• Title/Summary/Keyword: Animal Behaviour

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Does Visitation Dictate Animal Welfare in Captivity? : A Case Study of Tigers and Leopards from National Zoological Park, New Delhi

  • Gupta, Avni;Vashisth, Saurabh;Sharma, Mahima;Hore, Upamanyu;Lee, Hang;Pandey, Puneet
    • Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.103-114
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    • 2022
  • Zoological Parks house exclusive animal species, thus creating a source of education and awareness for visitors. Big cats like tigers and leopards are among the most visited species in zoos globally. However, they often display stressful or stereotypic behaviours. Such behaviours are influenced by multiple factors including visitors, animal history, and captive environment. To understand this impact, we investigated the behavioural response of tigers and leopards to visitation, captive, and biological factors. The behaviour of eight big cats housed in the National Zoological Park, New Delhi, was monitored using focal sampling technique during May and June 2019. We recorded the captive and biological factors and visitor density for the subjects. The study revealed high proportions of inactive and stereotypic behaviours amongst the species. Tigers and leopards were found to perform stereotypic behaviours for 22% and 28% of their time, respectively. Generalised Linear Models revealed a significant variation of stereotypy in association with the factors. Stereotypy was influenced by visitor density, age, sex, breeding history, coat colour, and enclosure design. Adults, males, white-coated, previously bred, and those housed in smaller and simple enclosures display more stereotypy than young, females, normal-coated, unbred, and those housed in larger and complex enclosures, respectively. A high density of visitors induced more stereotypic behaviours amongst the big cats. As providing entertainment and awareness amongst the public is one of the fundamental objectives of the zoo, visitors can not be avoided. Thus, we suggest providing appropriate enrichments that would reduce stereotypies and promote naturalistic behaviours.

Effect of Frequency of Meals on Intake and Digestion of Tropical Grass Consumed by Rams

  • Assoumaya, C.;Sauvant, D.;Pommier, F.;Boval, M.;Calif, B.;Archimede, H.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.72-81
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    • 2009
  • Eight Black Belly rams (45.2 kg) fitted with permanent ruminal cannulae were used in a 2${\times}$2 factorial design to determine the effects of feeding frequency and regrowth age on intake and digestion. Rams were fed with 21- or 35-day old fresh pangola grass offered ad libitum two or four times a day. Irrespective of the regrowth age, there was a tendency for intake to be positively correlated with increase in meal frequency. Differences were not significant (p>0.25). Significant effects of meal frequency were observed in NDF and ADF total tract digestibility of the 35-day grass which decreased as the number of meals increased. Meal frequency had no visible effect on feeding behaviour. Total rumen content increased when animals were fed twice a day as opposed to four times a day. Similarly, an accumulation of small and very small particles was observed in the rumen of rams fed twice a day in comparison with those fed four times a day. These results suggest that studies of digestive dynamics performed at a steady state are not representative of the rumen loading observed in farm rams which have two important peaks of meal.

Deodorization Management of Swine-Slurry by Addition of Phototrophic Bacteria (광합성 세균을 이용한 고농도 양돈슬러리의 무취화 관리방안에 관한 연구)

  • 이명규;권오중;정진영;태민호;허재숙
    • Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.137-147
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    • 1998
  • This study was carried out to find deodorization effect of swine-slurry by addition of phototrophic bacteria(PTB). The pilot-scale reactors operation conditions was designed by the inoculum amounts of PTB and light-conditions. Treatment conditions was divided into 3 types; 106 MPN/ml$.$Dark(T-1), 108 MPN/ml$.$Dark(T-2), 108 MPN/ml$.$Natural light(T-3). The changes of the concentration of volatile fatty acids(VFAs), hydrogen sulfide(H2S), ammonia (NH3) and odor intensity were analyzed during the treatment period(35 days). From results of this study, the maximum intensity of odor in the headspace of the reactor T-1 was 4.82 and T-2, T-3 was 2.63, respectively. In swine-slurry of reactors used, it almost took 10 days until to be stabilized with solid and liquid phase. Intensity of odor in headspace was mainly derived from the liquid phase. The PTB inoculum method to swine-slurry was very effective in reduction of VFAs, H2S and Sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB) concentration. Expecially, It was interested in reverse growth behaviour of SRB and PTB in these conditions.

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Behaviour of $NO_3-N$ in Soil and Groundwater Quality (토양(土壤)중 질산태질소(窒酸態窒素)의 행동(行動)과 지하수질(地下水質))

  • Yun, Sun-Gang;Yoo, Sun-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.281-297
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    • 1993
  • Nitrogen is an element required to meet optimal plant growth. However, when it was applied (as chemical fertilizer or animal waste) more than the demand of plant and managed it unreasonably can be accumulated in subsoil and leached from soil system. Nitrogen also can be act as an pollutant to soil and water through water contamination if its concentration exceed the critical level. The concentration and downward movement of nitrate in soil is influenced by cultural practices and soil properties. High level of nitrate nitrogen in drinking water is harzadrous for animal and human health, especially for infants and the restoration of the quality of groundwater is impossible by now. Therefore it is the only way to prevent from leaching of nitrate nitrogen to keep the quality of groundwater as vital water resource. The aims of the presentation of this review paper are to understand the relationship between agricultural practices and the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in groundwater and to suggest further informations for the rational management methods to reduce the leaching of nitrate nitrogen in soil.

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Factors Influencing on Consumer's Decision on Vegetarian Diets in Vietnam

  • NGO, Vu Quynh Thi;VO, Thi Anh Dao;NGO, Anh Phung;NGUYEN, Do Mai Anh;LE, Minh Thu;TO, Thi Phuong Loan;NGUYEN, Thi Thuy Phi
    • The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.485-495
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    • 2021
  • Recently, vegetarian diets have experienced a dramatic increase in popularity. The aim of the study is to explore and test the relationship between the factors influencing consumers' dietary decisions in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The questionnaire applied a five-point Likert scale to investigate factors that affect Ho Chi Minh City's citizens when they have a vegetarian diet. 497 respondents (68% female; 61.2% aged 18-22; 82.7% had regular vegetarian diets) living in Ho Chi Minh City took part in both online and offline surveys. The results were processed by SPSS 22.0 software. The reliability was checked by Cronbach Alpha and Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify the underlying relationships between measured variables. The Correlation analysis was implemented to show how strong and degree of two variables are related to each other before the multivariate regression equation was analyzed. The result showed the Five factors that were motivating people in Ho Chi Minh City to decide on plant-based diets, such as Animal Welfare, Health, Religion, Mood, and Reference groups. The mood is the most influential variable that significantly influences people's food choices. Attitudes toward vegetarian diets are changing. Therefore, recognizing the trends in food consumption might help companies take advantage of investment opportunities and build their marketing strategies.

Preference for Heated Substrate in Captive River Cooters (Pseudemys concinna): A Potential Use for the Control of Invasive Populations

  • Kang, Hakyung;Borzee, Amael;Chuang, Ming-Feng;Jang, Yikweon
    • Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.9-14
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    • 2021
  • Invasive species threaten global biodiversity as well as human livelihood and much of the global lands are vulnerable to these threats. Numerous freshwater turtles from the northern hemisphere have been introduced in East Asian countries, including the Republic of Korea. Knowing turtle's behavioral ecology is valuable to manage introduced populations and a distinctive behavior is basking for behavioral thermoregulation. To understand the possibility of using basking to enhance trapping, we tested thermotaxis in the river cooter (Pseudemys concinna). Turtles were placed in an aquarium containing heated and non-heated mats under controlled water and air temperature, air humidity and light. We found that P. concinna stayed significantly longer on heated mats than on unheated control mats in 11 out of 18 trials, demonstrating that heat source is a potential attractant for P. concinna. We recommend the use of heat source to bait traps used for population control of invasive freshwater turtles.

Feline vocal communication

  • Tavernier, Chloe;Ahmed, Sohail;Houpt, Katherine Albro;Yeon, Seong Chan
    • Journal of Veterinary Science
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.18.1-18.17
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    • 2020
  • Cat vocalizes to communicate with another and express their internal states. The vocal repertoire of the cat is wide and up to 21 different vocalizations have been described in the literatures. But it is more than probable that the repertoire contains more types of vocalizations. An ethogram was created in this paper describing the actual known vocalisations of the domestic cat based on an auditory classification. However, the audiogram allows also a visual classification which can increase the accuracy of vocalization differentiation. The classification can be risky as it is sometimes unclear if different types of vocalizations are produced in different environments or if a unique type of vocalization is used with variation in the acoustic parameters. As an example, isolation calls produced by kittens differ depending on the context. The environment has an important impact on the vocal behaviour and thus feral cats and pet cats vocalize differently. Pet cats are thus able to create an efficient communication with humans thanks to the flexibility of vocalisation behaviours. This review allowed us to create a simple model of the cat vocal repertory.

EFFECT OF WORK CRUSHING SUGARCANE ON PREGNANCY AND LACTATION IN CATTLE AND BUFFALOES

  • van Thu, N.;Pearson, R.A.;Preston, T.R.;Fajersson, P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.427-438
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    • 1996
  • The suitability of female cattle ($Brahman{\times}Holstein$) and buffaloes (Murrah / Jafarabadi) for work on a sugarcane crusher was tested. The animals were fed chopped sugarcane tops and elephant grass supplemented with rice bran and urea-molasses blocks. In experiment 1, six cattle and six buffaloes, (with three animals seven to eight months pregnant at the start of the experiment in each group), worked individually, alternate weeks for 90 minutes a day for 6 d/week. Within the 90 min, cattle did more work than buffaloes (p < 0.05), and non-pregnant animals did more than pregnant animals, but cattle crushed significantly (p < 0.05) more cane per day than buffaloes. During work animals lost weight, but gained the weight back during resting weeks, when fodder intakes were higher. There were no significant differences in live weight change and fodder intakes between pregnant and non-pregnant animals during the six weeks. In experiment 2, four pairs of lactating cows and buffaloes crushed sugarcane for 3 h/d, 6 d/week for three weeks. Work done was higher in cattle than buffaloes, but cane crushed was marginally lower. All animals lost weight during work, particularly in the first week, but gained weight during the week after work. Daily milk yield was lower during the working weeks ($-0.55{\pm}0.15kg$) than in the week before work. Butter fat yield showed no significant change. One buffalo showed ovarian activity and oestrus behaviour during the work. Two cows showed ovarian activity within one month after the work. It was concluded that pregnant and lactating cows and buffaloes can effectively operate a cane crusher, however a temporary reduction in milk yield can be expected in the working period, and ovarian activity may be suppressed.

Variability of the Rumination-Behaviour in Steers fed a Constant Amount of Hay (牧乾草의 定量給與時 소 反芻行動의 變異性)

  • Jeon, Byong-Tae;Otha, Minoru
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.8 no.2
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    • pp.68-76
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    • 1988
  • The variation of rumination response in steers fed a same amount of orcharograss hay was investigated. With three steers (6, 12, 24 months) of the Japanese Black Breed, rumination behaviour was measured continuously during a 5 days period by masseter EMG telemetry system. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The average daily ruminatio time of respective animals were 438,447 and 433 min. with small daily variation both within and among animal. But the rumination time per DM kg of hay consumed varied from 66 to 138 min., and calf spent longer than older calf. 2. Actural chewing time showed small variation, and percentage of actural chewing time spent in rumination time was from 88 to 93% on individual average. 3. The daily number of chewing in rumination was approximately 25,000 to 30,000 with large individual differences. The chews per DM kg intake varied from 3,800 to 9,600, and calf chewed more than older calf. 4. The average rate of chewing per 100 sec. (chewing speed), there was a large difference between animals I.e. 104, 114, 131 respectively, but very little variance between days in individual. 5. No relation between day to day variations in eating time and rumination behavior, but significantly positive correlation was observed in the relation among rumination time, chewing time, No. of boluses and No. of chews. 6. Active time of day in rumination altered considerably day to day, but variation in the amount of rumination per day as expressed by the rumination time was relatively small.

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STANDARDIZATION OF TEST ORGANISMS AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOXICITY TESTS METHODS

  • Yasuno, M.
    • Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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    • 1993.06a
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    • pp.4-5
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    • 1993
  • Toxicity tests in our laboratory are conducted usually with mass-reared organisms. They are under the same environmentel conditions throughout seasons and are supplied at specific age. A total of 38 species of aquatic organisms are being reared. We have attempted to establish pruified strains or to select clones of various parthenogenic organisms. The merits or demerits of our culturing test organisms are discussed. The differences in the susceptibility among clones or strains of test organism are also discussed. For a single species test, algae, daphnia, fish are often used. However, we usually use early stages, but occasionally, adults fish are used for reproduction tests. As an another important aspect, the toxicity through food chains has been studied. In this study, we select a pair of species belonging different trophic levels. The differences between single species tests and multispecies tests will be discussed. Even a single species test intends to assess the effects of chemicals on ecosystem levels, however, this idea is not applicable to ecosystems. Single species tests with standard organisms and multispecies tests are contradictory in concept. One type of multispecles tests is indoor microcosms being composed of severel species artificially assembled, and another is composed of natural components (both indoor and outdoor). We have used three types of outdoor mesocosms using ponds and three types of artificial streams. The mesocosms is useful to not only to analyze the floral or faun61 changes but also to study the fate or behaviour of chemicals in naturd environments. Lastly, usefulness of the field observation or experiments or semi-field experiments will be discussed. This will enhance the exploitation of early warning systems utilizing indicator organisms or animal behaviour.aviour.

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