TY - JOUR
T1 - High energetic costs of stereotyped behaviour in preruminant calves
AU - van den Borne, J.J.G.C.
AU - van den Heijden, S.J.F.M.
AU - Oorsprong, H.
AU - Bokkers, E.A.M.
AU - Bolhuis, J.E.
AU - Gerrits, W.J.J.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - High energetic costs for standing versus lying ( 130 kJ/kg0.75/d) in preruminant
calves were mentioned in several experiments. Behaviour, and
particularly stereotyped behaviour, can be an important reason for these
high estimations. It was hypothesized that calves spend a considerable
part of their time on stereotyped behaviour and that energetic costs of
stereotyped behaviour are high. In this study (originally not designed to
study behaviour) energy expenditure related to stereotyped behaviour
was quantified in individually housed preruminant calves. Eighteen preruminant
calves (on average 120 kg BW) were used, in two experimental
periods of 9 days each. Heat production was measured by indirect
calorimetry in 6-min intervals. Physical activity was recorded by
a radar-Doppler device and posture was recorded by infrared beam interruption.
Energy expenditure related to activity was estimated. Behavioural
observations were made of each calf for two days per period,
13 hours per day, using 6-min scan-sampling. Five and 47% of the
time spend standing and lying, respectively, was spent idling. Main
activities during standing were manipulating bucket (37%) and (other)
objects (24%), and tongue playing (10%). Main activities during lying
were tongue playing (15%) and self-licking (8%). The sum of these
repetitive activities, except self-licking, was considered total stereotyped
behaviour. Stereotyped behaviour during standing increased energy expenditure
almost threefold (+74 kJ/kg0.75/d) compared to standing idle
(39 kJ/kg0.75/d), while tongue playing during lying was energetically
more expensive (+25 kJ/kg0.75/d) than lying idle (1 kJ/kg0.75/d). It
can be concluded, that energetic costs for stereotyped behaviour are
considerable, and account for up to 8 (lying) and up to 15% (standing)
of the energy expenditure for maintenance. As stereotyped behaviour
is more frequently shown in standing as opposed to lying calves, this
affects estimation of posture-related energy expenditure.
AB - High energetic costs for standing versus lying ( 130 kJ/kg0.75/d) in preruminant
calves were mentioned in several experiments. Behaviour, and
particularly stereotyped behaviour, can be an important reason for these
high estimations. It was hypothesized that calves spend a considerable
part of their time on stereotyped behaviour and that energetic costs of
stereotyped behaviour are high. In this study (originally not designed to
study behaviour) energy expenditure related to stereotyped behaviour
was quantified in individually housed preruminant calves. Eighteen preruminant
calves (on average 120 kg BW) were used, in two experimental
periods of 9 days each. Heat production was measured by indirect
calorimetry in 6-min intervals. Physical activity was recorded by
a radar-Doppler device and posture was recorded by infrared beam interruption.
Energy expenditure related to activity was estimated. Behavioural
observations were made of each calf for two days per period,
13 hours per day, using 6-min scan-sampling. Five and 47% of the
time spend standing and lying, respectively, was spent idling. Main
activities during standing were manipulating bucket (37%) and (other)
objects (24%), and tongue playing (10%). Main activities during lying
were tongue playing (15%) and self-licking (8%). The sum of these
repetitive activities, except self-licking, was considered total stereotyped
behaviour. Stereotyped behaviour during standing increased energy expenditure
almost threefold (+74 kJ/kg0.75/d) compared to standing idle
(39 kJ/kg0.75/d), while tongue playing during lying was energetically
more expensive (+25 kJ/kg0.75/d) than lying idle (1 kJ/kg0.75/d). It
can be concluded, that energetic costs for stereotyped behaviour are
considerable, and account for up to 8 (lying) and up to 15% (standing)
of the energy expenditure for maintenance. As stereotyped behaviour
is more frequently shown in standing as opposed to lying calves, this
affects estimation of posture-related energy expenditure.
M3 - Abstract
VL - 82
SP - S251-S251
JO - Journal of Animal Science
JF - Journal of Animal Science
SN - 0021-8812
IS - S 1
ER -