Artificial Rearing Research Articles

The Use of Artificial Rearing of Infant Mice from Day 2 of Life: One Generation Model of n‐3 Fatty Acid Deficiency

The Use of Artificial Rearing of Infant Mice from Day 2 of Life: One Generation Model of n‐3 Fatty Acid Deficiency

Effect of restricted suckling on milk yield, milk composition and udder health in cows and behaviour and weight gain in calves, in dual-purpose cattle in the tropics

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of restricted suckling (RS) in dual-purpose cows and calves compared to artificial rearing (AR). Twelve Holstein-Zebu cows with calves were assigned to each treatment. Cows were milked once daily in the morning with calves present to stimulate milk let-down. RS calves suckled 30 min after milking and 30 min in the afternoon, whereas AR calves were milk-fed from nipple bottles. The daily saleable milk yield was higher in RS than in AR cows (p < 0.01; 7.44 vs 6.50 kg/day), whereas RS cows had lower milk-fat content (p < 0.001). AR cows had higher California Mastitis Test scores (p < 0.001) and lower lactose content (p < 0.001) compared to RS cows, which indicates an improved udder health in RS cows. AR calves displayed more 'cross-suck' during suckling/milk feeding (p < 0.001) and during observations of general behaviour (p < 0.05), and more 'lick and sniff interior' during milking (p < 0.05) and suckling/milk feeding (p < 0.01), compared to RS calves. During observations of general behaviour the RS calves were more often observed to 'walk' (p < 0.01) and 'lick self' (p < 0.05) and less frequently to 'eat concentrate' (p < 0.05) than AR calves. Results support the hypothesis that RS increases milk yield, influences milk composition and improves udder health in cows, and decreases abnormal sucking in calves.

Assessment of proteolysis and lipolysis in cheeses made using artisanal lamb rennet paste

Rennet paste contains chymosin and pepsin as major enzymatic coagulant, and lipolytic enzymes such as pre-gastric lipase (PGL) and gastric lipase (GL), able to release free fatty acids during cheese ripening. Main factors influencing rennet paste features are diet (milk feeding, weaning) and slaughter age. Little is known about the effects of probiotic addition to milk substitute on the microbial and enzyme feature of rennet, and thus on the characteristics of cheese. In the present study the effects of different rennet pastes on the Pecorino foggiano cheese in terms of proteolytic and lipolytic characteristics were investigated. Twenty-four lambs were divided into six groups of four according to a 3x2 factorial design with lambs being subjected to three different feeding systems: mother suckling (MS), artificial rearing (AR), and artificial rearing with Lactobacillus acidophilus (Strain DSM 20079; DSMZ, Braunshweig-Germany; cells were suspended in milk replacer at the concentration of 7log 10 cfu ml-1) supplementation (ARLb) and slaughtered at 20d and 40d for each feeding treatment. Lambs’ abomasa were processed according to a traditional protocol to obtain rennet paste used for ovine cheese production. The extent of proteolysis and lipolysis in the cheese was monitored by determining the levels of free amino acids (FAAs) and free fatty acids (FFAs) in cheeses at 60 days of ripening. Total FAAs detected in MS cheeses was higher (P<0.05) than in other experimental cheeses, at both age of slaughtering of lambs. FAAs can be substrate for successive flavor forming reactions which convert FAA to various alcohols, aldehydes, acids, esters. Lowest levels of total FAA in ARLb cheeses could be related to the highest lactic microflora loads in rennet paste. In fact, in a previous note the supplementation of milk replacer with Lb. acidophilus was found to influence the growth dynamics of lactic acid bacteria in the rennet paste, with greater lactobacilli cell loads in cheese in the first stages of ripening. A reduction of individual FFA in cheese was observed in all treatments passing from 20 to 40 days of slaughtering of lambs. The most abundant free fatty acid were: butyric acid (C4:0), caproic acid (C6:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2) according to milk fatty acid content and other work on ovine cheese. ARLb cheeses displayed higher levels of short chain FFA (C4:0-C10:0) and medium chain FFA (C12:0-C16:0) than MS cheeses, at 20 and 40 days, probably due to the impact of the diet on lipolytic enzymes in the rennet paste. When lambs are feed milk supplemented with Lb. acidophilus rennet paste is enriched in pregastric lipases able to release preferentially short-chain FFA. In conclusion, diet and age of slaughtering of lambs were found to influence the enzyme profile in rennet paste and thus the proteolytic and lipolytic patterns of cheese at 60 days of ripening.

Effects of n-3 PUFA Levels in Live Foods on Albinism, Growth, Survival, and Salinity Tolerance of Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) Larvae in Large-Scale Artificial Rearing

The effects of feeding enriched rotifers and Artemia nauplii on albinism in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) larvae raised in a large-scale artificial system were investigated. Larvae were first fed an S-type rotifer (Brachionus angularis) enriched with Nannochloropsis oculata for 11-12 days, which raised the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content in the rotifer from 5.36% to 17.63% of the total fatty acids. Next, the larvae were fed one of three strains of Artemia enriched with microcapsule (50DE), vitamin A (9000 IU/l), and vitamin D (2000 IU/l) for 35 days, which raised the n-3 PUFA contents in the Artemia to 38.62%, 36.53%, and 33.86% of the total fatty acids, respectively. Among the larvae fed the enriched feeds, no more than 3‰ were albino, much fewer than in the control groups fed non-enriched foods (p&lt;0.01). In addition, n-3 PUFA contents in the muscles, growth and survival rates, and salinity tolerance were greater in founder fed the enriched foods. Artemia nauplii from Qixiangcuo (Tibet, China), enriched to 38.62% of total fatty acids, was superior in preventing albinism than the strains from Pikou or Yingkou (Liaoning, China).

Contractile properties and myosin heavy chain composition of rat tongue retrusor musculature show changes in early adulthood after 19 days of artificial rearing

Previously, we showed that artificial rearing using the "pup in a cup" model results in decreased tongue activity and caused some minor alterations in the tongue retrusor musculature. However, the artificial rearing time frame previously chosen was brief (11 days). The purpose of the present investigation was to extend the artificial rearing period from postnatal days 3 to 21 (P21) to determine whether significant alterations occur as a result of this reduced tongue use. Several changes in contractile properties due to the artificial rearing process were observed, which fully recovered by postnatal days 41 to 42 (P41-2). These changes included a shorter twitch contraction time, shorter twitch half-relaxation time, and decreased fatigue resistance. Styloglossus muscle exhibited more neonatal myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform at P21 for the artificially reared (AR) group. Changes that were persistent at P41-2 were also observed. Maximum tetanic tension was lower for the AR group at P21 and P41-2 compared with their dam-reared counterparts. Twitch tension was also lower by P41-2 in the AR group. At P41-2, the AR group exhibited an increase in MHC IIa and a decrease in MHC IIb for the styloglossus muscle. In addition, the AR group exhibited a decreased MHC IIb for the long head of the biceps brachii at P41-2. Our results are similar to other models of hindlimb immobilization and suspension. By extending our artificial rearing period, this reduced tongue activity induced acute changes and alterations in the tongue retrusor musculature that persisted into early adulthood.

Early adversity alters attention and locomotion in adult Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study investigated the effects of prenatal stress and its interaction with artificial rearing (AR) on adult rat behavior. Pregnant dams underwent restraint stress from Gestational Day 10 to 21. After parturition, pups were raised by their mothers or in the AR paradigm, with or without stroking stimulation. In adulthood, rats were tested on prepulse inhibition (PPI), locomotor activity, elevated plus-maze, and spatial working memory. There were main effects and interactions of both prenatal stress and AR on activity. Additional stimulation reduced activity in nonstressed AR rats but increased activity in prenatally stressed AR rats. AR altered PPI and plus-maze behavior whereas additional stimulation partially reversed these effects. This study demonstrates that prenatal experiences can modulate the effects of postnatal treatments.

Maternal and littermate deprivation disrupts maternal behavior and social‐learning of food preference in adulthood: Tactile stimulation, nest odor, and social rearing prevent these effects

Maternal and littermate (social) separation, through artificial rearing (AR), disrupts the development of subsequent maternal behavior and social learning in rats. The addition of maternal-licking-like stimulation during AR, partially reverses some of these effects. However, little is know about the role of social stimuli from littermates and nest odors during the preweaning period, in the development of the adult maternal behavior and social learning. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of peer- and peer-and-odor rearing on the development of maternal behavior and social learning in rats. Female pups were reared with mothers (mother reared-MR) or without mothers (AR) from postnatal day (PND) 3. AR rats received three different treatments: (1) AR-CONTROL group received minimal tactile stimulation, (2) AR-ODOR females received exposure to maternal nest material inside the AR-isolation-cup environment, (3) AR-SOCIAL group was reared in the cup with maternal nest material and a conspecific of the same-age and same-sex and received additional tactile stimulation. MR females were reared by their mothers in the nest and with conspecifics. In adulthood, rats were tested for maternal behavior towards their own pups and in a social learning task. Results confirm our previous report that AR impairs performance of maternal behavior and the development of a social food preference. Furthermore, social cues from a littermate, in combination with tactile stimulation and the nest odor, reversed the negative effects of complete isolation (AR-CONTROL) on some of the above behaviors. Exposure to the odor alone also had effects on some of these olfactory-mediated behaviors. These studies indicate that social stimulation from littermates during the preweaning period, in combination with odor from the nest and tactile stimulation, contributes to the development of affiliative behaviors.

A Chemically Derived Milk Substitute that is Compatible with Mouse Milk for Artificial Rearing of Mouse Pups

The object of this study was to prepare a chemically derived milk substitute that is compatible with mouse-milk. Milk was independently collected from ICR, BALB/c, and FVB/N mice, and analyzed for the protein, fat, and mineral contents to formulate a milk substitute. Thereafter, ICR mouse pups were artificially reared on the milk substitute to evaluate the rate of increase of their body weights. A gastric cannula tube was placed through the esophageal way into 8-day-old ICR pups, and the mice were fed with the milk substitute by computer-regulated infusion pumping by the pup-in-a-cup method. The analytical mean values of total protein and total fat in milk from ICR, BALB/c, and FVB/N mice were 10.23 +/- 0.49% and 21.34 +/- 1.31%, respectively. The milk substitute was constituted from purified bovine casein and whey proteins, five edible oils, including MCT oil, minerals, and vitamins. After 8 days of artificial rearing with the new milk substitute, 36 of the 42 pups had survived, and the growth rate of these mice was not significantly different from that of maternally reared littermate pups. In conclusion, we have succeeded in the preparation of a chemically derived milk substitute for mice pups which is available for clarifying the roles of dietary components such as milk-bone substance during the suckling period in mice pups including those of knockout and transgenic mice.

Artificial rearing alters the response of rats to natural and drug-mediated rewards

Artificial rearing (AR) of infant rats permits precise control over key features of the early environment without maternal influence. The present study examined the behavioral response of AR rats towards natural and drug-mediated rewards, as well as their exploratory and affective behaviors. Adolescent AR rats showed increased preference for sucrose consumption relative to chow and demonstrated greater activity in the open field and in the elevated plus-maze compared to maternally reared (MR) rats. With respect to measures of emotionality, AR rats showed enhanced avoidance of the open arms of the plus-maze, indicating increased anxiety, but they did not differ from MR rats in exploring the center of the open field. Adult AR rats displayed a stronger conditioned response to morphine in a place preference test. These findings support the potential of the AR model to contribute to understanding the role of early experience in the development of behavioral motivation.

Effects of early maternal separation of lambs and rearing with minimal and maximal human contact on meat quality

The present study aims to assess the effect of gentling on behaviour and meat quality of lambs. Thirty-two Comisana lambs were divided into four groups of eight animals: ER (ewe reared), AR (artificially reared) and the corresponding gentled groups ERG and ARG. The provision of human contacts stimulated gentled subjects to explore, whereas the proportion of idling subjects was reduced ( P < 0.10). At increasing age the number of subjects contacting the person increased in the gentled groups ( P < 0.05). Lambs left with their dams showed higher warm and cold carcass yields compared to artificially reared animals, although animals benefiting from both maternal care and gentling, had the highest dressing percentage ( P < 0.05). Values of pH declined more rapidly in meat from gentled animals than from ungentled subjects ( P < 0.05), b* and h values were higher in ARG than in AR group ( P < 0.05), whereas Warner-Bratzler shear force and hardness tended to be lower in gentled lambs ( P < 0.15). We conclude that human–animal relationship can play an important role in affecting welfare, productive performances and meat quality of lambs, in particular when young subjects are prematurely separated from mothers.

Effect of restricted suckling on physiological and behavioural stress parameters in dual-purpose cattle in the tropics

The present study evaluated the effect of restricted suckling (RS) on some physiological and behavioural stress measures compared to artificial rearing (AR). Thirty Holstein × Zebu cows and their calves were randomly assigned to one of two treatments. Cows were milked once daily. All calves were tethered in front of their dams during milking permitting physical contact between them in order to stimulate milk ejection, starting at 5 days of age. Calves in the RS treatment were allowed to suckle during 60 min daily, 30 min after milking and 30 min in the afternoon, while calves in the AR treatment were fed milk from teat bottles at the same times. Data were collected from day 4 to day 9, while treatments started on day 5. Heart and respiratory rates, body weight and temperature were measured (in that order) 15 min before entry into the milking parlour. Blood samples and pedometer readings were collected about 50 min later, immediately on return to their home pens. Higher heart rate in calves was found in the RS group than in the AR group. However, cortisol concentration was higher ( P < 0.05) in the AR than in the RS group. No difference was found in average weight gain, milk consumption, number of steps counted, body temperature and respiratory rate in RS and AR calves. AR induced significantly ( P < 0.05) higher level of serum cortisol concentration in the cows than did RS. No difference ( P > 0.05) was found in body temperature, heart and respiratory rates in RS and AR treatments. It was concluded that suckling and nursing reduces some stress parameters in calves and cows in the AR treatment.

N-3 Fatty Acid Deficiency Induced by a Modified Artificial Rearing Method Leads to Poorer Performance in Spatial Learning Tasks

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a major structural component of the nervous system, and depletion may lead to losses in neural function. Our objective was to demonstrate a deficit in spatial task performance in rats with low brain DHA due to a low n-3 fatty acid intake using a first-generational artificial rearing technique. Newborn rat pups were separated on d 2 and assigned to two artificial rearing groups or a dam-reared control group. Pups were hand fed artificial milk via custom-designed nursing bottles containing either 0.02% (n-3 Def) or 3.1% (n-3 Adq) of total fatty acids as LNA. At d 21, rats were weaned to either n-3 Def or n-3 Adq pelleted diets and several behavioral tasks were evaluated at 9 wk of age. Brain DHA was lower (58% and 61%, p < 0.001) in n-3 Def in comparison to n-3 Adq and dam-reared rats, respectively. At adulthood, the n-3 fatty acid-deficient rats had a significantly greater moving time than the dam-reared group (p < 0.05), but there were no differences among the three groups in the elevated plus maze test. The n-3 fatty acid deficient rats exhibited a longer escape latency (p < 0.05) and poorer memory retention in the Morris water maze compared with n-3 fatty acid adequate and dam-reared rats. We concluded that artificial rearing can be used to produce n-3 fatty acid deficiency in the first generation. This deficiency was associated with significantly reduced spatial learning. Adequate brain DHA levels are required for optimal spatial learning.

Adrenocortical response to stress in fasted and unfasted artificially reared 12‐day‐old rat pups

Recent studies have compared artificially reared (AR) rats with dam-reared rats on behavioral outcomes but, despite the fact that they are deprived of their mothers during the stress hyporesponsive period (SHRP), little is known about the effects of AR on the development of the stress response. In this study, the corticosterone (CORT) response to a stressor (saline injection ip) on postnatal Day 12 was assessed in rat pups that had been either dam-reared (DR) or artificially reared since Day 5. In the preceding 24 hr, half the pups in the DR group were maternally deprived (DEP). To control for the food deprivation consequent to maternal deprivation in these groups, half the pups in the AR groups also underwent 24-hr food deprivation (DEP). In the nondeprived condition AR pups did not differ from DR pups on untreated CORT levels or on levels at 1-hr poststress (i.e., all rats demonstrated low levels of CORT characteristic of the SHRP). In contrast, both maternally deprived DR pups and food-deprived AR pups exhibited increased untreated CORT levels as well as a significant increase at 30-min poststress, but CORT elevations were lower in the AR groups than in the DR groups. Thus, long-term maternal deprivation through artificial rearing in rats does not affect the reduced CORT levels and reduced CORT responsiveness associated with the SHRP; however, if animals are food deprived, then all show increased basal CORT levels and a greater CORT response to stress, although this response is lower in AR groups than in DR groups. These results suggest that rat pups artificially reared with adequate nutrition will still exhibit the SHRP.

Growth performance of Awassi lambs fed calf milk replacer

Forty Awassi lambs were equally divided into two groups. Twenty subjects were artificially reared (AR) with calf milk replacer, 20 others were ewe reared (ER) and used as a control. Twenty lambs were removed from the ewes 2–3 days postpartum and moved indoors. Lambs (AR) received ad libitum calf milk replacer twice daily until liquid weaning at 4 weeks. At 15 days of age, AR lambs had ad libitum access to commercial lamb starter diet and alfalfa hay while ER lambs continued to suck their mother without any feed supplementation until weaning at 6 weeks. Average daily gain (ADG) and live weights (BW) at 2 weeks intervals were measured. ER lambs were heavier ( P <0.05) than AR lambs at 2 and 4 weeks of age but there were no body weight differences between AR and ER lambs at 6 weeks of age. Litter size had an important effect on birth weight ( P <0.01) and body weight ( P <0.05) at 2 weeks of age. Lamb survival until the 6 weeks of age was 85% for AR lambs and was higher than for ER lambs at 75%. These results show that Awassi lambs can be successfully reared on calf milk replacer at a lower cost than with ewe rearing, thus offers a potential increase in economic returns for sheep producers.

Development of Rhesus Macaque Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) at Early Stages of Ontogenesis at the Artificial Nurturing and Rearing by Human

The experience of the artificial nurturing and rearing of rhesus macaque kids from the moment of their birth to the age of half a year is described. Data are presented about development of sensomotor functions, peculiarities of manifestation of complete forms of the species-specific behavior and communicative response of socially isolated monkeys for the first six months of life at their rearing by human. The obtained results promote enlargement of the biological knowledge of ontogenesis of the lower monkeys.

Growth performance of Awassi lambs fed calf milk replacer

Forty Awassi lambs were equally divided into two groups. Twenty subjects were artificially reared (AR) with calf milk replacer, 20 others were ewe reared (ER) and used as a control. Twenty lambs were removed from the ewes 2–3 days postpartum and moved indoors. Lambs (AR) received ad libitum calf milk replacer twice daily until liquid weaning at 4 weeks. At 15 days of age, AR lambs had ad libitum access to commercial lamb starter diet and alfalfa hay while ER lambs continued to suck their mother without any feed supplementation until weaning at 6 weeks. Average daily gain (ADG) and live weights (BW) at 2 weeks intervals were measured. ER lambs were heavier ( P<0.05) than AR lambs at 2 and 4 weeks of age but there were no body weight differences between AR and ER lambs at 6 weeks of age. Litter size had an important effect on birth weight ( P<0.01) and body weight ( P<0.05) at 2 weeks of age. Lamb survival until the 6 weeks of age was 85% for AR lambs and was higher than for ER lambs at 75%. These results show that Awassi lambs can be successfully reared on calf milk replacer at a lower cost than with ewe rearing, thus offers a potential increase in economic returns for sheep producers.

Artificially-reared female rats show reduced prepulse inhibition and deficits in the attentional set shifting task—reversal of effects with maternal-like licking stimulation

Mammalian nervous system is plastic, particularly during early stages of development. Rat neonates that are reared without mothers, grow up to show deficient maternal behavior towards their own offspring. The purpose of this study was to assess whether maternal behavior deficits, seen in artificially-reared (AR) female rats, are associated with attentional deficits. Female rat pups were reared with or without their mothers, through artificial rearing. In adulthood, rats’ maternal behavior and performance on attentional tasks (prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response and attentional set shifting task) were assessed. We found that AR rats showed: decreased maternal pup licking and time crouching over pups, less PPI, and more trials to criterion in several stages of the attentional set shifting task. Artificially-reared rats that were provided with ‘maternal-like licking’ stimulation, during artificial rearing, were not significantly different from mother-reared rats. In addition, there was a significant correlation between maternal behaviors and both PPI and the performance in the attentional set shifting task.

Effect of Artificial Rearing on the Contractile Properties and Myosin Heavy Chain Isoforms of Developing Rat Tongue Musculature

This study's purpose was to examine the influence of an altered activity level, via artificial rearing, on the contractile properties, myosin heavy chain phenotypes (MHC), and muscle fiber sizes of the developing rat tongue retractor musculature. Artificially reared rat pups were fed through a gastric cannula, eliminating nutritive suckling from postnatal day 4 to postnatal day 14. Rat pups were observed immediately following artificial rearing (postnatal day 14) and after a 1-mo resumption of function (postnatal day 42). The contractile characteristics of the tongue retractor musculature were measured in response to stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve. At postnatal day 14, artificially reared rat pups demonstrated significantly longer twitch half-decay times, lower fusion frequencies, and a marked decrease in fatigue resistance. These contractile speed and fatigue characteristics were fully recovered following a 1-mo resumption of function. MHC phenotypes of the styloglossus muscle (a tongue retractor) were determined by gel electrophoresis. At postnatal day 14, artificial rearing had not altered the MHC phenotype or muscle fiber sizes of the styloglossus muscle. However, following a 1-mo resumption of function artificially reared rat pups demonstrated a small but significant increase in MHCIIa expression and decrease in MHCIIb expression compared with dam-reared rats. These results support artificial rearing as a useful model for altering the activity level of the tongue and suggest that normal suckling behavior is necessary for the normal postnatal development of the tongue retractor musculature. This may also be the case for premature infants necessarily fed artificially.

Intestinal adherent bacteria and bacterial translocation in breast-fed and formula-fed rats in relation to susceptibility to infection.

The barrier function of the intestinal mucosa is immature in the newborn mammal, and is strengthened by breast milk. We investigated this effect of breast milk by comparing the susceptibility to infection assessed in terms of adherent bacterial colonization of the intestinal tissue (AdC) and bacterial translocation (BT) between breast-fed and formula-fed newborn rats. Three-day-old rat pups were assigned to one of three groups: mother-reared (MR), pseudo-cannulated (sham), and artificially reared (AR). AR rats were infused with formula through an intragastric cannula, under the control of a computer-regulated pumping machine. MR and sham rat pups were reared with their respective dams and received breast milk until weaning in a specially designed cage. In 10-d-old rats, there was no significant difference in the fecal or cecal flora between the AR and MR groups, whereas the AdC and the BT to the liver were greater in the AR than MR group. Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus and/or Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus were dominantly detected as microorganisms in AdC flora and BT. The AdC flora did not directly reflect the bacterial colonization flora. These findings suggest that AR rat pups mature normally, although there is a greater colonization of Enterobacteriaceae and BT in AR than MR pups. Consequently, the intestinal barrier function of the pups reared by artificial feeding may become susceptible to BT, and AdC may be more indicative than bacterial colonization of the susceptibility to BT.

Developmental Binge Exposure to Ethanol and Artificial Rearing Do Not Affect the Social Transfer of Diet Preference

Background: A previous study reported no effect of binge exposure to ethanol during the brain growth spurt on the social acquisition of enhanced diet preference in male rats. The objective of this study was to replicate this finding by using the artificial rearing technique and to investigate whether delay‐dependent mnemonic deficits previously observed in the water maze would extend to social memory of diet preference. We also addressed whether this naturalistic behavior was dependent on the presentation of diet odor in the context of a rat‐produced component in ethanol‐exposed rats, as it is in normal controls.Methods: Male rat pups were reared artificially from postnatal days 5 to 18, during which (postnatal days 6–9) they were fed either 6.5 g/kg/day of ethanol in a binge model or an isocaloric maltose‐dextrin solution (gastrostomy controls). A third suckled control group was reared normally. These test rats were allowed to interact with conspecifics that had previously consumed a distinctive diet, X. Subsequently, the experimental rats were provided a choice between two novel diets, one of which was X, after delays of 0 hr (experiment 1), 24 hr, and 4 weeks (experiment 2). In experiment 3, the rats were again given the two‐choice preference test, but after exposure to the diet odor alone.Results: All groups demonstrated a significant preference for the socially cued diet in experiments 1 and 2, and the strength of this inclination remained consistent across the 0‐hr, 24‐hr, and 4‐week retention intervals. Moreover, all groups demonstrated sensitivity to the social context of this task, as shown by a lesser preference for the diet exposed alone in experiment 3.Conclusions: Intact performance on the ethologically meaningful diet‐preference test supports specificity in the cognitive/behavioral effects of developmental exposure to ethanol. Interestingly, early isolation, as experienced in the artificial‐rearing procedure, also did not impair performance on this social task.