Diurnal behavior patterns of feedlot bulls during winter and spring in northern latitudes

The diurnal behavior patterns of feedlot bulls were investigated at 52 degrees N during winter and spring. Two trials were conducted during periods when the daylight portion of the day increased by over 7 h. In trial 1, 324 bulls were observed hourly for 24 h on nine occasions at 2-wk intervals. The average proportions of bulls eating, drinking, standing and lying were 9.8, 1.9, 27.4 and 60.0%, respectively. Major periods of eating, drinking and standing were associated with the times of sunrise and sunset and shifted with seasonal changes. Initiation and termination of the afternoon period of eating was greatly affected by changing times of sunset and not by the daily addition of feed, which always occurred at approximately 1600 h. A significant period of eating, involving up to 15% of the bulls at one time, occurred near midnight during the longer winter night but decreased in duration and intensity as day-length increased. In trial 2, continuous observations for 24 h were made at 2-wk intervals on two groups of nine bulls. When the spread in time between morning and evening activity increased due to longer daylength, bulls were active at midday. This became more pronounced on days when the photoperiod exceeded 10 h. Minor periods of activity were evident at night. Mounting and agonistic encounters increased dramatically in frequency near sunset and in general were associated with the major periods of eating and standing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of defeathering and insulative jackets on production by laying hens at low temperatures

Exposure to a temperature of 5 degrees C compared with 20 degrees C resulted in a 20.5% increase in food consumption and an 18.8% decrease in efficiency of food utilisation with intermediate values resulting from exposure to 10 degrees C and 15 degrees C. Removal of feathers from the neck, back and (or) breast resulted in a 5 to 6% increase in food consumption. The effects of feather removal and temperature on food consumption were additive. Cloth jackets effectively insulated the back and breast areas when feathers had been removed but also resulted in increased food intake and lower efficiency.

Use of lambing cubicles and the behavior of ewes at parturition

Three trials were conducted involving 393 ewes to determine the feasibility of using cubicles to provide isolation for parturient ewes in lambing pens. The cubicles consisted of an enclosure with 1 m high walls and a small (.6 m wide) opening to allow ewes free access. In trial 1, 42% of the parturitions occurred in the cubicles, which occupied only 19% of the pen area. No preference was noted for large (1.8 x 1.8 m) vs small (1.8 x 1.2 m) cubicles. Use of the cubicles increased from 4% of the time 24 h before parturition to 25% of the time during the 6 h immediately preceding parturition. In trial 2, ewes did not show a preference for open vs covered walls on cubicles or for open vs covered cubicle ceilings. Cubicles were again used to a greater (P less than .01) extent than would be predicted by their relative area (26% use, 18% area). In the final trial, mature ewes used cubicles to a greater (P less than .10) extent than did yearlings (55 vs 38%, respectively). Cubicles and areas of the pen farthest from the working area of the herdsman were most frequently (P less than .001) used during parturition. Cubicles appeared to be effective in preventing separation of newborn lambs from their dam and in reducing interference by other ewes.