HABRI Central

In order to understand more about food recognition and rejection, the aim of this experiment was to determine whether cognitive processes are involved. 16 groups of 4 broiler chicks were used, and were fed a low quality diet in their home pens. The groups of chicks were trained to run a winding maze to gain access to a high quality diet in a test trough for 15 min per day. When training was completed, the feed in the test trough for 8 of the groups was changed to that which they received in the home pen, while the other 8 groups received no change as a control. Time to traverse the runway did not show an immediate decrease on the day after the change (P>0.05) as would be expected if the birds used a cognitive comparison to determine speed of approach to the test trough. However, the experimental groups were significantly slower compared to the control groups after 4 days (P<0.05). The behaviour observed on the day of the change was indicative of frustration with more scratching and hurried movements shown (P<0.05), and less pecking at feed (P<0.01). Food consumption was lower for experimental groups compared to control groups on all days from the day of change onward (P<0.001). It was concluded that although there was no definitive evidence for the presence of a cognitive representation of food, this may have been due in part to the testing of groups of birds rather than individuals, and the way in which food quality is perceived. The occurrence of behaviours indicative of frustration suggest that a cognitive expectation may have been present.

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

1. Animal behavior
2. Animal nutrition
3. Appetite
4. Behavior and behavior mechanisms
5. Birds
6. Broilers
7. Chickens
8. Cognition
9. Diets
10. Feeding behavior
11. Feed intake
12. Fowls
13. Mental development
14. peer-reviewed
15. Poultry