Animal Science

1. 2008 ASAS ASDA Joint Annual Meeting July 7-11, 2008 Abstract #TH2 Animal Science A. M. Meiszberg1, A. K. Johnson1, J. W. Dailey2, J. A. Carroll2, L. J. Sadler1, J. R. Garvey1, and N. Krebs3 1Animal Science Department, Kildee Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA, 2USDA-ARS Livestock Issues Research Unit, Lubbock, TX 79403, USA, 3Pork Industry Institute, Department of Animal and Food Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79410, USA • Statistical Analysis: • The experimental unit was the pen containing one gilt • Duration and number of visits were analyzed using the general linear model (GLM) and regression procedures in SAS® • The GLM model included the method of observation and pig nested within method for the error term Validation of a water HOBO and the Noldus Observer® for drinking behavior in the nursery pig Results Introduction • The method of observation affected (P = 0.001) the duration (Figure 1) and visits (P = 0.005) for drinking behavior (Figure 2) • For seconds and number of visits to the drinker, R2 was 0.563 and 0.687 respectively • Continuous viewing is the preferred method for observing drinking behavior, but this is very time consuming • If an automatic device could accurately record duration and frequency for a given behavioral event, this would provide a useful tool to the field of ethology Figure 1. Methodology (OBS vs. WMHOBO) effects on the average duration of drinking in seconds for eleven nursery PIC gilts on days 0, 7, and 14 of the trial (P = 0.001) Objectives • Determine the accuracy of an automatic water meter compared to a human observer for the duration of drinking • Determine the accuracy of an automatic water meter compared to a human observer for the number of visits to the nipple waterer by nursery pigs Materials and Methods Figure 2. Methodology (OBS vs. WMHOBO) effects on the average number of drinking visits over a 24-h period for eleven PIC gilts 0, 7, and 14 of the trial (P = 0.005) • Eleven PIC® (USA) gilts (22 ± 2 days of age; 6.5 ± 1.4 kg) were used • Gilts were housed individually in stainless steel pens (0.60 m wide by 1.22 m long) • Pigs had ad libitum access to a corn-based diet and water was provided by a nipple waterer (Lixit, Napa, CA at 8 PSI) • Methodology: • Two methods were compared: • Method one; Noldus Observer® 5.0.25 software (OBS) • Method two; water meter HOBOs (WMHOBO) on the water line; defined as the control standard • Method one (OBS), two experienced observers continuously watched video footage of the gilts • WMHOBO (OnsetU11 3-State/1-Event Logger) was an electronic water meter that recorded every visit and duration of time (seconds) spent at the nipple waterer • All the information was sent to a HOBO data logger, where the data was collected and stored • The WMHOBO was defined as the control standard for drinking duration and number of visits • OBS did not accurately record drinking behavior using our definition of drinking (head above the water meter) • A definition of drinking behavior including a bout interval selection criterion may lead to a more accurate collection of data on drinking behavior Conclusions • Drinking Behavior: • Duration of drinking and number of visits to the nipple waterers / gilt was acquired on days 0, 7, and 14 of the trial • One color camera (Model WV-BP 332, Panasonic Matsushita Co. Ltd.) was positioned over four attached pens, which then recorded onto a RECO-204 DVR (Darin Vision) for 24 hours • Drinking was defined as head over the water nipple Summary • The relationship between methods was weak • OBS method underestimated the number of visits to the nipple waterer and overestimated the total duration of drinking behavior for the nursery pig compared to the WMHOBO • OBS method can assess the number of visits more accurately than the duration of time engaged in drinking-related behavior