ cognitive traits are shaped by their ecology, and even within a species, cognition can reflect the behavioural requirements of individuals with different roles. Social insects have a number of discrete roles (castes) within a colony and thus offer a useful system to determine how ecological requirements shape cognition. Bumblebee queens are a critical point in the lifecycle of their colony, since its future success is reliant on a single individual's ability to learn about floral stimuli while finding a suitable nest site; thus, one might expect particularly adept learning capabilities at this stage. I compared wild Bombus vosnesenskii queens and workers on their ability to learn a colour association and found that queens performed better than workers. In addition, queens of another species, B. insularis, a cuckoo species with a different lifecycle but similar requirements at this stage, performed equally well as the non-parasitic queens. To control for differences in foraging experience, I then repeated this comparison with laboratory-based B. impatiens and found that unmated queens performed better than workers. These results add to the body of work on how ecology shapes cognition and opens the door to further research in comparative cognition using wild bees.

scholarly journals Equipping Farrowing Pens with Straw Improves Maternal Behavior and Physiology of Min-Pig Hybrid Sows

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Chao Wang ◽  
Qian Han ◽  
Runze Liu ◽  
Wenbo Ji ◽  
Yanju Bi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Behavior ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Enriched Environment ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Parental Behaviors ◽  
Bout Duration ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Building Behavior

This study investigated the effects of two factors, enriched environment (EE) and different crossbreeds, on the maternal behavior and physiology of Min-pig hybrid sows. The analysis was performed on a total of 72 multiparous sows, including Duroc × Min pig (DM), Landrace × Min pig (LM), and Landrace × Yorkshire (LY) sows, using a total of 24 sows per cross. The sows were housed in two different farrowing pens, one with straw (EE) and one without straw (barren environment (BE)). The results showed that nest-building behavior, including the frequency, total duration, and bout duration, was significantly higher in EE sows than in BE sows (p < 0.01). The frequency and duration of prepartum nest-building behavior were higher in DM and LM sows than in LY sows (p < 0.0001). During the first three days postpartum, EE sows spent a shorter time in ventral recumbency compared with BE sows (p < 0.05). The oxytocin (p < 0.05) and prolactin (p < 0.01) concentrations of EE sows were significantly higher than in BE sows; however, the concentration of cortisol followed the opposite (p < 0.01). The concentration of oxytocin was significantly higher in DM and LM sows than in LY sows (p < 0.01). In conclusion, both EE increased the expression of hormones related to parental behaviors and prenatal nesting and nursing behavior of sows. Furthermore, an EE can also reduce stress in sows. Min-pig hybrids may inherit highly advantageous characteristics of maternal behavior of Min-pig sows.

Physiological maturation and reproductive behaviour of female doves (Streptopelia risoria) held under long and short photoperiods

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Liley
Keyword(s):  
Nest Site ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Short Photoperiod ◽  
Courtship Behaviour ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Streptopelia Risoria ◽  
Long Photoperiod

Female doves were held under long (16 h per day), or short (8 h per day) photoperiod and exposed to actively courting males for 4.5 h per day for 15 days. The occurrence of egg laying and nest building was recorded daily. Behavioural observations were recorded for 15 min on alternate days.Seven out of eight long-photoperiod females laid eggs, whereas only one of nine short-photoperiod females began egg laying. Soliciting by the female and nest building involving male and female are the best indicators of a female's readiness to begin breeding. The occurrence of these activities is correlated with the growth of follicles and oviduct. Copulation and associated behaviours are not correlated with follicle and oviduct growth, and appear to be controlled by factors different from those governing courtship behaviour associated with the nest site.

Reproductive behaviour in captive freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium australiense Holthuis

1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
NV Ruello ◽  
PF Moffitt ◽  
SG Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
First Record ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Freshwater Shrimp ◽  
Australian Species ◽  
Building Activity ◽  
In Captivity

The nest building and beckoning behaviour, the female premating moult, the mating process, and parental care demonstrated by a pair of captive Macrobrachium australiense are described and compared with the reproductive activity previously recorded for several other palaemonid shrimps. This is believed to be the first record of nest building activity in the Natantia. Although M. australiense will breed in captivity without any apparent difficulty, the relatively low fecundity and small size of adults of this and most other Australian species of Macrobrachium seem to limit their economic potential for aquaculture.

The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) infection with Schistocephalus solidus in Hel marina (Puck Bay, Baltic Sea, Poland)

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdeněk Mačát ◽  
Adam Bednařík ◽  
Martin Rulík
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
The Body ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Body Width ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Schistocephalus Solidus ◽  
Total Prevalence ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Puck Bay

AbstractParasitic relations between animals are very common in wild nature. In this paper, we studied levels of infection in three-spined stickleback with plerocercoids of Schistocephalus solidus from Puck Bay (Baltic Sea, Poland). The total prevalence of infection was 54.2%, while proportion of infected individuals was significantly higher for females than for males. The body width was found to be significantly positively correlated with the number and the weight of parasites. In spite of the increasing deterioration of the Baltic Sea ecosystem by excessive eutrophication and hypoxia, lower prevalence of infection compared to previous published data indicates that there are likely other factors than pollution affecting the life cycle of parasites and the level of parasitism.

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