Scientists Investigate the Personalities and Predictability of Farmed Calves
The study indicates the existence of exploratory and active personality types in farmed calves.
Using top-notch sensor technologies, experts at the University of Nottingham have found that calves reared on ranches not only vary considerably in their movement and space patterns. However, likewise, some calves are also more predictable in their habits than others.
Individual personality traits
The study, published in the Royal Society Open Science, was led by Professor Jasmeet Kaler from the School of Veterinary Science and Medicine at the University.
Alterations in animal behavior have been monitored in numerous animal species over time. In farm animals, distinctions in behavior can affect animal welfare and productivity, and identifying modifications in a subject’s personality (behavioral expressions) or modifications in its predictability (individual variability of those behaviors) can be used as early warning for illness and as signs for the welfare status of the animals.
Nevertheless, in cases where each individual has a different baseline habit, using the group mean threshold as a sign of potential ill or stressed animal can result in mislabeling.
As a result, measuring between and within individual variability in farm animal habits and comprehending what habits reveal variability or consistency, and under what circumstances is crucial in moving towards individual health and welfare planning for the animals.
Personality and predictability
While previous researches have looked at farm animal individuality utilizing behavior tests, they still lack broader generalizability as they do not observe animal behavior in their natural environment. Additionally, they have failed to measure both between and within individual variation.
This is the first livestock study to utilize detailed and extensive data on space use and movement as they happen under regular management of farm-housed calves collected through sensors to show the existence of “exploratory” and “active” personality characteristics in farmed calves.
The team utilized precision livestock technologies, especially ultra-wideband sensors, to measure individual movement patterns and spot variation between and within individual levels of 60 calves at the University of Nottingham farm, Centre of Dairy Science Innovation.
The goal was to investigate whether the calves display distinct personality types by gauging and investigating patterns over time for different steps of movement and space use-e.g., total distance traveled, core location utilized, total location used, site fidelity, and average time spent in the feeder area.
They also investigated possible differences in predictability (within individual distinction) and observed the relationship between these variables to uncover the presence of behavioral signs and the relationship between character and predictability of the different steps.
Future studies on calves
“Our outcomes indicate that distinctions do not just happen in habits expression between calves (i.e., character); but that calves likewise differ in how foreseeable or unforeseeable they remain in terms of their movement and space use patterns.
It is possible to hypothesize that unpredictable animals might be less impacted by environmental changes and, therefore, more resistant. In contrast, animals that rely on a more consistent pattern of habits might struggle to handle changes,” states Kaler.
Kaler is currently leading a project that utilizes a “wide range of individual and social behaviors gauged through sensors and camera technologies to understand and define strength and use these for early detection of illness and [to] have positive welfare indicators.”
Read the original article on PHYS.
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