| dc.contributor.author |
Simitzis, PE |
en |
| dc.contributor.author |
Skoupa, E-P |
en |
| dc.contributor.author |
Goliomytis, M |
en |
| dc.contributor.author |
Kominakis, A |
en |
| dc.contributor.author |
Deligeorgis, SG |
en |
| dc.date.accessioned |
2014-06-06T06:52:52Z |
|
| dc.date.available |
2014-06-06T06:52:52Z |
|
| dc.date.issued |
2013 |
en |
| dc.identifier.issn |
01681591 |
en |
| dc.identifier.uri |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2013.07.015 |
en |
| dc.identifier.uri |
http://62.217.125.90/xmlui/handle/123456789/6225 |
|
| dc.subject |
Behavioural pattern |
en |
| dc.subject |
Mild maternal undernutrition |
en |
| dc.subject |
Open-field test |
en |
| dc.subject |
Rabbits |
en |
| dc.subject.other |
age |
en |
| dc.subject.other |
behavioral ecology |
en |
| dc.subject.other |
behavioral response |
en |
| dc.subject.other |
maternal effect |
en |
| dc.subject.other |
pregnancy |
en |
| dc.subject.other |
small mammal |
en |
| dc.subject.other |
Oryctolagus cuniculus |
en |
| dc.title |
The effects of mild maternal undernutrition on the post-weaning behaviour of rabbits |
en |
| heal.type |
journalArticle |
en |
| heal.identifier.primary |
10.1016/j.applanim.2013.07.015 |
en |
| heal.publicationDate |
2013 |
en |
| heal.abstract |
The objective of the present experiment was to investigate the implications of mild maternal undernutrition on the post-weaning behaviour of rabbits. Twenty-six dams were randomly assigned to two groups: the control group (C) that was fed ad libitum throughout pregnancy and the undernourished group (U) that was fed 75% of the recommended maintenance requirements between the 6th and 26th day of pregnancy. At the age of 50 and 65 days old, behaviour of rabbits in cages was recorded and rabbits were further subjected to an open-field test; a paradigm used as an indicator of fear and emotional distress. There were only limited differences between the examined groups in the exhibition of behaviour in the cages; values for frequencies of eating and drinking were higher in the controls compared to the prenatally undernourished rabbits (P<0.05). Duration of drinking appeared to be higher in the group of rabbits born from undernourished does at the age of 50 days compared to the other groups (P<0.05). Duration of resting and comfort behaviours was significantly increased at the age of 65 days in both groups (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). In both groups, a decreased activity of rabbits during the light period was observed (as expected), whereas a reduction in frequencies of eating and drinking, and duration of locomotory and investigatory behaviours was observed at the age of 65 days (P<0.05).Rabbits born to undernourished does displayed reduced rates of the sitting still and standing stretched behaviours compared to the controls during the implementation of the open-field test (P<0.05). No other significant differences in the exhibition of the examined behaviours were found between the treatment groups. Although some differences were found in specific behavioural patterns, it is concluded that mild maternal undernutrition (75% of ad libitum intake) during pregnancy has generally only little effect on rabbits' post-weaning behaviour. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. |
en |
| heal.journalName |
Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
en |
| dc.identifier.issue |
1-2 |
en |
| dc.identifier.volume |
148 |
en |
| dc.identifier.doi |
10.1016/j.applanim.2013.07.015 |
en |
| dc.identifier.spage |
157 |
en |
| dc.identifier.epage |
163 |
en |