Behavioural responses of pigs to atmospheric ammonia in a chronic choice test

1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. B. Jones ◽  
L. R. Burgess ◽  
A. J. F. Webster ◽  
C. M. Wathes
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Bedding Material ◽  
Ammonia Gas ◽  
Atmospheric Contamination ◽  
Atmospheric Ammonia ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Polluted Atmosphere

AbstractThe behaviour of two groups offour pigs in concentrations of ammonia gas that are frequently recorded in piggeries (0, 10, 20 and 40 p.p.m.), was continuously observed for 14 days each in a choice test. An octagonally shaped (annular), eight compartment preference chamber was built to house the pigs. Each compartment supplied the pigs with ample food, water and bedding material but differed in the level of atmospheric contamination. Adjacent compartments were separated by plastic curtains, allowing the pigs free access to neighbouring compartments while reducing cross-contamination of the pollutant. The position of the contamination was changed weekly to eliminate positional preferences. The location of the pigs was scan sampled every 15 min and their behaviour at this time was instantaneously recorded. A significantly greater proportion of their time was spent in the unpolluted compartments (53·4%) than in the 10 p.p.m. (26·9%), 20 p.p.m. (7·1%) or 40 p.p.m. (5·1%) compartments (P < 0·001). This avoidance was maintained for the 14 days that each group inhabited the chamber (P > 0·05). The occupancy pattern was resumed following the rotation of the ammonia concentrations and/or following cleaning (P > 0·05). Higher concentrations of ammonia were visited less often (P = 0·005) and once there, the pigs stayed for a comparatively shorter time (P = 0·003) for approximately 35 min. As the aversion was not immediate, it is suggested that aversion was not due to the odour of ammonia initially experienced on entry. Instead the insidious aversion may be due to a sense of malaise that may develop while a pig is in a polluted atmosphere. The pigs chose to rest (P = 0·002), sit (P = 0·007), feed (P = 0·007) and forage (P = 0·013) more in the unpolluted compartments. Overall more feeding behaviour was observed in the fresh air and more food was consumed in these compartments of the chamber (P = 0·002).

Behavioral-Response of Brushtail Possums, Trichosurus-Vulpecula, to Baits Used in Pest-Control

1990 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 601 ◽  
Author(s):  
DR Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Taste Aversion ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Behavioral Response ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Learned Aversion ◽  
Control Programmes

The behavioural responses of captive possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were observed during first encounters with non-toxic and toxic carrot and pellet baits used in pest control programmes. Possums confronted with new baits first used smell in a highly discriminating way, and then taste, which sometimes changed their initial response. Toxic carrot baits were rejected by 27.5% of possums, equally by smell and taste aversion, and toxic pellet baits by 34% of possums, mainly by taste aversion. Few (5-7%) rejected non-toxic baits. Such non-learned aversion mechanisms therefore have an important role in the feeding behaviour of possums. A range of flavours tested, using barley as a food base, showed that only orange-flavored barley was significantly preferred to non-flavoured barley; 19 flavours had no significant effect, and 19 others significantly reduced barley consumption. Orange and cinnamon, which was ranked fourth and repels some bird species, were tested as masks for 1080 baits. Both flavours effectively masked the aversive smell and taste of 1080. The levels of toxic flavoured bait rejection were low and did not differ from those of non-toxic (flavoured or non-flavoured) baits. Very few possums were observed vomiting, a behaviour in other species that may assist survival.

scholarly journals Neuromodulatory circuit effects on Drosophila feeding behaviour and metabolism

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Eriksson ◽  
Marlena Raczkowska ◽  
Rapeechai Navawongse ◽  
Deepak Choudhury ◽  
James C. Stewart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Behavioural Activity ◽  
Transgenic Lines ◽  
Group Feeding ◽  
Vinegar Fly ◽  
Climbing Ability ◽  
Genetically Manipulated

AbstractAnimals have evolved to maintain homeostasis in a changing external environment by adapting their internal metabolism and feeding behaviour. Metabolism and behaviour are coordinated by neuromodulation; a number of the implicated neuromodulatory systems are homologous between mammals and the vinegar fly, an important neurogenetic model. We investigated whether silencing fly neuromodulatory networks would elicit coordinated changes in feeding, behavioural activity and metabolism. We employed transgenic lines that allowed us to inhibit broad cellular sets of the dopaminergic, serotonergic, octopaminergic, tyraminergic and neuropeptide F systems. The genetically-manipulated animals were assessed for changes in their overt behavioural responses and metabolism by monitoring eleven parameters: activity; climbing ability; individual feeding; group feeding; food discovery; both fed and starved respiration; fed and starved lipid content; and fed/starved body weight. The results from these 55 experiments indicate that individual neuromodulatory system effects on feeding behaviour, motor activity and metabolism are dissociated.

Behavioural responses to climatic demands of dairy heifers housed outdoors

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Redbo ◽  
Anders Ehrlemark ◽  
Peter Redbo-Torstensson
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Winter Climate ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Dairy Heifers

The aim of the present study was to investigate the behavioural responses to different climatic demands of growing dairy heifers, during winter at a latitude of 60°N. Two groups (n= 11,12) of yearling dairy heifers were housed in two similar 3-ha enclosures, characterised by deciduous forest, ley and pasture. Each enclosure also contained a lying area, a heated water source and a feed bunk from which the heifers had free access to grass silage. The behaviour and location of each heifer were recorded by instant interval observations every 5 min between 0600 h and 2000 h during 23 observation days spread over the entire winter period. Outdoor temperature, wind speed and solar radiation were measured continuously. The climatic energy demand (CED, W m–2) was measured with a heated animal model. The climate had significant effects on all the main activities and on the location of the heifers. Higher CED values corresponded to a greater number of observations of heifers in the lying area, and a greater incidence of lying and of ruminating, but to a decreased incidence of eating and grazing. Increased migration to the forested areas instead of to open areas reflected increasing CED values. The results from the present study show that dairy heifers adapt their behavioural activity and choice of location to the climatic conditions, to reduce energy expenditure. Thus, dairy heifers can be sustained in a cold climate if they are provided with wind breaks and dry lying places. Key words: Bos taurus, dairy cattle, behaviour, winter climate

scholarly journals Urban plums and toads: do fleshy fruits affect the post-metamorphic growth of amphibians?

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6337
Author(s):  
Mikołaj Kaczmarski ◽  
Piotr Tryjanowski ◽  
Anna Maria Kubicka
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Fleshy Fruits ◽  
Prunus Cerasifera ◽  
Green Toad ◽  
Active Feeding ◽  
Fallen Fruit

Background The main aim of the study was to analyse the influence of fleshy fruits (plums) on the post-metamorphic growth and feeding behaviour of the green toad Bufotes viridis. We tested the following two hypotheses: (1) juveniles of the green toad are characterised by faster growth in conditions involving fallen plums Prunus cerasifera due to the associated presence of more varied food such as invertebrates; (2) green toads exhibit more active feeding behaviour in the presence of fleshy fruits. Methods A total of 120 fresh metamorphs of the green toad were randomly assigned to one of four groups: two experimental groups with fleshy plums and two other groups as controls (without fruits). Each group was kept in an enclosure to which wild invertebrates had free access. Each individual toad was measured for snout-vent length (mm) and body mass (g) every other day for 30 days. In order to determine whether fallen plums influence the feeding behaviour of toads, the number of active and hidden (under an artificial shelter) individuals was also noted. Results The results showed that green toads from both enclosures with plums were characterised by more rapid growth than individuals from the control treatments. Simultaneously, in the enclosure with fleshy fruits, greater species richness of wild invertebrates was observed. No differences in active feeding behaviour were noted between control groups and groups with plums. Discussion Fleshy fruits, upon falling, attract many types of invertebrates; thus they may represent good dietary supplements for fresh amphibian metamorphs. Therefore, the presence of fruit trees close to a breeding site might influences the post-metamorphic growth of amphibians, but not their feeding behaviour. The presence of insects associated with fallen fruit seems to favour the occurrence of amphibian populations, which is particularly important, since, due to political and social pressure, numbers of fruit trees are currently being reduced. To our knowledge, no previous study has investigated the potential influence of the presence of fruit trees on the growth and behaviour of anurans.

scholarly journals Nutrition al manipulation of feeding behaviour of birds

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-56
Author(s):  
E. J. Ubah ◽  
F. O. Abeke ◽  
I. I. Madziga
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Passage Rate ◽  
Eating Time ◽  
Rate Experiment

 A research to manipulate the feeding behaviour of laying hens from nutritional perspective was conducted with 504 ISA Brown. Seventeen (17) week old ISA brown with weights ranging between 1590 and 1812 g were allocated to six dietary treatments. There were seven replicates per treatment with 12 birds each making a total of 42 pens in all. Experimental diets differed in the levels of energy, levels insoluble Non Starch Polysaccharide (NSP) and the particle sizes of the NSP. Birds had free access to water and feed during which feeding observations with video cameras were made to observe and record the feeding behaviour of birds at 17, 21, 25, 29, 33 and 35 weeks of age. A computer software programme called Observer 5.0 was used to analyze the observations by one person for 30 minutes per cage. In order to gain more insight in the feeding behaviour of laying hens, 60 laying hens were used for a passage rate experiment using titanium dioxide as an inert marker: Five birds were used for each dietary treatment, and replicated twice. At t=0, three titanium capsules were offered to each bird. After five different time points (30, 90, 180, 270 and 360 minutes), these birds were sacrificed and dissected. The gut (titanium) contents from different segments of the GIT (crop, gizzard, ileum, colon and caeca) of each bird were analysed using spectrophotometer at an absorbance of 408 nm. Results from the study indicate that the feeding behaviour of laying hen can be manipulated nutritionally. Bulky diets (10.6 MJ/kg) significantly (P<0.05) increased the eating time of laying hens by 15% compared with normal energy content (11.8 MJ/kg) and this led to consumption of more feed (average 2355g) than those of normal energy diets (2175g). Similarly, the separate effect of NSP, NSP coarseness and interaction between low energy; NSP and NSP coarseness influenced the eating behaviour. Feeding layers with low density diet containing a combination of low energy high NSP coarse NSP increased the amount of time birds spent feeding by 32% and consequently increased the feed intake by 11% (average feed intake of 135g ) above normal energy low NSP mixture diet (average feed intake of 120g). The passage rate experiment showed that Low energy High non starch polysaccharide coarse (LeHnspcoarse) diet reduces the gut transit time, thus birds quickly feel hungrier after a period of satiety, possibly resulting in a short inter-meal interval. Conclusively, the interaction between low energy, high NSP and NSP coarseness influence birds' feeding behaviour necessitating increase in eating time and faster passage rate via the GIT  

Goats adjust their feeding behaviour to avoid the ingestion of different insect species

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (9) ◽  
pp. 805-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.S. Berman ◽  
T.A. Glasser ◽  
M. Inbar
Keyword(s):  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Tactile Stimulation ◽  
Insect Species ◽  
Capra Hircus ◽  
Behavioural Responses

Ungulates feed on plants that are often inhabited by insects. Goats (Capra hircus Linnaeus, 1758) can efficiently avoid the ingestion of setae-covered noxious, caterpillars while feeding, but it is unknown how they respond to non-toxic insects. We filmed and analysed the behavioural responses of goats to smooth, innocuous silkworms (Bombyx mori (Linnaeus, 1758)) while feeding. The goats successfully sorted the silkworms apart from the food despite their tendency to cling to the leaves. Although the goats exhibited behaviours similar to those displayed with noxious caterpillars, the frequency of the behaviours doubled and a new behaviour appeared. The goats detected silkworms using tactile stimulation, obtained by repeatedly touching the leaves with their muzzles. This behaviour enabled them to pick silkworm-free leaves (leaving 73% of silkworms behind). If the goats picked up leaves with a silkworm, then they shook it off. When shaking was unsuccessful, they employed a new behaviour, filtering, in which they physically blocked the silkworm with their lips while consuming the leaves. Silkworms that entered the mouths of goats (rare) were spat out. These findings demonstrate that ungulates are capable of adjusting their feeding behaviour to accurately detect and avoid the ingestion of different insect species.

scholarly journals Effect of early nutritional experience on the feeding behaviour of adult female rats

2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (No. 10 - 11) ◽  
pp. 315-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Šefčíková ◽  
Š. Mozeš
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Food Restriction ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Feeding Regime ◽  
Ad Libitum

In the present paper the effect of postnatal undernutrition on feeding behaviour has been evaluated in mature female Wistar rats subjected to food restriction a) during the suckling period, i. e. up to day 15 (SR), b) during the weaning period from day 15 to 30 (WR), c) throughout 30 days post partum (SWR) and d) during adulthood, i.e. from day 60&ndash;75 of life (AR). In comparison with the ad libitum fed controls (C), the lactating mothers and the pups of the food-restricted groups were allowed free access to food for only two hours daily. In experimental groups this restriction was then changed to an ad libitum regime. On day 90 food intake was evalu-ated daily in five 20 min lasting sessions after 23 h of fasting in group-housed and single-housed rats exposed to their home as well as to their experimental environment. The significantly decreased body weight found on day 30 and 90 in females coming from litters of restrictedly fed mothers, as compared with those fed ad libitum, showed that these animals were considerably undernourished. Appetitive motivation increased in those groups of females that had been exposed to a restricted feeding regime during their infant period but remained unaffected in females restrictedly fed during their adult age. In comparison with the ad libitum fed controls and AR groups, significantly increased mean food intake was observed in all postnatally underfed groups (P &lt; 0.001). The greatest inclination to hyperphagia and qualitative changes in feeding behaviour were observed in SWR females whose feeding regime was restricted for the longest time, i. e. during the suckling and the weaning period, as compared to groups with shorter food restriction. These animals showed hyperphagia even in the new environment regardless whether the whole group or only one female was tested. Our results reveal a) a determinant influence of the feeding regime of the animals at early age (41%) while environmental and social factors represent only about 17% and 4%, respectively and that b) changes in feeding habits in adult female rats may significantly depend on the length of postnatal undernutrition.

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