The aim of the present study was to test the applicability of qualitative behaviour assessment to buffalo. Eight buffalo heifers aged 16-18 months were individually filmed both in their indoor home pen and in an unfamiliar outdoor pen for 2.5 min where a still and unknown person was located. Eleven animal scientists from 6 different European countries were instructed to provide qualitative assessment of in- and outdoor videos using Free Choice Profiling methodology, which allows observers to generate their own descriptive vocabulary. Three data sets were generated: 1 for animals tested indoor, 1 for the same subjects tested outdoor and 1 obtained merging these two (indoor + outdoor). They were analysed with Generalized Procrustes Analysis, a multivariate technique which does not require fixed variables. All three analyses showed significant consensus among observers (P<0.001). The 2 main dimensions of the consensus profile of indoor, outdoor and merged data explained 53.9 and 13.8, 49.2 and 15.4 and 53.2 and 10.6 % of the total variation, respectively. In all three profiles observers characterised the first dimension of these consensus profiles in terms of an animal’s activity level (e.g. as ‘agitated’, ‘active’ or ‘relaxed’) and the second one in terms of its level of confidence (e.g. as ‘perky’, ‘uncomfortable’ or ‘afraid’). These 2 main dimensions provided good discrimination between individual buffaloes. Results of the merged data showed that in the outdoor condition animals scored more highly on the first dimension (being more restless and explorative) than in the indoor home pen. There was no difference between in- and outdoor scores on the second dimension. We concluded that behavioural patterns as described by qualitative assessment may be effectively used for the evaluation of buffalo welfare.
The qualitative assessment of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) behaviour / DE ROSA, Giuseppe; Napolitano, F.; Grasso, Fernando; Bordi, Aldo; Wemelsfelder, F.. - STAMPA. - 54:(2003), pp. 149-149. (Intervento presentato al convegno 37th International Congress ISAE tenutosi a Abano Terme (PD) - Italy nel 24-28 June 2003).
The qualitative assessment of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) behaviour
DE ROSA, GIUSEPPE;GRASSO, FERNANDO;BORDI, ALDO;
2003
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to test the applicability of qualitative behaviour assessment to buffalo. Eight buffalo heifers aged 16-18 months were individually filmed both in their indoor home pen and in an unfamiliar outdoor pen for 2.5 min where a still and unknown person was located. Eleven animal scientists from 6 different European countries were instructed to provide qualitative assessment of in- and outdoor videos using Free Choice Profiling methodology, which allows observers to generate their own descriptive vocabulary. Three data sets were generated: 1 for animals tested indoor, 1 for the same subjects tested outdoor and 1 obtained merging these two (indoor + outdoor). They were analysed with Generalized Procrustes Analysis, a multivariate technique which does not require fixed variables. All three analyses showed significant consensus among observers (P<0.001). The 2 main dimensions of the consensus profile of indoor, outdoor and merged data explained 53.9 and 13.8, 49.2 and 15.4 and 53.2 and 10.6 % of the total variation, respectively. In all three profiles observers characterised the first dimension of these consensus profiles in terms of an animal’s activity level (e.g. as ‘agitated’, ‘active’ or ‘relaxed’) and the second one in terms of its level of confidence (e.g. as ‘perky’, ‘uncomfortable’ or ‘afraid’). These 2 main dimensions provided good discrimination between individual buffaloes. Results of the merged data showed that in the outdoor condition animals scored more highly on the first dimension (being more restless and explorative) than in the indoor home pen. There was no difference between in- and outdoor scores on the second dimension. We concluded that behavioural patterns as described by qualitative assessment may be effectively used for the evaluation of buffalo welfare.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
