EFFECT OF DURATION OF REWARD UPON OPERANT HEAT DEMAND OF PIGLETS RECEIVING MICROWAVE OR INFRARED HEAT

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 903-907 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. MORRISON ◽  
E. AMYOT ◽  
L. McMILLAN ◽  
L. OTTEN ◽  
D. C. T. PEI

In the conduct of a four-period trial, forty-eight newly weaned piglets were randomly allocated to three treatments: (1) continuous infrared (CI), (2) operant infrared (OI), and (3) operant microwave (OM). The piglets subjected to the operant procedure initially underwent a learning phase, in which activation of a microswitch was associated with the delivery of heat. During the experimental phase, the duration of heat supply for both OI and OM was adjusted to 2, 4, 6 or 8 min according to a Latin square design. Each heat delivery interval lasted 48 h. The piglets responded to increasing duration of heat reward, for both OI and OM conditions, by decreasing (P < 0.05) the number of rewarded activations of the microswitch. It was estimated that for each increase of 1 min in duration of the reward, the piglets voluntarily decreased the number of rewarded activations by approximately 0.32 (P > 0.05) and 0.19 (P < 0.05) activations per hour, for the OI and OM conditions, respectively. Each minute increase in duration of the reward was also associated with a decrease of 1.32 min h−1 (P > 0.05) and 1.39 min h−1 (P < 0.05) of supplemental heat from OI and OM, respectively. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in total weight gain and feed/gain between treatments. Key words: Operant, thermoregulation, piglets, microwave

1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. MORRISON ◽  
K. L. LAFOREST ◽  
I. McMILLAN

Eighty newly weaned gilts with an average weight of 7.36 kg were randomly allocated to groups of either two, four, six or eight piglets per pen. The different group sizes were repeated four times. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between treatments (group size) for average total weight gain. There was a difference (P < 0.05) between treatments for the average amount of time (min h−1) of operant supplemental infrared heat demanded by the pigs. There was a difference (P < 0.05) in amount of infrared heat demanded during the day (06:00–18:00 h) vs. night (18:00–06:00 h), (19.07 ± 5.17 vs. 11.27 ± 6.01 min h−1, respectively), for the combined group sizes. There was a difference (P < 0.05) between treatments for the number of overall (24 h) rewarded hits. Both diurnal and overall (24 h) rewarded hits had a significant (P < 0.05) linear trend. For each increase of one pig in the group there was a decrease of 1.56 min h−1 of heat demanded by the pigs. The pigs demanded 32–40% of the total amount of supplementary heat at night. Key words: Group size, operant conditioning, piglet


Author(s):  
José Renaldo Vilar da Silva Filho ◽  
João Bandeira de Moura Neto ◽  
Lays Thayse Alves dos Santos ◽  
Clebson Oliveira Ferreira ◽  
Rafael Torres de Souza Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the non-carcass components (NCC) of Berganês ecotype lambs of different sexual classes and genotypes using univariate and multivariate statistics, carrying out two experimental trials. In order to evaluate the effects of the sexual class, non-castrated males (BNC), castrated males (BC) and females (BF) of Berganês ecotype lambs were used, with mean initial body weight of 27 ± 3.1 kg. To evaluate crossbreeding, non-castrated male lambs of the genotypes Berganês (BG), Berganês × Santa Inês (BSI) and Berganês × Dorper (BD) were used, as well as the control Dorper × Santa Inês (DSI), all with mean initial body weight of 28 ± 3.8 kg. The weight and yield of the total by-products was higher for BNC. Regarding the genotype, BSI showed higher weight and yield of internal fat, but the weight and yield of the total by-products was higher for BG and BD. In factorial analysis (FA), the NCC, more correlated with empty body weight (EBW) and total weight gain (TWG), showed higher eigenvectors for factor 1. For factor 2, the weights and yields of internal fat and total viscera obtained higher eigenvectors. The discriminant analysis (DA) classified 100% of individuals in their respective sexes and genotypes. Therefore, the FA indicated that, among the NCC evaluated, the weights of liver, kidneys, GIT, skin and feets are determinant for obtaining EBW and TWG. The classification achieved by the DA indicates that the sexual classes and genotypes are heterogeneous.


2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 912-918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances A. Carter ◽  
Joseph M. Boden ◽  
Jennifer Jordan ◽  
Virginia V.W. McIntosh ◽  
Cynthia M. Bulik ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Musharraf Ahmad Anjum ◽  
Shaukat Ali Bhatti ◽  
Muhammad Sarwar ◽  
Ghulam Muhammad ◽  
Muhammad Jamil Basra

Kajli, is one of the most beautiful sheep breeds of Pakistan. Because of their beauty, Kajli lambs are sold at a higher price than those of other breeds with similar weight. With the increasing trend in commercial livestock farming, young Kajli lambs are purchased from the open market and reared up to Eid-ul-Adha (The Muslim Sacrificial Day). Information on feeding cost and growth performance on artificial rearing is important for the breed lovers and for a commercial enterprise. The present study aimed at generating basic information on feeding cost and growth performance of Kajli lambs offered milk replacer, cow-milk, and buffalo-milk, in comparison with those suckling directly from their dams. Fifty-six healthy Kajli lambs both male and female (with equal sex ratio) born at the Livestock Experimental Station, Khushab, Punjab, Pakistan during spring 2013 remained with their mothers for 1 week and were then divided into four groups of 14 animals each. Lambs in Group I were allowed to suckle their dams ad libitum, twice daily until 8 weeks and then once daily from 9 to 12 weeks. Lambs were weighed before and after suckling to calculate milk consumption. Lambs in the other three treatments were offered buffalo-milk, cow-milk or milk replacer at the rate of 10% of bodyweight until the 8th week and then gradually reduced to zero by the end of the 12th week. All lambs were offered starter ration from the 5th week of age in individual pens. The data on milk and starter intake, weekly bodyweight and blood glucose were analysed through MIXED procedures of SAS using repeated-measures analysis, and average daily gain (ADG), total weight gain, weaning weight and feeding cost were analysed using a completely randomised design. Least square means of ADG (g/day) and total weight gain (kg) were similar (P > 0.05) in direct suckling lambs and lambs offered buffalo-milk (175 and 151, and 14.5 and 12.5, respectively), and were higher (P < 0.05) than those offered cow-milk (118 and 10.4) or milk replacer (94 and 7.7). Feeding cost (per kg of liveweight) was highest (PKR 535) in lambs fed milk replacer and was lower (P > 0.05) in the other three groups. The cost of rearing lambs on buffalo-milk tended to be lower (PKR 375) than those offered cow-milk. In the absence of ewe’s milk, rearing Kajli lambs on buffalo-milk during the pre-weaning period therefore seems to be a better alternative.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-159
Author(s):  
Abass N. Khalaf ◽  
Hanaa A. Al-Galbi

This study was conducted in one of the private fields in Maysan province to study the effect of adding a different level of bentonite to the lamb diets on the performance of lambs. The study included (18) male Arabi lambs weighted 24.5±1.22 kg and lasted 120 days. Lambs were taken after weaning at the age of 3 to 4 months. They were randomly divided into six groups. The diet was provided on the basis of 3% of live body weight. The diets of the trial included (A) a basic diet of 50% concentrated fodder + 50 alfalfa without any addition. (B) A plus 2% bentonite/ dry matter. (C) A plus 4% bentonite/ dry matter. Treatment (D) a diet of 100% concentrated feed + hay ad libitum (basic diet 2) and without any addition. (E) D plus 2% bentonite. (F) D plus 4% bentonite. The diet significantly affected the average final weight and total weight gain in favor of lambs fed treatment D (100% concentrated feed) with average final weight and total weight gain 46.57 and 22.11 kg, respectively. The addition of bentonite improved the rates of the rate of total weight gain is 17.71, 20.85 and 19.50 kg without adding and adding bentonite (2%) and bentonite (4%), respectively. The diet significantly affected the digestion rate of DM, OM, CP, EE, and NDF. Their digestion coefficients of 100% concentrate group were (75.98, 80.70, 80.09, 65.31 and 31.67%, respectively). 50% concentrated fodder (70.26, 71.53, 76.22, 45.47 and 27.36%, respectively).


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-38
Author(s):  
Florianne O. L. Vehmeijer ◽  
Sangeeta R. Balkaran ◽  
Susana Santos ◽  
Romy Gaillard ◽  
Janine F. Felix ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Psychological distress and inappropriate or excessive weight gain are common in pregnancy and are associated with adverse maternal and offspring outcomes. Psychological well-being and weight status of women during pregnancy might be interrelated. We aimed to examine whether psychological distress during pregnancy is associated with gestational weight gain. Method In a population-based cohort of 3393 pregnant women, information about psychological distress, depressive and anxiety symptoms was assessed at 20 weeks of gestation using the Brief Symptom Inventory questionnaire. Weight was repeatedly measured during pregnancy and obtained by questionnaire before and after pregnancy. Linear regression and multinomial logistic regression models were used. Weight gain in the second half of pregnancy, total weight gain, and the risks of inadequate and excessive total weight gain were the main outcome measures. Results In total, 7.0% of all women experienced psychological distress. Overall psychological distress and anxiety were associated with lower weight gain in the second half of pregnancy (differences − 1.00 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) − 1.62, − 0.37) and − 0.68 kg (95% CI - 1.24, -0.11), respectively). These associations fully attenuated into non-significance after taking account for socio-demographic variables. Similar results were observed for total weight gain. Only women with anxiety symptoms had, independently of potential confounders, a lower risk of excessive weight gain (odds ratio (OR) 0.61 (95% CI 0.48, 0.91)). Conclusions In this large prospective cohort study, the observed associations of psychological distress with weight gain during pregnancy seem to be largely explained by common socio-demographic factors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Andrich ◽  
Lilya Melbouci ◽  
Ya Ou ◽  
Jean-Philippe Leduc-Gaudet ◽  
François Chabot ◽  
...  

Information regarding the early effects of obesogenic diets on feeding patterns and behaviors is limited. To improve knowledge regarding the etiology of obesity, young male Wistar rats were submitted to high-fat (HFD) or regular chow diets (RCDs) for 14 days. Various metabolic parameters were continuously measured using metabolic chambers. Total weight gain was similar between groups, but heavier visceral fat depots and reduced weight of livers were found in HFD rats. Total calorie intake was increased while individual feeding bouts were shorter and of higher calorie intake in response to HFD. Ambulatory activity and sleep duration were decreased in HFD rats during passive and active phase, respectively. Acylated and unacylated ghrelin levels were unaltered by the increased calorie intake and the early changes in body composition. This indicates that at this early stage, the orexigenic signal did not adapt to the high-calorie content of HFD. We hereby demonstrate that, although total weight gain is not affected, a short-term obesogenic diet alters body composition, feeding patterns, satiation, ambulatory activity profiles, and behaviours in a young rat model. Moreover, this effect precedes changes in weight gain, obesity, and ensuing metabolic disorders.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 587
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Arias ◽  
Cristobal Santa-Cruz ◽  
Alejandro Velásquez

High potency growth promoter implants (HGPs) are widely used under feedlot conditions but there are few reports under grazing conditions. The study’s goal was to assess the effect of HGPs on the average daily gain of steers fattened in pastures. A total of 57 crossbreed steers (Hereford × Angus)—initial body weight = 356.65 kg ± 5.04 (SEM)—were randomly allocated to one of three groups: Control without HGP (n = 19), Synovex group (n = 17), and Revalor group (n = 21). The fattening period was 67 days using paddocks of Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L. Body weight was recorded three times in the period. The data were analyzed using an analysis of covariance with a level of significance of 5%. The average daily gain (ADG) (1.55 ± 0.07 and 1.48 ± 0.09 kg/d) and the total weight gain (103.4 ± 4.9 and 99.2 ± 5.8 kg) were similar for Revalor and Synovex, respectively (p > 0.05). Moreover, HGP groups showed higher ADG and total weight gain (p < 0.01) than the control group (ADG = 0.93 ± 0.08 kg/d and a total weight gain of 62.2 ± 5.2 kg). Final body weights were 527.8 ± 8.5 kg and 512.2 ± 9.9 kg for Revalor and Synovex, respectively; and 479.9 ± 10.1 kg for Control. In conclusion, grazing-finished steers showed better performance when high potency HGPs were used, improving the ADG and final live body weight, generating a marginal income that justifies the use of the technology under grazing conditions


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