Daily rhythmicity of behavioral responses in donkeys of different age groups during the cold-dry (harmattan) and hot-dry seasons in a tropical savannah
The aim of the study was to evaluate the daily rhythms of behavioral activities of adult, yearling, and foal donkeys during the cold-dry (harmattan) and hot-dry seasons in a tropical savannah. Thirty, clinically healthy free-ranging donkeys, divided into 3 groups of 10 donkeys each according to their age, served as experimental subjects. Behavioral activities of […]
Running in a running wheel substitutes for stereotypies in mink (Mustela vison) but does it improve their welfare?
This experiment investigated whether access to a running wheel affects the development of stereotypies during restricted feeding and whether selection for high or low levels of stereotypy affects the use of the running wheel. Sixty-two female mink kept in standard cages and selected for high or low levels of stereotypy were used. Thirty of these […]
Seasonal variations in daily rhythms of activity in athletic horses
Circadian rhythms reflect extensive programming of biological activity that meets and exploits the challenges and opportunities offered by the periodic nature of the environment. In the present investigation, we recorded the total activity of athletic horses kept at four different times of the year (vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox and winter solstice), to evaluate […]
Daily rhythms of behavioral and hormonal patterns in male dromedary camels housed in boxes
Background. Daily rhythmicity has been observed for a number of hormonal and behavioral variables in mammals. It can be entrained by several external factors, such as light-dark cycle and scheduled feeding. In dromedary camels, daily rhythmicity has been documented only for melatonin secretion and body temperature. In this study, the daily rhythmicity of behavioral repertoire, […]