Indication of a personality trait in dairy calves and its link to weight gain through automatically collected feeding behaviours

Farm animal personality traits are of interest since they can help predict individual variation in behaviour and productivity. However, personality traits are currently inferred using behavioural tests which are impractical outside of research settings. To meet the definition of a personality trait, between-individual differences in related behaviours must be temporally as well as contextually stable. In this study, we used data collected by computerised milk feeders from 76 calves over two contexts, pair housing and group housing, to test if between-individual differences in feeding rate and meal frequency meet the definition for a personality trait. Results show that between-individual differences in feeding rate and meal frequency were related, and, for each behaviour, between-individual differences were positively and significantly correlated across contexts. In addition, feeding rate and meal frequency were positively and significantly associated with weight gain. Together, these results indicate the existence of a personality trait which positions high meal frequency, fast drinking, fast growing calves at one end and low meal frequency, slow drinking, and slow growing calves at the other. Our results suggest that data already available on commercial farms could be harnessed to establish a personality trait

Familiarity, age, weaning and health status impact social proximity networks in dairy calves

Social network analysis in dairy calves has not been widely studied, with previous studies limited by the short study duration, and low number of animals and replicates. In this study, we investigated social proximity interactions of 79 Holstein–Friesian calves from 5 cohorts for up to 76 days. Networks were computed using 4-day aggregated associations obtained from ultrawideband location sensor technology, at 1 Hz sampling rate. The effect of age, familiarity, health, and weaning status on the social proximity networks of dairy calves was assessed. Networks were poorly correlated (non-stable) between the different 4-day periods, in the majority of them calves associated heterogeneously, and individuals assorted based on previous familiarity for the whole duration of the study. Age significantly increased association strength, social time and eigenvector centrality and significantly decreased closeness and coefficient of variation in association (CV). Sick calves had a significantly lower strength, social time, centrality and CV, and significantly higher closeness compared to the healthy calves. During and after weaning, calves had significantly lower closeness and CV, and significantly higher association strength, social time, and eigenvector centrality. These results indicate that age, familiarity, weaning, and sickness have a significant impact on the variation of social proximity interaction of calves

Seasonal patterns in habitat use by the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) and other small mammals

The ecology of the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) is poorly understood, partly because it is a difficult species to monitor. It is commonly associated with reedbeds, where evidence suggests that it experiences strong seasonal fluctuations in abundance. However, it is unknown whether these fluctuations are caused by real changes in population size, or by movement between habitats. This study investigated seasonal changes in population size and habitat use by harvest mice, and other small mammal species, by trapping the reedbed and three associated habitat types: woodland, pasture and arable land. A sampling effort of 9887 trap bouts across nine months, resulted in 70 captures of harvest mice, as well as wood mice (N = 1022), bank voles (N = 252), field voles (N = 9), common shrews (N = 86) and pygmy shrews (N = 7). The reedbed was the habitat with the most captures and highest diversity. Harvest mice were caught exclusively in the reedbed at the beginning of autumn. Wood mice and bank voles experienced fluctuations in population numbers and wood mice also showed seasonal variation in habitat use. Our study supports the idea that harvest mice undergo extreme seasonal fluctuations in abundance in reedbeds, but these do not appear to be related to changes in habitat use

Impact of Flock Health Clubs

Sheep farming is an important part of UK agriculture with significantly more breeding females than either the pig or cattle sectors. Whether grazing alongside arable rotations or utilising the marginal uplands, sheep farms arguably play a key role that is embedded within UK rural society. However, research led by University of Nottingham has identified various challenges and barriers that have affected relationships between UK sheep farmers and the veterinary profession. In response to these findings, Flock Health Clubs were developed as an initiative that aimed for improved and cost-effective sheep farmer–veterinary interaction. We report quantitative and qualitative data that assess the impact of Flock Health Clubs and indeed show tangible improvements in both farmer–veterinary surgeon relationships and measures of flock health and welfare

Repeatability and predictability of calf feeding behaviors -quantifying between and within individual variation for precision livestock farming

Individual calves show substantial between- and within-individual variation in their feeding behavior, the existence and extent of which are not fully researched. In this study, 57,196 feeding records, collected by a computerized milk feeder from 48 pre-weaned calves over 5 weeks, were collated and analyzed for individual differences in three different feeding behaviors using a multi-level modeling approach. For each feeding behavior, we quantified behavioral variation by calculating repeatability and the coefficient of variation in predictability. Our results indicate that calves differed from each other in their average behavioral expression (behavioral type) and in their residual, within individual variation around their behavioral type (predictability). Feeding rate and total meals had the highest repeatability (>0.4) indicating that substantial, temporally stable between-individual differences exist for these behaviors. Additionally, for some behaviors (e.g., feeding rate) calves varied from more to less predictable whereas for other behaviors (e.g., meal size) calves were more homogenous in their within-individual variation around their behavioral type. Finally, we show that for individual calves, behavioral types for feeding rate and total meals were positively correlated which may suggest the existence of an underlying factor responsible for driving the (co)expression of these two behaviors. Our results highlight how the application of methods from the behavioral ecology literature can assist in improving our understanding of individual differences in calf feeding behavior. Furthermore, by uncovering consistencies between individual behavioral differences in calves, our results indicate that animal personality may play a role in driving variability in calf feeding behavior

Personality and predictability in farmed calves using movement and space-use behaviours quantified by Ultra-wideband sensors

Individuals within a population often show consistent between individual differences in their average behavioural expression (personality), and consistent differences in their within-individual variability of behaviour around the mean (predictability). Where correlations between different personality traits and/or the predictability of traits exist, these represent behavioural or predictability syndromes. In wild populations, behavioural syndromes have consequences for individual's survival and reproduction and affect the structure and functioning of groups and populations. The consequences of behavioural syndromes for farm animals are less well explored, partly due to the challenges in quantifying behaviour of many individuals across time and context in a farm setting. Here, we use Ultra-Wideband location sensors to provide precise measures of movement and space use for 60 calves over 40-48 days. We are the first livestock study to demonstrate consistent within and between individual variation in movement and space use with repeatability values of up to 0.80 and CVp values up to 0.49. Our results show correlations in personality and predictability, indicating the existence of "exploratory" and "active" personality traits in farmed calves. We consider the consequences of such individual variability for cattle behaviour and welfare and how such data may be used to inform management decision in farm animals

Evidence of personality-dependent plasticity in dairy calf movement behaviours derived from automated data collection

Abstract Individual consistency in behaviour, known as animal personality, and behavioural plasticity in response to environmental changes are important factors shaping individual behaviour. Correlations between them, called personality-dependent plasticity, indicate that personality can affect individual reactions to the environment. In farm animals this could impact the response to management changes or stressors but has not yet been investigated. Here we use ultra-wideband location sensors to measure personality and plasticity in the movement of 90 dairy calves for up to 56 days starting in small pair-housing enclosures, and subsequently moved to larger social housings. For the first time calves were shown to differ in personality and plasticity of movement when changing housing. There were significant correlations between personality and plasticity for distance travelled (0.57), meaning that individuals that travelled the furthest in the pair housing increased their movement more in the social groups, and for residence time (− 0.65) as those that stayed in the same area more decreased more with the change in housing, demonstrating personality-dependent plasticity. Additionally, calves conformed to their pen-mate’s behaviour in pairs, but this did not continue in the groups. Therefore, personality, plasticity and social effects impact how farm animals respond to changes and can inform management decisions

Exploration of Rapid Evaporative-Ionization Mass Spectrometry as a Shotgun Approach for the Comprehensive Characterization of Kigelia Africana (Lam) Benth. Fruit

Rapid evaporative-ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) coupled with an electroknife as a sampling device was recently employed in many application fields to obtain a rapid characterization of different samples without any need for extraction or cleanup procedures. In the present research, REIMS was used to obtain a metabolic profiling of the Kigelia africana fruit, thus extending the applicability of such a technique to the investigation of phytochemical constituents. In particular, the advantages of REIMS linked to a typical electrosurgical handpiece were applied for a comprehensive screening of this botanical species, by exploiting the mass accuracy and tandem MS capabilities of a quadrupole-time of flight analyzer. Then, 78 biomolecules were positively identified, including phenols, fatty acids and phospholipids. In the last decade, Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. fruit has attracted special interest for its drug-like properties, e.g., its use for infertility treatments and as anti-tumor agent, as well as against fungal and bacterial infections, diabetes, and inflammatory processes. Many of these properties are currently correlated to the presence of phenolic compounds, also detected in the present study, while the native lipid composition is here reported for the first time and could open new directions in the evaluation of therapeutic activity

STUDIO OSSERVAZIONALE SULL’INTEGRAZIONE CON LICOPENE BIOLOGICO NELLA DEGENERAZIONE MACULARE LEGATA ALL’ETÀ (DMLE): CARATTERISTICHE IN CONDIZIONI BASALI DEI PAZIENTI.

Nel mondo la degenerazione maculare legata all’età (DMLE) è la principale causa di grave riduzione della vista (1). Negli USA questa malattia è responsabile di più del 54% dei casi di perdita della vista nella popolazione bianca (2). Studi epidemiologici indicano che più di 1 milione di Americani è affetto dalla forma neovascolare (vedi oltre) e 970 mila sono colpiti dalla forma atrofica (vedi oltre). Una recente revisione della letteratura ha mostrato che in Europa globalmente la prevalenza della DMLE nei soggetti di età compresa tra 65-75 anni varia dal 9 al 25%. Francia e Germania sono i paesi con più elevata prevalenza, rispettivamente 40% e 39%, mentre nel Regno Unito la prevalenza è del 3,5%. In Italia si stima che 1 milione di persone presenti segni di DMLE; ogni anno si registrano 20 mila nuovi casi della forma neovascolare che colpisce l’1% degli ultra 50enni, il 14% degli ultra 75enni e il 30% degli ultra 85enni. La cecità si manifesta in età avanzata: più dell’80% di quelli che ne sono affetti diventano ciechi dopo i 70 anni. La DMLE è due volte più frequente nelle donne rispetto agli uomini. L’esatta patogenesi di questa affezione rimane incerta; si tratta di una malattia multifattoriale legata all'interazione di fattori genetici e ambientali. Tra questi spicca il fumo di sigaretta. Quest’ultimo agirebbe attraverso lo stress ossidativo che è considerato uno dei principali meccanismi che influenzano l’insorgenza della DMLE. La DMLE può presentarsi in due forme: la secca (non essudativa o atrofica) e la umida (essudativa o neovascolare). • La forma secca è caratterizzata dalla comparsa nella macula delle drusen: si tratta di escrescenze di materiale colloide (lipidi, fosfolipidi, collagene) che si accumulano nella membrana di Bruch sottostante all’epitelio pigmentato retinico. Le drusen ostacolano l’ossigenazione e determinano la degenerazione dei fotorecettori, con atrofia e graduale riduzione dell’acuità. È stato evidenziato che più di 8 milioni di Americani hanno almeno una voluminosa drusen in un occhio e che in 3,6 milioni di questi sono presenti drusen bilaterali Di notevole rilevanza è il fatto che la forma secca può evolvere nella più grave forma umida. • La forma umida si manifesta con essudazione ed emorragie maculari, generate dalla neoangiogenesi coroidale, che determinano una rapida perdita della vista. La terapia standard della DMLE neovascolare è rappresentata dall’iniezione intravitreale di un farmaco anti-VEGF. Per prevenire e contrastare l’angiogenesi a livello oculare è necessario identificare molecole angiostatiche che siano dotate di scarsa o nulla tossicità e con via di somministrazione che sia la più semplice possibile. Studi molto recenti hanno dimostrato che il licopene, oltre a essere un potente antiossidante, possiede anche una spiccata attività antiangiogenica. Sahin et al., utilizzando cellule endoteliali umane, hanno infatti evidenziato che il licopene riduce in vitro, in modo dose-dipendente, la loro proliferazione, la loro migrazione e la formazione di neocapillari. L’inibizione dell’angiogenesi è stata confermata da altri studi in cui è stato osservato che questo effetto è la conseguenza di differenti meccanismi: • attività anti-VEGF; • azione anti TNF-α (pro-angiogenesi); • up-regolazione della IL-12 e dell’IFN-γ (citochine antiangiogenesi); • inibizione della MMP-2 (proteasi proangiogenesi) tramite l’attenuazione del VEGFR2. È stato sottolineato che il licopene esercita il suo effetto antiangiogenico a concentrazioni che possono essere raggiunte anche in vivo, ma, a causa della variabilità degli individui e del contenuto di licopene dei pomodori, non è ancora possibile indicare la quantità di questi ortaggi necessaria al raggiungimento dello scopo. È da tempo noto tuttavia che i livelli di licopene sono più bassi nei pazienti con DMLE e solo da poco è stato osservato che esiste una correlazione inversa tra livelli plasmatici di carotenoidi e presenza di questa grave malattia oculare e che ciò è particolarmente rilevante per il licopene che è risultato essere il solo carotenoide in grado di proteggere significativamente sia nei confronti della forma iniziale, sia ancor di più nei confronti della forma essudativa