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9 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Plumage Condition of Non-Beak-Trimmed Rhode ISLAND-Type Pedigree Hens in Cages and Alternative Pens

by Sándor Szász, Gábor Milisits, Attila Orbán, Tamás Péter Farkas, Lilla Pető, Dávid Mezőszentgyörgyi, Erik Garamvölgyi, Péter Horn and Zoltán Sütő

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 4501; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13074501 - 1 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1147

Abstract

The extent of the feathers covering a bird’s body and the condition of the plumage largely determine the bird’s well-being and aesthetic condition. This investigation aimed to compare changes in the plumage status of laying hens in dissimilar housing systems in the egg-laying [...] Read more.

The extent of the feathers covering a bird’s body and the condition of the plumage largely determine the bird’s well-being and aesthetic condition. This investigation aimed to compare changes in the plumage status of laying hens in dissimilar housing systems in the egg-laying period. The experiment was carried out with 1460 non-beak-trimmed laying hens, provided by Bábolna TETRA Ltd., representing a part of the Rhode-type elite lines (Rhode Island Red (RIR) and Rhode Island White (RIW)) used for breeding brown layer hybrids. Hens were kept in the closed experimental laying house of MATE University (Kaposvár Campus), where the RIR and RIW hens were placed into three types of housing systems: EU standard furnished cage (EU) (7560 cm²; 10 hens/cage; 756 cm²/hen); Alternative pen (A) (5.52 m², floor and litter combination, 53 hens/pen; 1040 cm²/hen); and Conventional cage (C) (3780 cm²; 6 hens/cage; 630 cm²/hen). The feathering status of the hens was examined at five body parts: neck, breast, wings, back and tail at 33, 45 and 61 weeks of age, which was evaluated on a four-grade scale by the same experienced scorer, and the cumulated plumage point (5–20) was calculated for each hen. The RIW genotype had a better plumage condition than RIR at each of the examined times (at the 33rd week: 19.0, 18.3; at the 45th week: 18.4, 17.4; at the 61st week: 17.2, 15.5). The status of the plumage of the RIR hens had deteriorated to a greater extent. As age progressed, the plumage condition of both genotypes significantly deteriorated in all the three housing technologies. The relatively high level of deterioration can be partly explained by the fact that the animals were non-beak-trimmed. At all test times, the total feather score of the birds in the alternative cage housing was significantly better (at the 33rd week: EU: 18.4, A: 19.1, C: 18.5; at the 45th week: EU: 17.6, A: 18.6, C: 17.4; at the 61st week: EU: 15.9, A: 16.9; C: 16.1). The condition of the neck plumage was better in group RIW than in RIR, and the best in the alternative housing at each test time. At the end, the high decomposition results were striking, since at the beginning there were values close to the maximum (3.98; 3.99). It can be concluded that the reason for the dominantly favorable aviary results is that the hens in this type of housing have to come into contact with fewer mechanical factors, their companions do not jump on their backs when changing places, they do not have to stick their heads out of the grid to collect feed, etc. In addition to all this, they also had a littered scratching area and a nest lined with artificial grass, where they could scratch and take a dust bath. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Behavior in Intensive Culture Environment)

11 pages, 1156 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Size Preference of Live Fish Prey in the Pellet-Consuming Pikeperch

by Ildikó Benedek and Tamás Molnár

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2259; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042259 - 9 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1243

Abstract

The production of pikeperch in a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) is of growing importance. However, the use of combined technologies may also be justified, especially in countries with larger pond areas. However, this requires the most effective adaptation of pellet-consuming individuals to pond [...] Read more.

The production of pikeperch in a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) is of growing importance. However, the use of combined technologies may also be justified, especially in countries with larger pond areas. However, this requires the most effective adaptation of pellet-consuming individuals to pond conditions. Foraging training, a form of environmental enrichment to compensate for the poor environment in hatchery rearing, can play a major role in this. The aim of our study was to investigate the prey size preference already observed in wild pikeperch, during prey capture by intensively reared naive individuals. We investigated predation success, latency, number of attempts during the process, and size distribution, in a total of 152 foraging trials of 38 pikeperch fingerlings (mean TL = 90.65 mm) at three different prey sizes (predator–prey length ratio (PPR): 0.11, 0.22, 0.33). Although predation on medium–large prey was more successful overall, it was achieved in more attempts and with greater latency. Small prey was captured with the fewest attempts. These results suggest that when calculating prey size in the foraging training of pikeperch, it is recommended to use a 0.11–0.22 PPR less than the optimal PPR described for wild individuals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Behavior in Intensive Culture Environment)

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18 pages, 532 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Factors for the Occurrence of Feather Pecking in Non-Beak-Trimmed Pullets and Laying Hens on Commercial Farms

by Angela Schwarzer, Elke Rauch, Shana Bergmann, Anna Kirchner, Alice Lenz, Adriane Hammes, Michael Erhard, Sven Reese and Helen Louton

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9699; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199699 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1473

Abstract

Severe feather pecking (SFP) is a behavioral disorder, for which there are multifactorial reasons. Various aspects of pullet and laying-hen husbandry—including housing conditions, management, feeding, and genetics—must be considered, to prevent negative outcomes, such as severe plumage damage, skin injuries, and high mortality [...] Read more.

Severe feather pecking (SFP) is a behavioral disorder, for which there are multifactorial reasons. Various aspects of pullet and laying-hen husbandry—including housing conditions, management, feeding, and genetics—must be considered, to prevent negative outcomes, such as severe plumage damage, skin injuries, and high mortality rates due to SFP. The aim of this study was to identify housing and management factors in the occurrence of feather pecking, so as to reduce the risk of this behavioral disorder in non-beak-trimmed laying hens on commercial farms with aviaries. Beak trimming may reduce the extent of plumage damage, but it does not prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. Thirty non-beak-trimmed flocks (16 in the first, and 14 in the second laying period) were investigated on 16 commercial farms in Germany. Each flock was visited twice during rearing, and three times during the laying period. During each visit, individual plumage and integument scoring were performed, and data were collected, regarding the housing and management conditions of the flocks. To analyze the influence of management and housing on the plumage condition of the rearing and laying flocks, models were calculated, using univariate multifactorial analysis. In the rearing period, high stocking density and poor litter quality were significant risk factors in plumage damage due to SFP. In the laying period, a lack of free range, poor litter quality, insufficient enrichment, and plumage damage during rearing were significant risk factors for the development of SFP. An individual risk analysis of pullet and layer farms is therefore strongly recommended, to prevent outbreaks of SFP and cannibalism, especially in non-beak-trimmed birds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Behavior in Intensive Culture Environment)

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16 pages, 5309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examination of Nesting Behavior of Laying Hens of Different Genotypes Housed in Indoor Alternative Pens Using a Video System

by Tamás Péter Farkas, Sándor Szász, Attila Orbán, Dávid Mezőszentgyörgyi, Lilla Pető and Zoltán Sütő

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(18), 9093; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12189093 - 9 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1600

Abstract

The aim of the research was to examine how the nest selection preference of laying hens with different genotypes differed, the proportion of eggs laid in the litter, eggs laid in the upper and bottom nests, and the number and duration of nest [...] Read more.

The aim of the research was to examine how the nest selection preference of laying hens with different genotypes differed, the proportion of eggs laid in the litter, eggs laid in the upper and bottom nests, and the number and duration of nest visits. The experiment was conducted with laying hen genotypes provided by Bábolna TETRA Ltd. (Babolna, Hungary) (Commercial hybrid (C); pure-line maternal (Maternal); pure-line paternal offspring group (Paternal)). N = 318; n = 106 hen/genotype; and 53 hens/pen. We placed 53 19-week-old, non-beak-trimmed hens in each of the six 5.52 m² alternative pens. We provided 14 nests for the hens at two levels per pen (3.8 hens/nest). We recorded the number of eggs laid in the nests on the bottom and upper levels, as well as within the litter. Infrared cameras were installed above the pens, and we conducted recordings on a test day at the beginning of the third production month. In our results, we found a significant difference in the proportion of litter eggs overall during the 12 months of production (C. hybrid: 30.7%; Paternal: 41.1%; Maternal: 10.2%). A significant difference was found between all genotypes in the proportions of eggs laid at the bottom (B) and upper (U) level during the 12 months of production (C. hybrid: B: 72.2%, U: 27.8%; Paternal: B: 88.0%, U: 12.0%; Maternal: B: 71.4%, U: 28.6%). The evaluation of the video recordings revealed that the C. hybrid and Paternal genotypes visited the bottom nests in 97.2% and 96.0% of the cases, respectively, and the Maternal genotype individuals in a significantly lower proportion, 72.5% of the cases; the Paternal genotype spent significantly more time (13.4 min) on average in the bottom nests compared with the C. hybrid (7.9 min) and the Maternal genotypes (8.6 min). Our conclusion is that it is not enough to ensure the desired ratio of egg nests in egg production, as laying hens may not use nests in certain positions at all. This generates a relative shortage of egg nests and can increase the ratio of eggs laid in the litter, which in turn involves human health risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Behavior in Intensive Culture Environment)

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16 pages, 1153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in the Stress Tolerance of Dwarf Rabbits in Animal-Assisted Interventions

by Éva Suba-Bokodi, István Nagy and Marcell Molnár

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(14), 6979; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12146979 - 10 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2349

Abstract

Background: Rabbits are common companion animals in many European countries. Rabbit-assisted interventions in primary schools are suitable for decreasing the anxiety levels of children, which may increase the education efficiency of teachers. Methods: In our present study, the behavior of dwarf rabbits was [...] Read more.

Background: Rabbits are common companion animals in many European countries. Rabbit-assisted interventions in primary schools are suitable for decreasing the anxiety levels of children, which may increase the education efficiency of teachers. Methods: In our present study, the behavior of dwarf rabbits was tested in a children’s summer camp organized by the Family and Child Protection Service in Várpalota, Hungary, 2021. In two occasions, altogether 20 rabbits were evaluated, while 120 children were involved in the examinations. All the rabbits were the progeny of the same buck and three different does. Four of them had been previously socialized to humans during the sensitive period after birth. Results: The familiarity level of the rabbits with their owner was significantly lower after the interventions compared to the previously measured scores (p < 0.05). In the interventions, children also made behavior surveys with the rabbits in which they contacted the animals, touched them and held them. After three successive interventions, rabbits became significantly less tolerant compared to the first intervention (p < 0.05). In both cases, the rabbits who had been socialized obtained higher scores on the behavior tests compared to the non-handled conspecifics. However, by the third session, socialized rabbits showed a considerable decrease in cooperation. Conclusions: The stress tolerance of rabbits receiving handling exceeds that of those that were not handled previously. The familiarity level of the imprinted rabbits was higher in both cases: with the owner and children. When using rabbits in AAI, a maximum of two 20 min sessions is recommended for handled rabbits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Behavior in Intensive Culture Environment)

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8 pages, 795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nest Material Preference of Wild Mouse Species in Laboratory Housing

by Boróka Bárdos, István Nagy, Zsolt Gerencsér and Vilmos Altbacker

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(11), 5750; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12115750 - 6 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2449

Abstract

Our research examined the nest-building characteristics of two mouse species native to Hungary, the mound-building mouse (Mus spicilegus) and the house mouse (Mus musculus), under laboratory housing conditions. In indoor housing, the nest-building material plays a very important role [...] Read more.

Our research examined the nest-building characteristics of two mouse species native to Hungary, the mound-building mouse (Mus spicilegus) and the house mouse (Mus musculus), under laboratory housing conditions. In indoor housing, the nest-building material plays a very important role in the welfare of the animals. The present study examined how wild mouse species choose from natural nest material. In a three-way test, mice were able to choose whether to make their nest from long blades of hay, nonfibrous cotton, or paper strips. In addition, the effect of nest composition on its quality was also investigated. The test was run at the standard laboratory (21 °C) and lower (10 °C) temperatures, assuming that temperature influences the choice. Based on the results of the three-way selection tests, both species of wild mice chose hay nest material in the highest proportion, and it was also found that the increasing the hay proportion coincided with better nest quality. Mice kept in colder places used more hay nest material for their nests and built better quality nests. Our results show that wild mouse species prefer natural nest-building materials that meet their ecological needs even under laboratory conditions, resulting in a good quality nest. This finding is worth considering in designing appropriate enclosures for wild rodent species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Behavior in Intensive Culture Environment)

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12 pages, 1775 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enrichment in a Fish Polyculture: Does it Affect Fish Behaviour and Development of Only One Species or Both?

by Marielle Thomas, Jean-Gabriel Reynaud, Yannick Ledoré, Alain Pasquet and Thomas Lecocq

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3674; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12073674 - 6 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2100

Abstract

Physical enrichment of structures has been used for the last decades in aquaculture to improve fish production and welfare. Until now, this enrichment has been practiced in fish monoculture but not in fish polyculture. In this study, we developed a polyculture of two [...] Read more.

Physical enrichment of structures has been used for the last decades in aquaculture to improve fish production and welfare. Until now, this enrichment has been practiced in fish monoculture but not in fish polyculture. In this study, we developed a polyculture of two freshwater species (pikeperch and sterlet) in recirculated systems (tank of 2.4 m³) with or without physical structures for enrichment. Two types of structures were used: a cover plank on a part of the tank decreasing the light intensity and vertical pipes modifying the water flow. The experiment was conducted in triplicate for a three-month period with juvenile fishes (143 ± 41 g and 27.3 ± 2.2 cm for pikeperch and 133 ± 21 g and 32.8 ± 1.6 cm for sterlet). Behavioural (space occupation and abnormal behaviours) and morphological (total length, final weight, Fulton condition factor, coefficient of variation of the final weight, percentage of biomass gain and specific growth rate) traits were measured. The pikeperch changed their space occupation and showed a preference for low light areas. Sterlet also changed their space occupation: they did not use the cover and occurred mainly in the part of the tank without enrichment. There was no difference for the frequency of abnormal behaviours for pikeperch and sterlet between the two sets (with or without enrichment). There was no statistical difference between the two sets for all the morphological and growth parameters no matter the species and the rearing modality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Behavior in Intensive Culture Environment)

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13 pages, 1759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Place to Be? Use of Winter Gardens with and without Automatic Enrichment Devices by Laying Hens

by Anna Riedel, Lorena Rieke, Nicole Kemper and Birgit Spindler

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3650; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12073650 - 5 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1686

Abstract

Since the abolition of beak trimming in laying hens in Germany, the importance of adequate enrichment material to help reduce feather pecking and cannibalism has grown. Here we tested an automatic enrichment device dosing grain via rough-coated pecking plates (PPs) on an organic [...] Read more.

Since the abolition of beak trimming in laying hens in Germany, the importance of adequate enrichment material to help reduce feather pecking and cannibalism has grown. Here we tested an automatic enrichment device dosing grain via rough-coated pecking plates (PPs) on an organic farm, comparing its offer in four winter gardens (WGs). Winter garden (WG) 1 served as the control area without an automatic enrichment device, while WGs 2–4 offered different quantities of PPs, with WG 2 offering double the amount of PPs as WGs 3 and 4. The number of laying hens (Lohmann Brown Lite) per m² and close to the enrichment device (one hen‘s body length around) was determined using photo records. The usage behavior of the hens differed in the four WGs and with the animals’ age. Over the whole husbandry period (60 weeks), on average, 1.48 hens/m² were detected in the control area (WG 1), and a mean of 2.27 hens/m² in the enriched WGs. Compared to WG 1, the number of hens per m² was higher in WG 2 (2.43 hens/m²) and WG 3 (2.59 hens/m²) (p < 0.05), but similar in WG 4 (1.79 hens/m²). At the end of the husbandry period, fewer animals (mean of all WGs: 1.43 hens/m²) used the WGs than from beginning to the middle of the laying period (mean of all WGs: 2.05–2.15 hens/m²; p < 0.05). Our data indicate that the automatic enrichment device positively influences the animals’ use of the WG. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Behavior in Intensive Culture Environment)

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10 pages, 872 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Composition of the Wild Rabbit Nest and Its Implication for Domestic Rabbit Breeding

by Ágnes Bilkó, Imre Petróczi, Boróka Bárdos, István Nagy and Vilmos Altbacker

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 1915; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12041915 - 11 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2417

Abstract

Wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) give birth in an underground nursery burrow where the kits are hermetically closed into the nest chamber for several weeks except for the three minutes of daily nursing. Given this confinement, the nest quality seems to [...] Read more.

Wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) give birth in an underground nursery burrow where the kits are hermetically closed into the nest chamber for several weeks except for the three minutes of daily nursing. Given this confinement, the nest quality seems to be crucial in affecting the kits’ survival. The situation is less critical in rabbitries where the domesticated descendants are kept and give birth in separate nest boxes where the temperature and humidity conditions are less extreme and nests consist of fur and wood shavings or straw. However, nesting behaviour of domestic does still reflects several aspects of the ancestors, and providing conditions close to their biological needs is advised. The present study aimed to understand the factors contributing to the nest material choice of rabbits by analysing the composition of wild rabbit nests and testing naive domestic does in controlled laboratory settings for their preferences in constructing their nests. We were able to collect 21 just abandoned nests in their natural habitat and found they contained rabbit fur and hay, of which 85% was dry grass, mostly long leaves of Calamagrostis sp. Using domesticated rabbit does, we then tested if there is a preference for the features of the wild rabbit nests or whether the above-mentioned finding was either an accidental consequence of grass availability or ageing of the nest material. Two-way choice tests revealed that primiparous domestic does preferred the dry grass over green and long leaves over short grass bunches for nest building. Ageing of the nest material was rather negligible and did not contribute to the high level of dry grass content. We concluded that long dry grass is recommended as it seems to fulfil basic needs of this domesticated animal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Behavior in Intensive Culture Environment)

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12 pages, 1496 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Observing Brief and Irregular Behaviour of Animals—The Validity of Short Observation Periods

by Thore Wilder, Joachim Krieter, Nicole Kemper and Kathrin Büttner

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9770; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11209770 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2731

Abstract

There are efficient sampling methods to accurately estimate behaviour with a moderate or long duration. For short behaviour, observing animals continuously is recommended although there is no recommended minimum observation time. In most studies, sampling method and observation time per day is determined [...] Read more.

There are efficient sampling methods to accurately estimate behaviour with a moderate or long duration. For short behaviour, observing animals continuously is recommended although there is no recommended minimum observation time. In most studies, sampling method and observation time per day is determined by practical considerations. Thus, this study analysed the validity of behavioural observations in different observation periods using continuous sampling (CS) or time sampling (TS) based on biting behaviour. Tail-biting and ear-biting of weaned piglets in six pens were continuously observed for 12 h per day for 4 days to form a reference. Shorter observation periods of CS and TS were simulated by taking subsets of this reference. The amount of behaviour per hour of each observation period was compared to the reference and to other observation period of the same kind and length. Four different measurements were defined to calculate accuracy scores (AS; 0–1; higher values are better). Comparison to the reference shows better AS for observation periods with longer observation time in total (0.5 h of CS: 0.2; 6 h of CS: 0.6). Additionally, TS covers longer time periods without decreasing AS. However, focus on activity time results in an overestimation of irregular behaviour. Comparing AS among observation periods of the same kind and length show overall low agreement. This study indicated problems of different observation periods of CS and TS to accurately estimate behaviour. Therefore, validity of behavioural observations should be analysed in greater detail to determine optimal sampling methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Behavior in Intensive Culture Environment)

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