Feed intake pattern of broiler chickens under intermittent lighting: Do birds eat in the dark?

This paper reflects the results of a short experiment conducted in parallel with a larger trial which aimed to test the assumption that ‘consumption of feed by broiler chickens during periods of darkness is largely negligible’. To that effect, on d 31, feeders of birds raised under intermittent lighting (IL), i.e. 1 h of light [1L]:3 h of dark (3D):1L:3D:1L:3D:1L:3D:2L:6D, were weighed at the onset and at the end of each period of darkness (or scotoperiod). Moreover, in order to compare the feeding behavior of IL birds with that of broilers raised under continuous lighting (CL, i.e. 18L:6D), their feeders were weighed in parallel and at the same time points. On d 31, feed intake of IL birds during scotoperiods represented 45% of their 24 h feed intake. Both CL and IL birds presented anticipatory feed intake prior to the long nocturnal period of darkness (6D), as well as higher feed intake right at the onset of lighting at 06:00. Feed intake of CL birds during the 6D nocturnal scotoperiod was negligible at around 2% of their total feed intake. Intermittent lighting birds exhibited excitement at the start of each hour-length scotoperiod and, within that time, ingested around 2.5 times the amount of feed ingested by CL birds. Although short, this study revealed several interesting observations which might be worth further exploring in a larger, lengthier, behavior-focused experiment. Amongst other factors, it might be interesting to understand whether the high feed intake observed during scotoperiods for IL birds in reflective of the whole flock or rather a coping mechanism developed mainly by hierarchically lower-ranking birds to achieve their daily feed intakes requirements.     

农业文化遗产地游客环境责任行为与饮食旅游偏好关系研究——以浙江青田稻鱼共生系统为例

传统饮食是农业文化遗产地重要的旅游资源,饮食旅游偏好影响着游客对旅游产品的选择。引导和培养游客环境责任行为对遗产地传统饮食旅游可持续发展具有重要意义。本文以全球重要农业文化遗产浙江青田稻鱼共生系统为例,通过问卷和访谈实证调查分析游客环境责任行为和传统饮食偏好之间的关系。运用SPSS18.0进行因子分析,提取出3项游客环境责任行为因子,分别为传统饮食认知因子、传统饮食环境责任态度因子、传统饮食环境责任行为因子;同时根据提取出的3项游客传统饮食偏好因子,将游客分为传统饮食口味追逐型、传统饮食参与体验型、传统饮食文化体验型, 3种类型所占比重分别为38.05%、35.63%和26.31%。其中传统口味追逐型游客关注饮食的口味、种类、环境等食用体验,传统饮食参与体验型游客更多地关注饮食的制作过程以及部分饮食文化内涵,而传统饮食文化体验型游客更加关注当地文化、生态保护和对本地食材的应用以及传统饮食所传递的文化价值,且三者中传统饮食文化体验型游客环境责任行为最强,传统口味追逐型游客最弱。最后将游客环境责任行为因子和传统饮食偏好因子进行回归分析,发现游客环境责任行为因子与游客传统饮食旅游偏好之间存在正相关关系。应考虑不同类型游客对农业文化遗产的饮食偏好,有选择有重点地适应游客的需求,避免为吸引大众游客而产生的饮食文化破坏与生态安全问题。     

Ontogenetic resource use and trophic dynamics of endangered juvenile Tachypleus tridentatus among diversified nursery habitats in the northern Beibu Gulf,China

Horseshoe crabs, the most well-known example of “living fossils”, are iconic and ecologically important macroinvertebrates in coastal and estuarine ecosystems. Their blood is a crucial resource for manufacturing Limulus or Tachypleus amebocyte lysate to detect bacterial endotoxins or fungal contamination in drug and medical devices. An enhanced understanding of their ecological roles and trophic interactions in the food webs is fundamental to facilitate resource management for the declining populations in Asia. Foraging information of the Asian species, however, is mainly derived from preliminary, scattered reports from a limited number of study locations. In this study, resource utilization, trophic niche dynamics, and trophic interaction of the juvenile tri-spine horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus (instars 1–12, approximately 0.5–8 years old) across ontogeny was assessed in diversified nursery habitats along the northern Beibu Gulf, China, using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. Our results suggest that: (i) T. tridentatus are ecological generalists given the vast range of carbon isotopic values and trophic niche width estimates exhibited between multiple instar groups; (ii) juvenile T. tridentatus across most habitat types predominantly assimilated energy from a variety of basal production sources in the food web, but primarily depended on sedimentary organic matter and seagrass resource pools; (iii) ontogenetic shifts in juvenile dietary proportions were evident, with decreased reliance on sedimentary organic matter, coupled with increased reliance on benthic macroinvertebrate grazers, detritivores, and omnivores with age; and (iv) nearly all juvenile instars occupied similar trophic positions in the food web with slight shifts in trophic position present with increasing size. Our findings indicate that resource availability and ontogenetic diet shifts strongly influence horseshoe crab trophic dynamics, and age should be accounted when formulating habitat conservation measures based on resource use for Asian horseshoe crabs.     

不同鸭品种在“稻鸭共作”系统中的行为学差异及对水稻产量的影响

为探究鸭在稻田间的运动规律，揭示不同鸭品种在田间的行为学差异以及对水稻产量的影响。本研究选取稻鸭共作试验田9块（766 m2/块），按225只/hm2分别放入役用鸭（绿头野鸭♂?金定鸭♀）、金定鸭、白改鸭等3个鸭品种，通过视频监控系统，采用连续观察法记录鸭在每天的5:00—20:00时间段内在田间的游动、休息、采食等行为的发生时间和持续时间，连续观察5天。经观察发现，鸭田间活动高峰一般是在早上5:00—7:00，8:00—11:00以及15:00—18:00等时间段，役用鸭和金定鸭每天的活动时间分别为324.50 min(36.06%)，315.75 min(35.08%)，极显著高于白改鸭264.50 min (29.39%) (P＜0.01)。采用役用鸭、金定鸭、白改鸭进行稻鸭共作后，水稻产量分别比对照组提高了22.75%，20.14%和10.89%。水稻产量构成因素与鸭游动时间相关性分析发现，结实率、理论产量与游动时间呈极显著正相关(r=0.959，P＜0.01；r=0.858，P＜0.01)，千粒重、实际产量与游动时间呈显著正相关(r=0.627，P＜0.05；r=0.767，P＜0.05)。研究结果表明：役用鸭对水稻的增产效果最好，且发现游动时间可作为影响稻鸭共作水稻产量的重要评价指标。该研究结果为稻鸭共作鸭品种的筛选以及稻鸭共作系统水稻产量的提升提供了重要的参考数据。     

Pharmacokinetics of xylazine after 2-, 4-, and 6-hr durations of continuous rate infusions in horses

Intravenous (i.v.) bolus administration of xylazine (XYL) (0.5 mg/kg) immediately followed by a continuous rate infusion (CRI) of 1 mg kg⁻¹ hr⁻¹ for 2, 4, and 6 hr produced immediate sedation, which lasted throughout the duration of the CRI. Heart rate decreased and blood pressure increased significantly (p > .05) in all horses during the first 15 min of infusion, both returned to and then remained at baseline during the duration of the infusion. Compartmental models were used to investigate the pharmacokinetics of XYL administration. Plasma concentration–time curves following bolus and CRI were best described by a one-compartment model. No differences were found between pharmacokinetic estimates of the CRIs for the fractional elimination rate constant (K_e), half-life (t_1/2e), volume of distribution (V_d), and clearance (Cl). Median and range were 0.42 (0.15–0.97)/hr, 1.68 (0.87–4.52) hr, 5.85 (2.10–19.34) L/kg, and 28.7 (19.6–39.5) ml min⁻¹ kg⁻¹, respectively. Significant differences were seen for area under the curve ( ) (p < .0002) and maximum concentration (C_max) (p < .04). This indicates that with increasing duration of infusion, XYL may not accumulate in a clinically relevant way and hence no adjustments are required in a longer XYL CRI to maintain a constant level of sedation and a rapid recovery.     

基于机器视觉的奶牛发情行为自动识别方法

及时检测奶牛发情、适时人工授精、减少空怀奶牛，是奶牛养殖场增加产奶量的关键手段。针对基于运动量和体温等体征的接触式奶牛发情识别方法会造成奶牛应激反应且识别准确率不高的问题，提出了一种非接触式奶牛发情行为自动识别方法。该方法首先使用改进的高斯混合模型实现运动奶牛目标检测，然后基于颜色和纹理信息去除干扰背景，再利用AlexNet深度学习网络训练奶牛行为分类网络模型，识别奶牛爬跨行为，最终实现对奶牛发情行为的自动识别。在供试数据集上的试验结果表明，本文方法对奶牛发情的识别准确率为100%，召回率为88.24%。本文方法可应用于奶牛养殖场的日常发情监测中，为生产管理提供辅助决策。     

Timed Artificial Insemination by Combining Estrous Behavior Observation With Deslorelin Treatment in Jennies

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal time for ovulation induction and artificial insemination (AI) based on the relationship between estrous behavior and ovulation in jennies. Thirty-two jennies were teased by one jackass for 1 hour per day during 46 days and estrous behaviors were recorded, while the follicular development and ovulation was examined by ultrasound. Furthermore, another 31 jennies were teased by one jackass as the teasing group (group T), which were injected with Deslorelin at 2 and 4 days after the onset of estrus, and AI was performed at 8 hours after each injection. Moreover, Ultrasound was performed on the follicle development of 23 jennies as the ultrasonography group (group U). Injection with Deslorelin when the follicle diameter ≥ 30 mm, and AI was performed at 8 hours later. The results showed that mouth clapping was the specific estrous behavior of jennies and indicated the beginning of estrus. The mean time for jennies to develop dominant follicles (≥30 mm) after the onset of estrus was 3.5 ± 1.3 days, and the mean time between the onset of estrus and ovulation was 5.1 ± 1.5 days. Estrous behaviors ended 0.5 ± 1.2 days after ovulation. After AI, there were no significant differences in ovulation (96.8% vs. 91.3%) and conception rates (40.0% vs. 38.1%) between group T and U. The optimal breeding time of jennies can be determined by jackass teasing and hastening ovulation by Deslorelin injection.     

不同时段伊犁马行为特征的差异性分析

【目的】 研究马的行为规律及变化过程,为马匹的选择、训练及健康评估等提供理论参考。【方法】 选取健康状况良好的伊犁马母马12匹,采集视频数据,记录马匹在各时间段摄食、静息、探究、修饰、排泄和其他等各种行为指标,比较分析各时段行为的差异性。【结果】 舍饲伊犁马在行为规律上全天时间摄食>静息>探究>其他>修饰,不同时段伊犁马行为时间分配上,咀嚼、伸展时间下午时间段极显著大于早、晚时间段(P<0.01),卧息、站息时间晚上极显著大于早上、下午时间段(P<0.01),站立、警觉时间早上、下午时间段均极显著大于晚上时间段(P<0.01),舔食时间早上时间段极显著大于晚上时间段(P<0.01),啃痒时间早上时间段极显著大于下午时间段(P<0.01),频次指标中,咀嚼次数下午时间段极显著大于晚上时间段(P<0.01),显著大于早上时间段(P<0.05),舔食、摇头次数早上时间段极显著大于晚上时间段(P<0.01),卧息次数晚上时间段均极显著大于早上、下午时间段(P<0.01),警觉、站立次数早上、下午时间段均极显著大于晚上时间段(P<0.01),啃痒、伸展早上时间段显著大于下午时间段(P<0.05),排便次数早上、下午、晚上各时间段均存在极显著差异(P<0.01)。【结论】 舍饲伊犁马全天中用于摄食的时间最长,其后依次是静息、探究、其他、修饰。咀嚼、舔食多集中在早上、下午各时间段;蹭痒多集中在早上时间段;卧息、站息、伸展多集中于晚上时间段;站立、警觉在白天各时间段均较集中;在嗅探、蹭痒、哈欠、刨地、抬蹄、排尿上没有发现差异,通过观察不同时段所表现的行为指标对马匹行为进行监测,可为实际生产过程中马匹的管理提供客观参考指标,减少对马的伤害,防止恶癖的发生。     

无溶剂法制备丙烯海松酸蔗糖酯及其在空气-水界面吸附行为研究

在无溶剂条件下,以丙烯海松酸和蔗糖为原料,在高温熔融状态下通过酯化反应制备了丙烯海松酸蔗糖酯,运用红外光谱、核磁共振和凝胶渗透色谱对其结构进行了表征,并测试了其临界胶束浓度(CMC),利用再定向理论分析了丙烯海松酸蔗糖酯表面活性剂在空气-水界面的形态转变和吸附量等吸附行为。研究结果表明:成功合成了丙烯海松酸蔗糖酯,其CMC值为2.2 g/L。丙烯海松酸蔗糖酯在空气-水界面的吸附状态分为状态1和状态2,随着表面压的增加,溶剂摩尔分数逐渐降低,2种状态丙烯海松酸蔗糖酯分子在空气-水界面上的摩尔分数之和逐渐增加。计算了吸附在界面上的状态1和状态2丙烯海松酸蔗糖酯的吸附量,随着表面压增大,状态1吸附量先增大后减小,状态2吸附量占主导且持续增多,吸附量最高可达1.9 mmol/m2。丙烯海松酸蔗糖酯的吸附和胶束化摩尔自由能(ΔG)分别为-20.67和-15.16 kJ/mol,表明丙烯海松酸蔗糖酯优先吸附在界面上,达到饱和后就形成胶束。     

消费者食物浪费行为影响因素分析——基于计划行为理论的视角

巨大的食物浪费会造成严重的环境、社会和经济后果,阻碍社会的发展。消费者是食物浪费产生的主要原因,为了有效减少食物浪费,就必须了解消费者食物浪费行为的影响因素。基于计划行为理论,利用961个消费者的调查数据,从食物和环境相关行为两个角度,分析消费者食物浪费行为,探讨消费者食物浪费行为的影响因素。结果表明,消费者食物浪费量较大,占总食物量的16.52%。一般态度、金钱态度、环境态度、主观规范、个人规范和知觉行为控制均显著正向影响消费者减少食物浪费意愿,其中,环境态度对减少浪费意愿的影响最大,其次是食物浪费的一般态度和知觉行为控制,个人规范影响最小。而减少食物浪费意愿则显著负向影响消费者的食物浪费行为。因此,为有效减少食物浪费,提出加强沟通宣传、改变消费者对食物浪费的行为态度;规范相关条例制度、强化消费者减少食物浪费的规范;同时加强相关培训教育、提高消费者对食物浪费行为的知觉行为控制的建议。