Feed-restricted broiler breeders: state-dependent learning as a novel welfare assessment tool to evaluate their hunger state?
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| Category | Journal Articles |
|---|---|
| Abstract |
This paper reports three experiments that aimed to validate the use of state-dependent learning (SDL) as a novel welfare assessment tool to evaluate the hunger state of feed-restricted broiler breeders. In each experiment, birds alternated every 2 days between two food rations: quantitative feed restriction (QFR) and ad libitum access to the same feed (AL). Each food ration was paired with a different, end of day, coloured food reward. It was predicted that the reward associated with hunger (QFR FR) would be preferred to the food reward associated with AL (AL FR) in a subsequent choice test. The SDL preference testing took place after 4 and 8 days of training. Each bird was tested twice (once per food ration fed on the test day). In experiment 1 (pilot, n=4), birds preferred the QFR-associated reward during both tests mean (S.E.M.) preference: QFR FR: 35.0 (3.5) g; AL FR: 2 (1.3) g, but differential food reward intake between hunger states during training confounded the results. In experiment two ( n=12) a smaller food reward was used during training to try and equalise intake. The birds preferred the QFR FR in test 1 only (least significant difference (L.S.D.)=15.08, P |
| Publication Title | Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
| Volume | 165 |
| Pages | 124-132 |
| ISBN/ISSN | 0168-1591 |
| Language | English |
| Author Address | SRUC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK.lbuckley@harper-adams.ac.uk |
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