Analysing animal welfare by sequence analysis of behavior

• Autorzy: Hocking P.M.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The analysis of behaviour as the proportion of time spent on particular behaviours (an ethogram) has been widely used as a proxy for assessing the welfare, or the internal mental state, of domestic poultry. New techniques using detailed analysis of ehavioural sequences are based on the premise that an unpleasant experience or condition will affect the normal pattern of behaviour. The major techniques are detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), real-time patterns (T-patterns) and social network analysis (SNA). DFA uses binary measures (e.g. active vs. non-active) and assesses change over a long period. However, welfare implications are difficult to interpret as there is no simple relationship with stress. T-patterns are unique sequences of behaviour (e.g. walk-stand) separated by a specific period of time, that occur more often than expected. Sequence information is retained but several arbitrary input parameters are required for the analysis. SNA estimates transition frequencies between different behaviours and can be used at the individual or group level. In a study of feed restricted boiler parent chickens fed on different quantities of two feeds, T-patterns complemented an ethogram approach whereas DFA was less useful. In an earlier investigation both T-patterns and SNA enriched the comparisons of different broiler genotypes fed ad libitum or restricted.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis
• Rocznik: 2014
• Tom: 74
• Numer: 3
• Opis fizyczny: p.350

Twórcy

autor

Hocking P.M.

• Division of Genetics and Genomics, Roslin Institute and R(D) SVS, University of Edinburgh, Eater Bush, Midlothian, Scotland