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Ferreira VHB, Seressia J, Même N, Bernard J, Pinard-van der Laan MH, Calenge F, Lecoeur A, Hedlund L, Jensen P, Guesdon V, Calandreau L. Early and late cognitive and behavioral aspects associated with range use in free-range laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Poult Sci 2024; 103:103813. [PMID: 38759569 PMCID: PMC11107457 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Individual differences in free-range chicken systems are important factors influencing how birds use the range (or not), even if individuals are reared in the same environmental conditions. Here, we investigated how various aspects of the birds' behavioral and cognitive tendencies, including their optimism/pessimism, cognitive flexibility, sociability, and exploration levels, are associated with range use and how they may change over time (before and after range access). To achieve this, 100 White Leghorn laying hen chicks underwent three distinct behavioral/cognitive tests-the cognitive bias test, the detour test, and the multivariate test-prior to gaining access to the range, between 9 and 39 days of age. After range access was allowed (from day 71), birds' range use was evaluated over 7 nonconsecutive days (from 74-91 days of age). Subsequently, a subset of birds, classified as high rangers (n = 15) and low rangers (n = 15) based on their range use, underwent retesting on the same three previous tests between 94 and 108 days of age. Our results unveiled a negative correlation trend between birds' evaluation of the ambiguous cue and their subsequent range use (rho = -0.19, p = 0.07). Furthermore, low rangers were faster to learn the detour task (χ2 = 7.34, df = 1, p = 0.006), coupled with increased sociability during the multivariate test (rho = -0.23, p = 0.02), contrasting with their high-ranging counterparts, who displayed more exploratory behaviors (F[1,27] = 3.64, p = 0.06). These behavioral patterns fluctuated over time (before and after range access); however, conclusively attributing these changes to birds' aging and development or the access to the range remains challenging. Overall, our results corroborate that behavioral and cognitive individual differences may be linked to range use and offer novel perspectives on the early behavioral and cognitive traits that may be linked to range use. These findings may serve as a foundation for adapting environments to meet individual needs and improve animal welfare in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeanne Seressia
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR PRC, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | | | | | | | - Fanny Calenge
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR GABI, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Alexandre Lecoeur
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR GABI, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Louise Hedlund
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology group, Linköping Universtiy, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per Jensen
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology group, Linköping Universtiy, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Vanessa Guesdon
- JUNIA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d'Elevage, Lille, France
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Fu SJ, Zhang N, Fan J. Personality and cognition: shoal size discrimination performance is related to boldness and sociability among ten freshwater fish species. Anim Cogn 2024; 27:6. [PMID: 38429558 PMCID: PMC10907435 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-024-01837-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Several studies have reported that animals' personalities are often correlated with individual differences in cognition. Here, we tested whether personality is related to cognition across species, focusing on 10 freshwater fishes and a task relevant for fitness, the ability to discriminate shoal size. Bolder species exhibited more 'shuttle' behavior for information sampling during shoal selection and showed high performance (HP) in the numerical discrimination than shyer species, i.e., low performance (LP) species. Species at both the high and low ends of sociability showed LP, possibly due to loosened selection pressure because of either no need to perform shoal size discrimination tasks frequently in nature for very high sociability species or decreased willingness and motivation to join and stay within shoals for very low sociability species. Notably, the numerical discrimination was sensitive to the numerical contrast ratio in LP species but not in HP species, suggesting that the numerical system used for size discrimination also varied between species. Overall, we demonstrated the interspecies relationship between personality and shoal size discrimination across fish species, suggesting an evolutionary link between numerical abilities and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Jian Fu
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China.
| | - Na Zhang
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Jie Fan
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Physiology and Behavior, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 401331, China
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Collet JM, Bonnefous C, Germain K, Ravon L, Calandreau L, Guesdon V, Collin A, Le Bihan-Duval E, Mignon-Grasteau S. High-throughput phenotyping to characterise range use behaviour in broiler chickens. Animal 2024; 18:101099. [PMID: 38377811 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
A key characteristic of free-range chicken farming is to enable chickens to spend time outdoors. However, each chicken may use the available areas for roaming in variable ways. To check if, and how, broilers use their outdoor range at an individual level, we need to reliably characterise range use behaviour. Traditional methods relying on visual scans require significant time investment and only provide discontinuous information. Passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems enable tracking individually tagged chickens' when they go through pop-holes; hence, they only provide partial information on the movements of individual chickens. Here, we describe a new method to measure chickens' range use and test its reliability on three ranges each containing a different breed. We used an active RFID system to localise chickens in their barn, or in one of nine zones of their range, every 30 seconds and assessed range-use behaviour in 600 chickens belonging to three breeds of slow- or medium-growing broilers used for outdoor production (all <40 g daily weight gain). From those real-time locations, we determined five measures to describe daily range use: time spent in the barn, number of outdoor accesses, number of zones visited in a day, gregariousness (an index that increases when birds spend time in zones where other birds are), and numbers of zone changes. Principal Component Analyses (PCAs) were performed on those measures, in each production system, to create two synthetic indicators of chickens' range use behaviour. The first two PCA axes represented over 90% of the variance of the five measures and were both consistent over time and correlated with independent visual scans. Contributions of the five measures to the PCAs were similar among breeds, except for the correlation between the number of outdoor accesses and the four other measures. PC1 correlated with time spent inside the barn and zone changes frequency, whilst PC2 was explained by exploration of the range. Taken together, PC1 and PC2 indicators showed that range use increased with age, outdoor temperature (in spring), and did not differ between males and females. Importantly, daily scores for both indicators were repeatable among individuals - particularly in PC1 - showing inter-individual variability on range-use. The characterisation of broiler behaviour around their range with these reliable and repeatable indicators provides novel tools to help understand individual variations of range-use in free-range farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Collet
- INRAE, Université de Tours, BOA, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
| | | | - Karine Germain
- INRAE, UE EASM, Le Magneraud, CS 40052, 17700 Surgères, France
| | - Laure Ravon
- INRAE, UE EASM, Le Magneraud, CS 40052, 17700 Surgères, France
| | | | - Vanessa Guesdon
- Junia, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d'Elevage, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Anne Collin
- INRAE, Université de Tours, BOA, 37380 Nouzilly, France
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Taylor PS, Fanning L, Dawson B, Schneider D, Dekoning C, McCarthy C, Rault JL. Visual access to an outdoor range early in life, but not environmental complexity, increases meat chicken ranging behavior. Poult Sci 2023; 102:103079. [PMID: 37812870 PMCID: PMC10563055 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Not all chickens access an outdoor range when the opportunity is provided. This may be related to the abrupt change in environments from the stable rearing conditions to the complexity of the outdoor range. We aimed to prepare chickens to range by increasing the complexity of the indoor environment early in life with the intention to encourage range use. Mixed sex Cobb500 chickens were allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups: visual access (VA) treatment provided VA to the outdoor range from day old via transparent pop-hole covers; environmental complexity (EC) treatment provided an artificial haybale, fan with streamers and a solid vertical barrier; Control treatment was a representative conventional environment. Chickens were given access to the outdoor range at 21 d of age. Behavior in the home pen was assessed in wk 1, 2 and 5 and individual ranging behavior was monitored through radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The VA chickens were more active compared to EC (P = 0.006) and Control (P = 0.007) chickens and spent more time foraging than control chickens (P = 0.036) during the first week of life. More VA chickens accessed the range area compared to EC chickens (P = 0.015). VA chickens accessed the range sooner after they were first provided access and spent more time on the range than EC and control chickens (P < 0.001). Mortality was lower in the VA treatment compared to EC (P = 0.024) and control group (P = 0.002). There was evidence that VA chickens weighed less than Control and EC chickens, however results were inconsistent between age and sex. Hence, providing meat chickens with VA to an outdoor range early in life increased activity in early life, decreased latency to first access the range and increased time on the range and lowered mortality. Future work should aim to understand the mechanism behind these changes in behavior to develop recommendations for producers to implement in commercial conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- P S Taylor
- School of Rural and Environmental Science, Faulty Science, Agriculture, Business and Law, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2530, Australia; Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
| | - L Fanning
- School of Rural and Environmental Science, Faulty Science, Agriculture, Business and Law, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2530, Australia
| | - B Dawson
- School of Rural and Environmental Science, Faulty Science, Agriculture, Business and Law, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2530, Australia
| | - D Schneider
- School of Rural and Environmental Science, Faulty Science, Agriculture, Business and Law, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2530, Australia
| | - C Dekoning
- South Australian Research and Development Institute, Roseworthy, South Australia, 5371, Australia
| | - C McCarthy
- Centre for Agricultural Engineering, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350, Australia
| | - J-L Rault
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, A-1210, Austria
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Dumontier L, Janczak AM, Smulders TV, Nordgreen J. Effects of the rearing environment complexity on laying hens’ spatial cognition: A holeboard test approach. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
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Bonnefous C, Calandreau L, Le Bihan-Duval E, Ferreira VHB, Barbin A, Collin A, Reverchon M, Germain K, Ravon L, Kruger N, Mignon-Grasteau S, Guesdon V. Behavioural indicators of range use in four broiler strains. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
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7
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Fetiveau M, Savietto D, Janczak AM, Bannelier C, Plagnet AS, Tauveron M, Fortun-Lamothe L. Time budget of two rabbit genotypes having access to different-sized pasture areas. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
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8
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Georgelin M, Ferreira VHB, Cornilleau F, Meurisse M, Poissenot K, Beltramo M, Keller M, Lansade L, Dardente H, Calandreau L. Short photoperiod modulates behavior, cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis in male Japanese quail. Sci Rep 2023; 13:951. [PMID: 36653419 PMCID: PMC9849226 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28248-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the photoperiodic control of reproduction in mammals and birds have been recently clarified. In contrast, the potential impact of photoperiod on more complex, integrative processes, such as cognitive behaviors, remains poorly characterized. Here, we investigated the impact of contrasted long and short photoperiods (LP, 16 h light/day and SP, 8 h light/day, respectively) on learning, spatial orientation abilities, and emotional reactivity in male Japanese quail. In addition, we quantified cell proliferation and young cell maturation/migration within the hippocampus, a brain region involved in spatial orientation. Our study reveals that, in male quail, SP increases emotional responses and spatial orientation abilities, compared to LP. Behaviorally, SP birds were found to be more fearful than LP birds, exhibiting more freezing in the open field and taking longer to exit the dark compartment in the emergence test. Furthermore, SP birds were significantly less aggressive than LP birds in a mirror test. Cognitively, SP birds were slower to habituate and learn a spatial orientation task compared to LP birds. However, during a recall test, SP birds performed better than LP birds. From a neuroanatomical standpoint, SP birds had a significantly lower density of young neurons, and also tended to have a lower density of mature neurons within the hippocampus, compared to LP birds. In conclusion, our data reveal that, beyond breeding control, photoperiod also exerts a profound influence on behavior, cognition, and brain plasticity, which comprise the seasonal program of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Georgelin
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Vitor Hugo Bessa Ferreira
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Fabien Cornilleau
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Maryse Meurisse
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Kévin Poissenot
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Massimiliano Beltramo
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Matthieu Keller
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Léa Lansade
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Hugues Dardente
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Ludovic Calandreau
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
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Ferreira VHB, Guesdon V, Calandreau L, Jensen P. White Leghorn and Red Junglefowl female chicks use distal and local cues similarly, but differ in persistency behaviors, during a spatial orientation task. Behav Processes 2022; 200:104669. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Ferreira VHB, Simoni A, Germain K, Leterrier C, Lansade L, Collin A, Mignon-Grasteau S, Le Bihan-Duval E, Guettier E, Leruste H, Løvlie H, Calandreau L, Guesdon V. Foraging Behavior Shows Individual-Consistency Over Time, and Predicts Range Use in Slow-Growing Free-Range Male Broiler Chickens. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:814054. [PMID: 35198623 PMCID: PMC8858978 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.814054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research on free-range chickens shows that individual behavioral differences may link to range use. However, most of these studies explored individual behavioral differences only at one time point or during a short time window, assessed differences when animals were out of their social group and home environment (barn and range), and in specific tests or situations. Therefore, it is yet unclear how different behaviors relate to range use and how consistent these behaviors are at the individual level. To fill this gap, we here aimed to describe the behavioral budget of slow-growing male broiler chickens (S757N) when in their social group and home environment during the whole rearing period (from the second week of life to the twelfth week, before slaughter), and to relate observed behavioral differences to range use. For this, we followed a sample of individuals in two flocks (n = 60 focal chickens out of 200 chickens per flock), over two seasons, during three periods: before range access (from 14 to 25 days old), during early range access (first weeks of range access, from 37 to 53 days old), and during late range access (last weeks of range access, from 63 to 87 days old). By the end of each period, individual tests of exploration and social motivation were also performed, measuring exploration/activity and sociability propensities. Our results show that foraging (i.e., pecking and scratching at the ground) was the only behavior that correlated to range use for all three rearing periods, independent of the season. Foraging was also the only behavior that showed within-individual consistency from an early age and across the three rearing periods. Foraging may, therefore, serve as a useful behavioral predictor of range use in free-range broiler chickens. Our study increases the knowledge of how behaviors develop and relate to each other in a domesticated and intensely selected species, and improves our understanding of the biology of free-range broiler chickens. These findings can, ultimately, serve as a foundation to increase range use and improve chicken welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Hugo Bessa Ferreira
- JUNIA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d'Elevage, Lille, France
- INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Centre Val de Loire UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, IFM Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Vitor Hugo Bessa Ferreira
| | - Arthur Simoni
- JUNIA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d'Elevage, Lille, France
| | | | - Christine Leterrier
- INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Centre Val de Loire UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
| | - Léa Lansade
- INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Centre Val de Loire UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
| | - Anne Collin
- INRAE, Université de Tours, BOA, Nouzilly, France
| | | | | | | | - Hélène Leruste
- JUNIA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d'Elevage, Lille, France
| | - Hanne Løvlie
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, IFM Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ludovic Calandreau
- INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Centre Val de Loire UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly, France
| | - Vanessa Guesdon
- JUNIA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d'Elevage, Lille, France
- *Correspondence: Vanessa Guesdon
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11
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Automated Tracking Systems for the Assessment of Farmed Poultry. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12030232. [PMID: 35158556 PMCID: PMC8833357 DOI: 10.3390/ani12030232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary With the advent of artificial intelligence, the poultry sector is gearing up to adopt and embrace sensor technologies to enhance the production and the welfare of birds. Automated tracking and tracing of poultry birds has several advantages in poultry farms: overcoming the subjectivity of human measurements, enhancing the ability to provide quality care for the birds during their life on the farm, providing the ability to predict events and thereby enabling timely interventions, and many more. However, the technologies behind automated tracking systems are not ripe due to the lags in algorithms and practical implementation issues. This mini review provides a brief critical assessment of the current and recent advancements of automated tracking systems in the poultry industry and offers an outlook on future directions. Abstract The world’s growing population is highly dependent on animal agriculture. Animal products provide nutrient-packed meals that help to sustain individuals of all ages in communities across the globe. As the human demand for animal proteins grows, the agricultural industry must continue to advance its efficiency and quality of production. One of the most commonly farmed livestock is poultry and their significance is felt on a global scale. Current poultry farming practices result in the premature death and rejection of billions of chickens on an annual basis before they are processed for meat. This loss of life is concerning regarding animal welfare, agricultural efficiency, and economic impacts. The best way to prevent these losses is through the individualistic and/or group level assessment of animals on a continuous basis. On large-scale farms, such attention to detail was generally considered to be inaccurate and inefficient, but with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology individualised, and per-herd assessments of livestock became possible and accurate. Various studies have shown that cameras linked with specialised systems of AI can properly analyse flocks for health concerns, thus improving the survival rate and product quality of farmed poultry. Building on recent advancements, this review explores the aspects of AI in the detection, counting, and tracking of poultry in commercial and research-based applications.
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Campbell DL, Whitten JM, Slater E, Lee C. Rearing enrichments differentially modified hen personality traits and reduced prediction of range use. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Ferreira VHB, Guesdon V, Calandreau L. How can the research on chicken cognition improve chicken welfare: a perspective review. WORLD POULTRY SCI J 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00439339.2021.1924920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- V. H. B. Ferreira
- JUNIA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d’Elevage, Lille Cedex, France
| | - V. Guesdon
- JUNIA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d’Elevage, Lille Cedex, France
| | - L. Calandreau
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
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Training level reveals a dynamic dialogue between stress and memory systems in birds. Behav Brain Res 2021; 408:113280. [PMID: 33819534 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Chronic stress profoundly affects forms of declarative memory, such as spatial memory, while it may spare non-declarative memory, such as cue-based memory. It is known, however, that the effects of chronic stress on memory systems may vary according to the level of training of an individual was submitted. Here, we investigated, in birds, how chronic stress impact spatial and cue-based memories according to training level. For that, control and chronically stressed Japanese quail were trained in a task that could be solved using spatial and cue-based memory and tested for their memory performance after 5 and 15 training days (initial training and overtraining, respectively) and following an emotional challenge (exposure to an open field). Our results showed that, compared to control quail, chronic stress impacted negatively spatial memory performances in stressed birds after initial training, but these differences were lowered after overtraining. Control birds seemed to shift from spatial to cue-based memory to solve the task across overtraining. However, an emotional challenge before testing reinstated the negative impact of chronic stress on spatial memory performances between the groups, revealing that chronic stress/overtraining did not eliminate the spatial memory and differences caused by stressors can reemerge depending on the individual's immediate psychological state. Contrary to spatial memory, cue-based memory was not affected in chronically stressed birds compared to control birds in any test occasion, confirming its resistance against the negative effects of chronic stress. Altogether these findings reveal a dynamic dialogue between stress, training level, and memory systems in birds.
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Ferreira VHB, Simoni A, Germain K, Leterrier C, Lansade L, Collin A, Mignon-Grasteau S, Le Bihan-Duval E, Guettier E, Leruste H, Calandreau L, Guesdon V. Working for food is related to range use in free-range broiler chickens. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6253. [PMID: 33737689 PMCID: PMC7973526 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85867-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
When animals prefer to make efforts to obtain food instead of acquiring it from freely available sources, they exhibit what is called contrafreeloading. Recently, individual differences in behavior, such as exploration, were shown to be linked to how prone an individual may be to contrafreeload. In this work, our main objective was to test whether and how individual differences in range use of free-range broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were related to the individual motivation to contrafreeload. We also verified whether other behavioral variations could relate to range use. To that aim, over three different periods (before range access, first weeks of range access, and last weeks of range access), chickens with different ranging levels (low and high rangers) were submitted to a contrafreeloading test and had different behaviors recorded (such as foraging, resting, locomotion) in their home environment. During the contrafreeloading test, chickens were conditioned to one chamber presenting a foraging substrate and mealworms, while in the other chamber, mealworms were freely available on the floor. During testing trials, chickens had access to both empty chambers, and the time spent in each chamber was quantified. On average, low rangers preferred the chamber where mealworms were easily accessible (without the foraging substrate), while high rangers preferred the chamber where mealworms were accessible with difficulty, showing greater contrafreeloading. Out of ten behaviors recorded in chickens' home environment, foraging was the only one that differed significantly between our two ranging groups, with low rangers foraging, on average, significantly less than high rangers. These results corroborate previous experiences suggesting that range use is probably linked to chickens' exploratory trait and suggest that individual differences in free-range broiler chickens are present even before range access. Increasing our knowledge of individual particularities is a necessary step to improve free-range chicken welfare on the farm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Hugo Bessa Ferreira
- JUNIA ISA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d'Elevage, 48 Boulevard Vauban, BP 41290, 59046, Lille Cedex, France. .,INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Centre Val de Loire UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
| | - Arthur Simoni
- JUNIA ISA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d'Elevage, 48 Boulevard Vauban, BP 41290, 59046, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Karine Germain
- INRAE, UE EASM, Le Magneraud, CS 40052, 17700, Surgères, France
| | - Christine Leterrier
- INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Centre Val de Loire UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Léa Lansade
- INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Centre Val de Loire UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Anne Collin
- INRAE, Université de Tours, BOA, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | | | | | | | - Hélène Leruste
- JUNIA ISA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d'Elevage, 48 Boulevard Vauban, BP 41290, 59046, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Ludovic Calandreau
- INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Centre Val de Loire UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
| | - Vanessa Guesdon
- JUNIA ISA, Comportement Animal et Systèmes d'Elevage, 48 Boulevard Vauban, BP 41290, 59046, Lille Cedex, France
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16
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Beardsworth CE, Whiteside MA, Laker PR, Nathan R, Orchan Y, Toledo S, van Horik JO, Madden JR. Is habitat selection in the wild shaped by individual-level cognitive biases in orientation strategy? Ecol Lett 2021; 24:751-760. [PMID: 33616308 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive biases for encoding spatial information (orientation strategies) in relation to self (egocentric) or landmarks (allocentric) differ between species or populations according to the habitats they occupy. Whether biases in orientation strategy determine early habitat selection or if individuals adapt their biases following experience is unknown. We determined orientation strategies of pheasants, Phasianus colchicus, using a dual-strategy maze with an allocentric probe trial, before releasing them (n = 20) into a novel landscape, where we monitored their movement and habitat selection. In general, pheasants selected for woodland over non-woodland habitat, but allocentric-biased individuals exhibited weaker avoidance of non-woodland habitat, where we expected allocentric navigation to be more effective. Sex did not influence selection but was associated with speed and directional persistence in non-woodland habitat. Our results suggest that an individual's habitat selection is associated with inherent cognitive bias in early life, but it is not yet clear what advantages this may offer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Beardsworth
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Mark A Whiteside
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Philippa R Laker
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Ran Nathan
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Yotam Orchan
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Sivan Toledo
- Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 67798, Israel
| | - Jayden O van Horik
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Joah R Madden
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
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17
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Armstrong EA, Voelkl B, Voegeli S, Gebhardt-Henrich SG, Guy JH, Sandilands V, Boswell T, Toscano MJ, Smulders TV. Cell Proliferation in the Adult Chicken Hippocampus Correlates With Individual Differences in Time Spent in Outdoor Areas and Tonic Immobility. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:587. [PMID: 33005647 PMCID: PMC7479223 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Access to outdoor areas is provided as a means of enhancing welfare in commercial systems for laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus), but substantial individual differences exist in their proportional use. Baseline cell proliferation levels of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis (AHN) have been associated with individual differences in reactive vs. proactive coping style, and in both mammals and birds, AHN is upregulated by positive experiences including environmental enrichment and exercise. We thus sought to explore whether individual differences in use of outdoor areas and in tonic immobility responses (indicative of fearfulness) were associated with hippocampal cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Radio frequency identification technology was used to track the ranging behavior of 440 individual focal hens within a commercially-relevant system over a 72-days period, after which tonic immobility durations were measured. Following hippocampal tissue collection from 58 focal hens, proliferation and neuronal differentiation were measured through quantitative PCR for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and doublecortin mRNA, respectively. Individual differences in tonic immobility duration positively correlated with PCNA expression over the whole hippocampal formation, while greater time spent in outdoor areas (the grassy range and stone yard) was associated with higher proliferation in the rostral subregion. Basal proliferation in the chicken hippocampal formation may thus relate to reactivity, while levels in the rostral region may be stimulated by ranging experience. Doublecortin expression in the caudal hippocampus negatively co-varied with time on the grassy range, but was not associated with tonic immobility duration. This suggests that ranging outside may be associated with stress. Within laying hen flocks, individual differences in hippocampal plasticity thus relate to coping style and use of external areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena A Armstrong
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.,Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Bernhard Voelkl
- Centre for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Voegeli
- Centre for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Jonathan H Guy
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.,School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Sandilands
- Department of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Engineering Science, SRUC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Boswell
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.,School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Toscano
- Centre for Proper Housing: Poultry and Rabbits (ZTHZ), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tom V Smulders
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.,Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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18
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Lormant F, Ferreira VHB, Meurisse M, Lemarchand J, Constantin P, Morisse M, Cornilleau F, Parias C, Chaillou E, Bertin A, Lansade L, Leterrier C, Lévy F, Calandreau L. Emotionality modulates the impact of chronic stress on memory and neurogenesis in birds. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14620. [PMID: 32884096 PMCID: PMC7471904 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71680-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress is a strong modulator of cognitive processes, such as learning and memory. There is, however, great within-individual variation in how an animal perceives and reacts to stressors. These differences in coping with stress modulate the development of stress-induced memory alterations. The present study investigated whether and how chronic stress and individual emotionality interrelate and influence memory performances and brain neurogenesis in birds. For that, we used two lines of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) with divergent emotionality levels. Highly (E+) and less (E-) emotional quail were submitted to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) for 3 weeks and trained in a spatial task and a discrimination task, a form of cue-based memory. E + and E- birds were also used to assess the impact of CUS and emotionality on neurogenesis within the hippocampus and the striatum. CUS negatively impacted spatial memory, and cell proliferation, and survival in the hippocampus. High emotionality was associated with a decreased hippocampal neurogenesis. CUS improved discrimination performances and favored the differentiation of newborn cells into mature neurons in the striatum, specifically in E+ birds. Our results provide evidence that CUS consequences on memory and neural plasticity depends both on the memory system and individual differences in behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flore Lormant
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Vitor Hugo Bessa Ferreira
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Yncréa Hauts-de-France, ISA Lille, 48 bd Vauban, 59046, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Maryse Meurisse
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Julie Lemarchand
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Paul Constantin
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Mélody Morisse
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Fabien Cornilleau
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Céline Parias
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Elodie Chaillou
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Aline Bertin
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Léa Lansade
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Christine Leterrier
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Frédéric Lévy
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France.,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France.,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Ludovic Calandreau
- INRAE, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380, Nouzilly, France. .,CNRS, UMR 7247, 37380, Nouzilly, France. .,Université François Rabelais, 37041, Tours, France. .,IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
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19
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Range use is related to free-range broiler chickens’ behavioral responses during food and social conditioned place preference tests. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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20
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Social motivation and the use of distal, but not local, featural cues are related to ranging behavior in free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Anim Cogn 2020; 23:769-780. [DOI: 10.1007/s10071-020-01389-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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21
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Ferreira VHB, Reiter L, Germain K, Calandreau L, Guesdon V. Uninhibited chickens: ranging behaviour impacts motor self-regulation in free-range broiler chickens ( Gallus gallus domesticus). Biol Lett 2020; 16:20190721. [PMID: 31964255 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibiting impulsive, less flexible behaviours is of utmost importance for individual adaptation in an ever-changing environment. However, problem-solving tasks may be greatly impacted by individual differences in behaviour, since animals with distinct behavioural types perceive and interact with their environment differently, resulting in variable responses to the same stimuli. Here, we tested whether and how differences in ranging behaviour of free-range chickens affect motor self-regulation performance during a cylinder task. For this task, subjects must refrain from trying to reach a food reward through the walls of a transparent cylinder and detour to its open sides, as a sign of inhibition. Free-range chickens exhibited an overall low performance in the motor self-regulation task (31.33 ± 13.55% of correct responses), however, high rangers showed significantly poorer performance than the low rangers (23.75 ± 9.16% versus 40 ± 12.90%, respectively). These results give further support to the impacts of individual behavioural differences on cognitive performances. This is the first demonstration to our knowledge of a relationship between exploratory tendencies and motor self-regulation for an avian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Hugo Bessa Ferreira
- Yncréa Hauts-de-France, ISA Lille, 48 bd Vauban, 59046 Lille Cedex, France.,INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Centre Val de Loire UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Lorène Reiter
- INRAE, UE EASM, Le Magneraud, CS 40052, 17700 Surgères, France
| | - Karine Germain
- INRAE, UE EASM, Le Magneraud, CS 40052, 17700 Surgères, France
| | - Ludovic Calandreau
- INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Centre Val de Loire UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Vanessa Guesdon
- Yncréa Hauts-de-France, ISA Lille, 48 bd Vauban, 59046 Lille Cedex, France
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