Feeding Stations Research Articles

The spatiotemporal properties of artificial feeding schemes influence the post-fledging movement of Egyptian Vultures

Abstract Many vulture populations have severely declined in the past decades, showing high juvenile mortality. To support these populations, feeding stations are used to increase food availability and to supply food without antibiotics and toxic compounds. Yet, supplying food at feeding stations may affect vulture behavior. We present a large-scale field experiment testing how different food provision schemes affected the movement of Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus). We used GPS transmitters harnessed to 18 vulture chicks and described their movements post-fledging. We categorized the vultures into 3 groups according to the feeding scheme used at feeding stations near their nests: frequent and spatially dispersed food supply (FD); non-frequent and spatially dispersed food supply (NFD); and frequent food supply, concentrated in one location (FC). We found that birds from all three groups increased their roosting distances from the nest with fledgling age, with the NFD and FC groups showing a greater increase than the FD group. Additionally, all 3 groups increased their daily flight distances, with the NFD group presenting the largest increase and the FD group presenting the smallest increase. Our findings offer new insights into the relevance of spatiotemporal differences in the management of feeding stations and show its effect on movement during birds’ early life stages, creating 2 main movement patterns: local and regional. Our findings can help decide upon the preferable feeding scheme in a way that will either encourage or reduce the early dispersal distances of fledglings, according to long- and short-term conservation objectives. For example, local movements during the post fledging period to known and stable food resources may reduce the risk of anthropogenic-induced mortality, while it may negatively affect long-term survival by hindering foraging, flight, and exploring skills and affect dispersion to future breeding sites.

A critical note on meal criteria in pigs: Which behaviours do they perform during feeder visit intervals?

The feeding behaviour of pigs can be continuously recorded using sensors, providing promising avenues for automatic monitoring of pig performance and welfare. To utilise this potential, however, the data must be cleaned and aggregated meaningfully. A common aggregation is from visits into meals, in which visits separated by intervals shorter than a meal criterion (s or min) are merged. Methods to determine the criterion and the criteria themselves vary widely between studies, and have been applied indiscriminately or only when no pen mates visited the feeder during the interval. Aggregation choices should be biologically relevant, but there is no empirical knowledge on how pigs behave during these intervals or how the intervals are influenced by feeder competition. This study had three aims: 1) test the method that classifies intervals using a three-part probability density function (short, intermediate and long intervals); 2) determine whether feeder competition differed between interval types and application methods; and 3) describe and compare the behaviours of pigs between intervals. Visit intervals were obtained from 110 barrows in ten pens with one IVOGⓇ electronic feeding station each. A three-part probability density function was fitted to the log-transformed intervals, and its fit was assessed visually. For each pig, a short and an intermediate interval were selected for behavioural observations from camera. We found that pigs had relatively more intermediate intervals (1–28 min) than cows and that the fit of the three-part function was suboptimal. Nevertheless, identified meal criteria were in similar ranges as for other species. Intermediate intervals were more often initiated by displacements than short intervals (≤1 min), and there was more aggression and less pen exploration if pen mates visited the feeder during these intervals. Short intervals reflected interruptions in feeding behaviour, shown by standing (e.g. vigilance/chewing outside the feeder) and pen exploration (e.g. rooting, searching for pellets), while intermediate intervals contained non-feeding behaviours, such as social nosing, drinking and, predominantly, lying inactive. We conclude that intermediate intervals indicated completed feeding bouts, while short intervals reflected continued feeding-focused behaviours. Therefore, only visits separated by short intervals should be merged into meals. The exact criterion depends on the dataset but may, considering the suboptimal fit of the function, be more precisely determined using other methods. Whether visits should be merged indiscriminately or only when no pen mates entered the EFS during the interval depends on whether competition effects are of interest in the study.

Response of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) to underwater acoustic harassment device sounds

Seal scarers (or acoustic harassment devices, AHDs) are designed to deter seals from fishing gear and aquaculture operations, as well as to prevent seals from entering rivers to avoid predation on valuable fish. Our study investigated the potential effects of AHDs on non-target species, specifically the Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), by testing the reaction of two rehabilitated otters to simulated AHDs sounds at 1 and 14 kHz, with a received sound intensity of 105–145 dB re 1 µPa rms. The 1 kHz sounds were used to investigate alternative frequencies for scaring seals without scaring otters. The otters reacted to both 1 and 14 kHz tonal signals when retrieving fish from a feeding station 0.8 m below the surface. Their diving behaviour and time to extract food progressively increased as sound intensity increased for all tested sound levels. Notably, the sound levels used in our tests were significantly lower (40–80 dB) than the source levels from commercial AHDs. These findings highlight the importance of caution when using AHDs in river and sea habitats inhabited by otters, as AHDs can change their behaviour and potentially result in habitat exclusion.

Understanding the feeding strategies of growing-finishing pigs: Exploring links with pig characteristics and behaviour

A large variation in feeding patterns between pigs and over time hampers the use of data from electronic feeding stations in the continuous monitoring of growing-finishing pig welfare. Individual feeding strategies (i.e. differences between pigs that are consistent within a pig across time) likely explain part of this variation, both at the daily level - based on feeding components intake, frequency and rate – and at the diurnal level - based on feeding components circadian rhythms and night feeding. It is, however, not known exactly which feeding strategies pigs display, nor which types of pigs display which strategies. This study aimed 1) to test which (combinations of) feeding components contribute to independent feeding strategies; and 2) to see whether pigs with different feeding strategies also differ in other physical and behavioural characteristics. To identify feeding strategies, we calculated the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for each day-level feeding component, which reflects the proportion of variation explained by an individual pig effect (n=98 pigs). Subsequently, high ICC day-level components were correlated to diurnal-level components known to contain feeding strategies, to assess possible overlap. Pigs with different strategies were then characterised based on physical (n=52) and behavioural (home pen and play tests, n=22–27) variables at different ages, using (generalised) linear mixed models. Four dimensions of individual feeding strategies emerged: nibbling/meal eating, fast/slow eating, day/day-night eating and consistent/inconsistent eating from day to day, sustaining after correction for pig sex or body weight. All dimensions except day/day-night eating partially overlapped at the beginning of the growing-finishing phase, but became more distinct over time. Pigs with different feeding strategies also differed in their general activity, diurnal activity and possibly dominance rank. Feeding strategies did not relate to behaviours possibly indicative of more positive or negative emotional states of pigs. Our results demonstrate that pigs showed individual differences in their feeding behaviour that are consistent across time, along continua in four distinct dimensions. These differences went beyond differences in body weight and sex, and were related to other behavioural characteristics of pigs. The presence of feeding strategies suggests that the use of pig feeding behaviour data should be corrected for individual differences between pigs.

Flanged males have higher reproductive success in a completely wild orangutan population.

Male orangutans (Pongo spp.) exhibit bimaturism, an alternative reproductive tactic, with flanged and unflanged males displaying two distinct morphological and behavioral phenotypes. Flanged males are larger than unflanged males and display secondary sexual characteristics which unflanged males lack. The evolutionary explanation for alternative reproductive tactics in orangutans remains unclear because orangutan paternity studies to date have been from sites with ex-captive orangutans, provisioning via feeding stations and veterinary care, or that lack data on the identity of mothers. Here we demonstrate, using the first long-term paternity data from a site free of these limitations, that alternative reproductive tactics in orangutans are condition-dependent, not frequency-dependent. We found higher reproductive success by flanged males than by unflanged males, a pattern consistent with other Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) paternity studies. Previous paternity studies disagree on the degree of male reproductive skew, but we found low reproductive skew among flanged males. We compare our findings and previous paternity studies from both Bornean and Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) to understand why these differences exist, examining the possible roles of species differences, ecology, and human intervention. Additionally, we use long-term behavioral data to demonstrate that while flanged males can displace unflanged males in association with females, flanged males are unable to keep other males from associating with a female, and thus they are unable to completely mate guard females. Our results demonstrate that alternative reproductive tactics in Bornean orangutans are condition-dependent, supporting the understanding that the flanged male morph is indicative of good condition. Despite intense male-male competition and direct sexual coercion by males, female mate choice is effective in determining reproductive outcomes in this population of wild orangutans.

Ingestive behavior of beef calves on oat and ryegrass pasture intercropped with vetch at different seeding rates

The use of winter forage plants constitutes a procedure that optimizes cattle production, particularly in the subtropical region of Brazil. Understanding the relationship between forage species and grazing cattle, as well as their behavior within the environment, becomes crucial for a more efficient use of the forage. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the ingestive behavior of beef calves in intercropped pastures of black oats, ryegrass, and vetch. A randomized block design was employed, with three area replications. The treatments resulted from the combination of ryegrass, black oats, and 0, 20, and 40 kg of vetch seed/ha. Twenty-seven Brangus calves kept under continuous grazing with variable stocking rates were used. Three daytime assessments of ingestive behavior were conducted. The forage systems did not influence the time spent on grazing, rumination, and other activities (P>0.05). However, as the grazing cycle progressed, the calves spent more time grazing and less time on other activities. The introduction of vetch into the forage mixture increased both the time and the number of chews during rumination (P<0.05). Towards the end of the grazing cycle, the calves needed to visit more feeding stations per minute and have a higher bite rate. Calves that grazed in higher vetch densities exhibited a greater number of steps between feeding stations, but only during the second period. The inclusion of vetch in conjunction with grasses only modifies the rumination patterns of calves, while the advancement of the phenological stage of the pasture leads to more evident changes in the ingestive behavior of grazing calves.

How and why pet cats are fed the way they are: a self-reported owner survey.

This study used an owner-directed online questionnaire to collect data regarding their food and water provision for their pet cats. The survey was conducted in 2019. The anonymous online 30-question survey was available via vetprofessionals.com. A total of 1172 cat owners fully completed the questionnaire. The respondents each owned a median of two cats (range 1-6). They reported being most strongly motivated to feed a particular ration because of palatability, observed and/or expected health benefits, or that the diet was/is perceived as 'natural'. The majority of owners (n = 946, 80.7%) fed their cats exclusively a commercially purchased complete wet food, dry kibble diet or mixture of both. Compared with a previous (unpublished) survey conducted by the same authors in 2013,1 there were substantial increases in the number of owners feeding therapeutic diets (26.6% vs 0.7%) and the inclusion of raw meat in cats' rations (15.6% vs 3.7%). The proportion of respondents providing at least one feeding station per cat was 83.1%, with significant use of enrichment feeding methods (29.1%). Veterinarians need to be aware of changing trends in cat feeding to provide owners with appropriate support. Veterinary advice was frequently sought by owners and can be used as an opportunity to improve cat health and welfare, particularly in multi-cat households, but was not often influential to client decision making.

Heritability and genetic correlations of rumination time with milk-yield and milking traits in Holstein-Friesian cows using an automated milking system

Knowledge of the values of genetic parameters is a prerequisite for conducting a breeding program. This is especially important for rumination, which is considered an indicator of cow’s health. Exploring the genetic relations between rumination time, milk yield, and milking traits could make it a valuable tool in dairy cattle breeding strategies. The objective of the research was to estimate heritability, repeatability, and genetic and phenotypic correlations of rumination time (RT), as well as traits associated with milk yield and milking of dairy cows of the Polish Holstein-Friesian breed kept in herds equipped with an automatic milking system. The research takes into consideration daily results for milking in the first lactation and second lactation, from 1 486 cows of the breed milked between 2013 and 2015 year. Cows were housed in 24 free-stall barns and fed a Partial Mixed Ration feed. The barns had an automated milking system (Astronaut A4 – Lely Industry). The cows received a varied dose of the concentrate, either in the milking robot or the feeding station, depending on the level of their milk yield. Our research has shown that RT was a low heritable trait (0.140 ± 0.039) and had a medium repeatability (0.572 ± 0.007). We detected a positive genetic correlation between RT and milk yield (0.341); however, a statistically significant negative relationship was identified between RT and urea content (−0.418) in milk. Estimations of genetic correlations suggest that selecting for higher RT may correspond to reduced urea content in milk. Investigating the genetics aspect of RT and the relationship with milk yield and milking traits may turn this into one of the useful criterion selections for dairy cattle breeding strategies, but should be used carefully. Further analyses on larger data sets and different populations are necessary.

First breeding of Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) in Sardinia and temporal and environmental factors affecting its frequentation of a supplementary feeding station

The Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus, a medium-sized scavenging bird, is the most-threatened bird species in Italy, with only 10–12 breeding pairs in 2019 distributed in three regions of Southern Italy. With this study, we aim to describe the first documented breeding of Egyptian vulture in Sardinia and to understand which temporal and environmental factors affected its frequentation of a supplementary feeding station. We monitored the nest used during 2019 through direct observations, and the use of the feeding station through camera traps. We fitted a Bayesian Generalised Additive Model to model the effect of the day of the year, the hour of the day, wind direction and wind speed on the presence of Egyptian vulture in a specific hourly time slot at the supplementary feeding station. The chick hatched around 5 July 2019, and it fledged around 21 September. The Egyptian vulture had two peaks of frequentation at the supplementary feeding station: a first one in June, and a second, more important one, between late August and early September. The probability of recording Egyptian vulture peaked between 10:00 and 16:00, and was affected by wind direction, with a slightly higher chance of recording Egyptian vulture when winds came from South-West, West or even North-West, and a lower chance when winds were eastward. This study marks an important step in the conservation of the Egyptian vulture in Italy; it provides an example of spontaneous colonisation, and of the increased attractiveness of the habitat for scavenging birds linked to the actions implemented within a LIFE project. To better target future conservation efforts, it is important to continue with the monitoring and to perform genetic analyses to assess the origin of the individuals.

The influence of feeding station location on the space use and behavior of reintroduced 'alalā: Causes and consequences

AbstractSupplemental feeding is a common soft‐release strategy for increasing settlement, survival, and breeding in animals after translocation. However, supplemental feeding can also hinder natural patterns of dispersal or influence social interactions. Some drawbacks of feeding can be mitigated if feeding stations can function as management tools for directing animals' movement, for example, by guiding them toward wild food resources or prospective territories while directing them away from potential threats, for example, predator hotspots or urban/agricultural centers. However, these effects may not work equally across individuals or habitat types. For species such as 'alalā (Corvus hawaiiensis), Hawaii's last living corvid, being able to manipulate space use via supplemental feeders could improve reintroduction outcomes. We determined if and how feeding stations influence a released population of 'alalā by strategically moving feeders across varying distances and habitat types, while measuring how quickly birds discovered new feeders and how their space use changed. We found that 'alalā discovered feeders more rapidly in closed as opposed to open canopy habitat, and feeder movement influenced how far 'alalā ranged, especially in afternoon periods. Sex, social network position, and individual home range size did not predict feeder discovery. These insights offer lessons for using supplemental feeding when managing reintroductions.

Integrating computer vision algorithms and RFID system for identification and tracking of group-housed animals: an example with pigs.

Precision livestock farming aims to individually and automatically monitor animal activity to ensure their health, well-being, and productivity. Computer vision has emerged as a promising tool for this purpose. However, accurately tracking individuals using imaging remains challenging, especially in group housing where animals may have similar appearances. Close interaction or crowding among animals can lead to the loss or swapping of animal IDs, compromising tracking accuracy. To address this challenge, we implemented a framework combining a tracking-by-detection method with a radio frequency identification (RFID) system. We tested this approach using twelve pigs in a single pen as an illustrative example. Three of the pigs had distinctive natural coat markings, enabling their visual identification within the group. The remaining pigs either shared similar coat color patterns or were entirely white, making them visually indistinguishable from each other. We employed the latest version of the You Only Look Once (YOLOv8) and BoT-SORT algorithms for detection and tracking, respectively. YOLOv8 was fine-tuned with a dataset of 3,600 images to detect and classify different pig classes, achieving a mean average precision of all the classes of 99%. The fine-tuned YOLOv8 model and the tracker BoT-SORT were then applied to a 166.7-min video comprising 100,018 frames. Results showed that pigs with distinguishable coat color markings could be tracked 91% of the time on average. For pigs with similar coat color, the RFID system was used to identify individual animals when they entered the feeding station, and this RFID identification was linked to the image trajectory of each pig, both backward and forward. The two pigs with similar markings could be tracked for an average of 48.6min, while the seven white pigs could be tracked for an average of 59.1min. In all cases, the tracking time assigned to each pig matched the ground truth 90% of the time or more. Thus, our proposed framework enabled reliable tracking of group-housed pigs for extended periods, offering a promising alternative to the independent use of image or RFID approaches alone. This approach represents a significant step forward in combining multiple devices for animal identification, tracking, and traceability, particularly when homogeneous animals are kept in groups.

Борьба с беспризорностью несовершеннолетних в Енисейской губернии в контексте деятельности Комиссии по улучшению жизни детей. 1921 г.

Early years of the Soviet regime were a period of implementation of the ideological doctrine that stated that children welfare should be the exclusive remit of the State. The study of the entire range of solutions for the so called children’s problem in early Soviet state requires involvement of multiple kinds of sources. The object of our interest was the report of Robert Krishyanovich Lepsis (1896–1942), a representative of Yenisseyskii Provincial Executive Committee on the Improvement of Children’s Lives, about the condition of childcare facilities by July 1921. The report was prepared for the Commission for the Improvement of Children’s Lives under the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. The document included into the publication was identified as part of Fund P-93 “Department of National Education of the Yenisseyskii Provincial Executive Committee” in State Archive of Krasnoyarsk Territory. The document is reliable and informative; it provides details of geographical location and regional aspects of formation and activities of Soviet machinery during its establishment. The document also gives an idea of searching for humane mechanisms to eliminate juvenile homelessness. We failed to find papers that would highlight organization and initial steps of the Commission for the Improvement of Children’s Lives in Yenisseyskaya Province. The published document the data on the condition and supply of orphanages and shelters in Yenisseyskaya Province; it evaluates the activities of the representatives for the improvement of children’s lives and mechanisms of solution for the problem of juvenile homelessness. The author of the report does not hide the fact that the problems of homeless and neglected children are not a priority in the activities of all the Soviet institutions or administrative organizations. However, due to his being at the same time a Chairman of the Provincial Extraordinary Commission, he manages to solve some urgent issues of childcare facilities. We applied diachronic method to analyze information from the source. As a result we came to a conclusion that they did not manage to change the situation with children’s homelessness in Yenisseyskaya Province radically by July 1921. But a process of introduction of newly formed Soviet institutions into the solution of the above mentioned problem started. Due to the lack of financial and material resources, as well as poor staffing, orphanages and shelters were in poverty. They did not properly solve the educational tasks assigned to them, but at least they served as feeding stations where one could survive in the midst of destruction and famine. The information from the source may be of interest to those who study Soviet society, forms and practical activities of addressing the problems of children’s homelessness.

A sustainable nutritional solution for fattening pigs based on 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and triterpenoids added to a low Ca diet containing phytase improves growth performance via the activation of muscle protein synthesis without compromising bone mineralization

Abstract In the current climate of sustainable animal agriculture, nutritional strategies that support fattening swine growth performance and bone mineralization whilst reducing environmental impacts are much sought after. This study evaluated the effect of supplementing 25(OH)D3 with triterpenoids to a Ca-reduced diet containing phytase during the grower-finisher phase. Growth performance, bone composition, plasma metabolites and muscle gene expression were evaluated. Sixty crossbreed boar pigs (initial body weight (BW) 42.0 ± 5.1 kg at 12 wk of age) were assigned to three treatments with 20 pigs/treatment in a completely randomized design. Treatments comprised: 1) a standard commercial grower-finisher diet (positive control (PC)) containing 1,500 IU/kg vitamin D3 [3,585 kcal/kg digestible energy, 16.19% CP, 0.70% Ca, 0.29% standardized total tract digestible P]; 2) a negative control (NC) based on the PC with reduction in Ca and P (minus 30% and 10%, respectively); 3) the NC with vitamin D3 replaced by a commercially available compounds combination containing 25(OH)D3 and triterpenoids, dosed at 500 mg per kg of feed (TRT). All diets were provided ad libitum for 7 wk, and feed intake was recorded individually via electronic feeder stations. For the overall period, average daily gain and average daily feed intake were increased (P < 0.05) in TRT vs. NC or PC (+ 13.0% and + 8.3%, respectively, vs. NC); final BW was 7.8% higher vs. NC (+ 5.2% vs. PC; P < 0.05). Whole-body DXA-scanning at 19 wk of age showed that bone mineral density, content and percentage were reduced in NC vs. PC and equivalent to PC in TRT. Plasma 25(OH)D3 and P levels were raised in TRT (+ 33 ng/ml or 2.6-fold and + 0.55 mg/dL or 5.9%, respectively, vs. NC). The combination of 25(OH)D3 with triterpenoids was found to activate several biological pathways involved in muscle growth, including pathways that activate mTOR, a key central regulator of cell metabolism, growth, proliferation and survival when the gene expression was measured in the muscle tissue at 19 wk of age. These results suggest that the dietary combination of 25(OH)D3 with triterpenoids has the potential for use, alongside phytase, in supporting a reduction in Ca and P in the diet to reduce nutrient waste and improve the sustainability of production by promoting muscle growth and maintaining bone composition.

Variability in feed intake the first days following weaning impacts gastrointestinal tract development, feeding patterns, and growth performance in nursery pigs.

The present study investigated the effects of voluntary feed intake (FI) the first days after weaning on gastrointestinal development and protein fermentation the first week after weaning and growth performance and feeding patterns during the nursery phase. A total of 144 mixed-sex weaned pigs (24 ± 2 d old; 7.2 ± 0.8kg body weight [BW]) were allocated to 12 pens with 12 pigs/pen. Each pen was equipped with an electronic feeding station for monitoring individual FI during a 40-d study. Pigs were classified based on their cumulative FI over the initial 3 d after weaning (FId1-3) being above or below their pen median FId1-3 (high = 919 ± 244g or low = 507 ± 222g FId1-3). Similarly, weaning BW classes (BW0; high = 7.72 ± 0.59kg or low = 6.62 ± 0.88kg BW) were created to study interactions with FId1-3. Two female pigs with either a high or a low FId1-3 per pen (n = 24) were selected for sampling at d6 and were used to study gastrointestinal development and fermentation products in the small intestine. Feeding patterns per day, FI, and growth performance were measured individually. Low FId1-3 pigs had lower (P < 0.05) daily FI during d0 to d8, d8 to d15, and d22 to d28, BW on d15, d22, d29, and d40, and average daily gain during d0 to d8, d22 to d29, and d29 to d40 compared to high FId1-3. High FId1-3 pigs increased (P < 0.05) the number of visits to the feeder between d1 to d13 and d31 to d35, and the time spent per visit only for d1 to d4 (P < 0.05). The daily rate of FI (g/min) was higher (P < 0.05) for High FId1-3 pigs on d6, d8, d9, and d10, and again several days later (d20 to d39). In addition, the high FId1-3 × high BW0 interaction improved daily FI during d18 to d40 compared to low FId1-3 × low BW0 class (P < 0.05). For the sampling on d6, low FId1-3 pigs had a lighter small intestine, colon, and pancreas, and reduced villi length, smaller villi surface area, and a lower number of goblet cells size in jejunum (P < 0.05), while concentrations of lactic acid, histamine, and cadaverine in small intestinal content were increased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, pigs with high FId1-3 became faster eaters with higher FI and growth rates toward the second half of the nursery, which was similar and additive for pigs with higher weaning BW. High FId1-3 was also associated with greater development of the gastrointestinal tract and a reduced protein fermentation 1-wk after weaning.

Meat production, feed efficiency and chemical composition traits of meat for Aberdeen Angus steers bulls

Relevance. Assessing the meat production of beef cattle to be transformed by involving an ever-increasing phenotypic data to improve the accuracy of genotype estimation of animals. This can be achieved through the use of live weight changes for individuals and feed consumption during the period of their rearing in feedlots. In this regard, the use of automatic feeding stations that record these parameters for a comprehensive assessment of the genotype of Aberdeen-Angus bulls is an important task of these studies.Methods. Information by 212 individuals was used for Aberdeen Angus bulls that underwent final fattening lasting 60–65 days at GrowSafe feeding stations in the Bryansk region (Russia). Data on the slaughter quality of animals, the efficiency of feed using and the chemical composition of meat were studied. The integral value for dividing bulls into four comparison groups was the residual feed intake trait (RFI).Results. The best combination of feed conversion rates (4.95 kg/kg), average daily gain (1.67 kg /day) and consumed dry matter of the diet (8.25 kg) during the fattening period at the site was shown by bulls with a negative RFI value and an increase above 1495 g relative to other comparison groups. The peers from the second group had a similar tendency, but their consumption of dry matter of feed was the highest (8.96 kg). The animals from the second and fourth comparison groups showed a higher moisture-retaining capacity of meat (60.87% and 60.39%) and the total amount of water-soluble antioxidants (0.147 mg/g and 0.148 mg/g) in it. Significant differences in the chemical composition of meat have not been established.

Indicators of the behavior of highly productive cows under the conditions of using feed stations

The purpose of this work was to study the influence of feed stations on behavioral indicators of high-yielding cows. The research was conducted at two farms of TDV “Terezine” (Kyiv region) with different options for feeding fodder: from a feed table and a feed table + at feed stations. On each farm, a group of unpregnant high-yielding cows of the Ukrainian black-spotted dairy breed (II lactation and older) with a daily productivity of 30 kg and above during the calving period (2–3 months of lactation) was formed. Using feed stations for concentrated feeds affected the daily behavior of high-yielding cows. With this option of feeding, lower values of the duration of walking and standing were observed (by 16.3 and 9.6 min), as well as a slightly longer duration of lying down rest – by 17.4 min. The total feeding duration was longer due to the consumption of concentrated feeds at feeding stations, which was 25.6 minutes. At both farms, the peak of daily foraging activity occurred at 08:00 and 18:00. On average, during the day, cows approached the feed table and ate feed 8.7 times (maximum 12, minimum 6). At the farm with concentrated fodder feeding at feed stations, the average hourly duration of fodder consumption from the feed table was slightly lower (by 1–8 min) than at the farm where cows were fed only with fodder mixtures. At the farm, with the use of feed stations, the values of the indices of comfort, use of stalls, and feeding were 3.14, 1.62, and 0.03 % higher compared to the option where cows were fed only with feed mixtures. This trend is explained by a slightly higher duration of rest and general feed consumption and, accordingly, a lower duration of walking and standing of animals. Somewhat lower values were for the index of standing, discomfort, and drunkenness, which were higher for feeding feed from the feed table – by 1.79, 0.04, and 0.008%, respectively

Interspecific competition between ants and African honeybees (Apis mellifera scutellata) may undermine the effectiveness of elephant beehive–deterrents in Africa

AbstractBeehive deterrents are commonly used to mitigate human–elephant conflict and protect woody vegetation. To ensure hive activity, reduce abscondment risks, and maintain deterrent effectiveness, resident bee colonies require supplementary feeding during periods of low resource availability. However, our study found that ants frequently consume the supplementary feed in open feeders intended for bees. Anoplolepis custodiens was the most numerically dominant species that excluded bees from the feeders, followed by Camponotus and Crematogaster spp. With higher ant abundance, the predicted probability of zero bees being present at feeders increased up to 82%. This competition may undermine the efficacy of beehive deterrents as a conflict mitigation tool. We developed a simple and effective ant exclusion method that raised the overall predicted probability of bees' presence at supplementary feeding stations from 32% to 68%. Our findings suggest that innovative solutions to exclude ants from supplementary feed may improve the implementation and success of this conflict mitigation method across Africa.

Coupled information networks drive honeybee (Apis mellifera) collective foraging.

Collective behaviour by eusocial insect colonies is typically achieved through multiple communication networks that produce complex behaviour at the group level but often appear to provide redundant or even competing information. A classic example occurs in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies, where both the dance communication system and robust scent-based mechanisms contribute to the allocation of a colony's workforce by regulating the flow of experienced foragers among known food sources. Here we analysed social connectivity patterns during the reactivation of experienced foragers to familiar feeding sites to show that these social information pathways are not simply multiple means to achieve the same end but intersect to play complementary roles in guiding forager behaviour. Using artificial feeding stations, we mimicked a natural scenario in which two forager groups were simultaneously collecting from distinct patches containing different flowering species. We then observed the reactivation of these groups at their familiar feeding sites after interrupting their foraging. Social network analysis revealed that temporarily unemployed individuals interacted more often and for longer with foragers that advertised a familiar versus unfamiliar foraging site. Due to such resource-based assortative mixing, network-based diffusion analysis estimated that reactivation events primarily resulted from interactions among bees that had been trained to the same feeding station and less so from different-feeder interactions. Both scent- and dance-based interactions strongly contributed to reactivation decisions. However, each bout of dance-following had an especially strong effect on a follower's likelihood of reactivation, particularly when dances indicated locations familiar to followers. Our findings illustrate how honeybee foragers can alter their social connectivity in ways that are likely to enhance collective outcomes by enabling foragers to rapidly access up-to-date information about familiar foraging sites. In addition, our results highlight how reliance on multiple communication mechanisms enables social insect workers to utilise flexible information-use strategies that are robust to variation in the availability of social information.

221 Increasing Functional Amino Acid Ratios Does Not Improve Growth Performance in Pigs Raised Under Poor Sanitary Conditions When Fed with Individual Precision Feeding Or Conventional Feeding Systems

Abstract Immune system activation redirects dietary nutrients to defense mechanisms, thereby impairing growth performance of pigs. Supplementing pigs with functional amino acids (AA) such as Met, Thr and Trp was shown to support the immune system and reduce the negative effects on growth. However, pigs respond differently to immune stressors which increase herd variability. In this context, individual precision feeding (IPF) might be an alternative approach to reduce herd variability and increase nutrient efficiency in immune challenged pigs. This study aimed to evaluate growth performance, body composition, nitrogen (N) efficiency and haptoglobin and triglycerides serum concentration in growing pigs raised in poor sanitary conditions (PoorSC). The PoorSC was characterized by oral inoculation with 2 × 109 cfu of Salmonella typhimurium and manure spreading on the pen floor. Sixty gilts (23 ± 2.8 kg BW) were distributed in BW blocks according to a 2 dietary (D) × 2 feeding system (FS) factorial arrangement composed of to 2 diets [control (CN): INRA ideal AA ratio or supplemented (AA+) 120% of the ideal ratio for Met, Thr and Trp] and 2 feeding systems [conventional (GP) or IPF]. GP pigs were fed with a unique diet that matched the SID Lys requirement of the 80th-percentile pig at the beginning of the trial whereas the IPF pigs received a diet tailored daily to each pig requirement. All pigs were housed in the same pen and fed ad libitum during 28 experimental days with automatic feeding stations able to provide to each pig the assigned diet. Body composition was obtained by dual X-ray absorptiometry at days 0 and 28 and blood samples were collected at d 28. Data were analyzed with D and FS and their interaction as main fixed factors and body weight (BW) blocks as a random effect (Table 1). Haptoglobin serum concentration increased from d 0 to 28 regardless of FS and D (P &amp;lt; 0.10). IPF pigs fed with CN diet had the lightest BW at the end of the trial (P ≤ 0.10; FS × D), whereas BW was similar for the other treatments. However, across diets, IPF pigs had final BW, and protein, ADG, G:F, protein and lipid deposition, N intake and excretion and circulating triglycerides that were less than GP pigs. N utilization efficiency was similar across treatments. Additionally, increasing the provision of the studied functional AA did not improve pig performance. Thus, showing no benefits in increasing AA ratios for growth and immune response. The increased triglycerides concentration and low protein and lipid deposition suggests that IPF pigs prioritized the immune system to the expense of protein and lipid accretion. In conclusion, AA supplementation and IPF do not improve growth performance and N efficiency of pigs raised in poor sanitary conditions.

PSXII-25 Examining Relationships Between Residual Feed Intake Classification, Enteric Emissions, and Apparent Total Tract Digestibility in Yearling Beef Heifers

Abstract Improving feed efficiency in beef heifers may help reduce enteric emissions and improve economic returns for producers. The objective of this project is to assess the relationship between traditional residual feed intake (RFI) efficiency classification, enteric gas emissions, and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility in growing yearling heifers. Angus crossbred heifers (n = 74, BW = 408 ±27.1 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to pen groups. All heifers were fed a common haylage-based diet for ad libitum intake. Insentec feeding stations (Insentec B.V., Marknesse, The Netherlands) were used to measure individual feed intake and feeding behavior data. To measure enteric gas emissions of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and oxygen (O2), heifer groups were rotated through pens with GreenFeed trailers (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA) weekly. Apparent total tract digestibility was determined by collecting fecal samples from each heifer every 9 h over three days, composited and dried at 65 °C for 96 h, and analyzed for nutrient values (A&amp;L Canada Laboratories, London, ON, Canada). Nutrient digestibility was determined for each heifer using acid-insoluble ash (AIA) and undigestible neutral detergent fiber (uNDF) as internal markers. RFI was determined using a regression of midpoint BW and ADG and then heifers were ranked by RFI quartile group. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS, with efficiency quartile group as the fixed effect and pen as a random effect, comparisons between quartile groups were assessed with a Tukey test. As expected, efficient (least RFI) heifers had decreased dry matter intake (8.5 vs 10.1 ± 0.20 kg/d, P &amp;lt; 0.01), less bunk visits (70 vs 112 ± 6 visits/day, P &amp;lt; 0.01), spent greater time per visit (2.46 vs 1.31 ± 0.249 min/visit, P &amp;lt; 0.01), and consumed more feed per visit (145 vs 104 ± 11.9 g DM/visit, P &amp;lt; 0.03), which resulted in a faster eating rate (65 vs 98 ± 5.0 g DM/min, P &amp;lt; 0.01), and produced decreased enteric CO2 emissions (7,653 vs 8,120 ±122.6 g/d, P = 0.05) compared with inefficient (greatest RFI) heifers. Additionally, when using AIA as the internal marker, efficient heifers showed greater digestibility of organic matter (89.8 vs 91.4 ± 0.49 %, P = 0.02) and NDF (20.2 vs 30.0 ± 2.66 %, P = 0.04) apparent total tract digestibility, while using uNDF as the internal marker showed no difference (P &amp;gt; 0.20) between efficiency groups. These data indicate that more efficient yearling heifers consume less feed, have reduced enteric gas emissions, and have improved organic matter and NDF apparent total tract digestibility.