Influence of sudden changes in management program on physiological and behavioral parameters in hens

The present study was designed to test the effects of sudden changes of food access and light duration on the physiological and behavioral parameters of hens. The physiological parameters investigated were heart rate (HR), body temperature (BT), and locomotor activity (LA) using a radiotelemetry system. After implantation of the telemetry transmitters, six hens were housed individually in cages under constant environmental conditions for 10 days with a photoperiod of 15 h light (04.00–19.00 hours), and food was available ad libitum at all times. After that, the same hens were subjected to a feed withdrawal trial, from 12.00 to 08.30 hours, followed by a lighting hour reduction trial by changing the time of lights‐off from 19.00 to 14.00 hours. The physiological and behavioral data were recorded for 2 days before each trial, as control data. With the feed withdrawal trial, during the light and dark periods, HR and BT were significantly lower in the hens without food access than in the control. Whereas, LA was significantly lower only during the light period in the hens without food access than in the control. Further, the time spent resting increased significantly, but the time spent feeding decreased significantly in the hens without food access than in the control. Also, the number of times the cage was pecked and pecking of the feeder occured at a significantly higher level, while the number of times beaks were wiped occured at a significantly lower level in the hens without food access than in the control. With the lighting hour reduction trial, during the light period, HR and BT were significantly higher, whereas LA was significantly lower in the ’sudden light‐off’ treated hens than in the control. In addition, during the dark period, HR, BT and LA were significantly higher in the sudden light‐off treated hens than in the control. Moreover, in the sudden light‐off treated hens, the time spent preening and feeding decreased significantly, but the time spent resting increased significantly than in the control. It is concluded that sudden changes in a management program might result in many significant differences as were found in the physiological and behavioral parameters of hens in the present study.     

Intravenous Tramadol Injection has no Antinociceptive Effect in Horses Undergoing Electrical and Thermal Stimuli

Tramadol combines an μ opiate and nonopiate analgesic mechanism and might be a useful opioid in horses. This study evaluated the effect of IV tramadol on spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA), head height, and hoof withdrawal reflex (HWR) after thermal or electrical nociceptive stimuli in horses. Doses of 2 and 3 mg/kg tramadol did not affect HWR after electrical and thermal nociception, respectively. Head height and SLA were not modified by 2, 3, or 5 mg/kg tramadol. All horses treated with 5 mg/kg tramadol developed trembling in pectoral triceps, and gluteal muscles and adopted a base-wide stance. In conclusion, 2 and 3 mg/kg tramadol IV neither induced sedation nor prolonged HWR after thermal or electrical stimuli in conscious horses. The dose of 5 mg/kg tramadol IV produced excitement, and it is apparently unsuitable for clinical use.     

Diurnal and oviposition-related changes in heart rate, body temperature and locomotor activity of laying hens

Diurnal and oviposition patterns of heart rate (HR), deep body temperature (BT) and locomotor activity (LA) in conscious and unrestrained Rhode Island Red hens were studied by a radiotelemetry system. Behavioral observations were also made on diurnal changes and during the pre‐ and post‐laying period. Heart rate, BT and LA showed characteristic diurnal changes synchronized with a photoperiod of 15 h light and 9 h dark. In the light period, HR, BT, and LA levels were significantly higher than in the dark period (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the highest levels of these parameters were recorded just after they were fed (08.30 hours), while the lowest level was measured after lights‐off and remained stable throughout the dark period. Behavioral observations indicated that during the light period the hens spent most of their time in very active movement, exhibiting various behavioral patterns. However, in the dark period the hens spent almost all their time resting. The present results suggest that performing various behavioral activities cause heat generated by muscle exertion, which plays a significant role in daily HR, BT, and LA in laying hens. However, during the 60 min before and after oviposition, LA appeared to have increased steadily toward the moment of laying, and then regressed gradually in the post‐laying period to a level significantly lower than in the pre‐laying period (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the pre‐laying behavior of hens indicated extreme restlessness and more activity, whereas the post‐laying period is characterized by less activity and increased relaxation. Consequently, laying behavior has a profound but transitory effect on HR and BT, suggesting that oviposition was probably associated with intense LA.     

侧柏枝叶挥发物对小白鼠自发行为的影响

采用旷场试验,连续6天观察分析昆明种小白鼠经不同浓度侧柏枝叶挥发气味环境处理后行为指标的变化,研究侧柏枝叶挥发物对小白鼠自发行为的影响,以评价侧柏挥发物的保健功能.结果表明:1)处理组小白鼠在旷场中的运动总路程大于对照组,且与浓度的大小呈正相关,表明侧柏挥发物有助于提高小白鼠的兴奋性.2)中央格运动总路程、中央格运动时间、站立次数等3项指标呈现阶段性变化,在适应阶段处理组的探究能力大于对照组,熟悉环境阶段则差异不明显,但处理组指标数值的下降幅度远远大于对照组,表明侧柏挥发物在增加小鼠认知能力,提高记忆能力方面起到有利的作用.3)处理组和对照组小白鼠体质量变化相同,但处理组小白鼠的粪便粒数始终比对照组少,说明在侧柏挥发物气体环境中,小白鼠的食欲没有受到影响,精神相对比较轻松.     

氨氮胁迫下凡纳滨对虾运动行为与能量分配模式变化

为研究氨氮胁迫下凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)行为和能量分配的变化,将体质量为(4.89?0.27)g的凡纳滨对虾幼虾分别置于氨氮质量浓度为0.02 mg/L(对照)、1.00 mg/L、2.50 mg/L、5.00 mg/L,水温(28?0.5)℃的水族箱中养殖2周,监测其行为并对其生长、体组分和能量收支进行测定。结果表明,随氨氮浓度升高,凡纳滨对虾白昼的活动频率、游走距离呈先升后降趋势,而夜间则呈逐渐下降趋势,5.00 mg/L组白昼和夜间活动频率及游走距离均显著低于对照组(P0.05);特定生长率及摄食率均呈逐渐下降趋势,处理组显著低于对照组(P0.05);2.50 mg/L和5.00 mg/L组的凡纳滨对虾脂肪含量和能值均显著低于对照组(P0.05);各处理组摄食能量分配于生长的比例随着氨氮浓度的增大而降低,而消耗于代谢的比例随氨氮浓度增大而升高,与对照组相比,5.00 mg/L组的摄食能用于生长比例下降4.57%,用于代谢消耗的比例上升5.70%。上述结果表明,氨氮胁迫下凡纳滨对虾的夜间活动水平明显下降,摄食量减少,能量利用效率降低,生长速度减慢。