Tools to Study and Manage Grazing Behavior at Multiple ...
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Tools to Study and Manage Grazing Behavior at Multiple Scales to Enhance the Sustainability of Livestock Production Systems By Dean M. Anderson Research Animal Scientist USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range Phone 575-646-5190; e-mail [email protected] April 2011 JER
Transcript of Tools to Study and Manage Grazing Behavior at Multiple ...
Tools to Study and Manage Grazing Behavior at Multiple
Scales to Enhance the Sustainability of Livestock
Production SystemsBy
Dean M. AndersonResearch Animal Scientist
USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental RangePhone 575-646-5190; e-mail [email protected]
April 2011
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TAKE HOME LESSONS(Its All About Spatial and Temporal Information)
What tools should I use?(Depends on the question(s) being asked)
- No single tool exists to answer all questions.
- Complex tools require sophisticated teams.
- Tools should foster low stress animal handling.
- Use tools that capitalize on innate animal behavior.
In general
Resolution
Toolcomplexityand co$t
Adapted from: Stuth, J.W. 1991. Foraging behavior. In: Heitschmidt, R.K. and Stuth, J.W. Grazing management and Ecological Perspectives. Portland , OR: Timber Press Inc., 65-83.
Identify Animals
Know Your Study Site & How Frequently Data Should be
Recorded?
Field Robust Equipment -- A Must
Tape it!
“The real difficulty lies not in the tendency to interpret animal intelligence in the terms of human experience, for we have no other way; but in the faulty and imperfect analysis of human experience”
Willard S. Small. 1901. American Journal of Psychology 12:228JER
Communication?
Everything we do to animals teaches “something” – the choice is ours on what we want them to learn.
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(Illustration by Don Trawin, Saturday Evening Post. 2000. (6)272:50-51)
Working With Research Animals
The “Dust Factor”(Low Stress Animal Handling)
Smith, B. 1998. Moving’ em – A guide to low stress animal handling.The Graziers Hui, Kamela, HI. 352 p.
Observation
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How is the observerinfluencing theobservation ?
Range meter for sheep, i.e. travel
Harris, L.E. 1970. Nutrition research techniques for domestic and wild animals. Vol. 1. Anim. Sci. Dept. Utah State Univ.Logan, Utah. Page 5501-7. JER
Vibracorders, i.e. activity
Stobbs, T.H. 1970. Automatic measurement of grazing time by diary cows on tropical grass and legume pastures. Trop. Grasslands. 4, 237-244.
Pedometers, i.e. travel
Anderson and Urquhart, 1986
Animal Weight Telemetry System, i.e. Cow Boots
Horn, F.P. 1981. Direct measurement of voluntary intake of grazing livestock by telemetry. In: Wheeler, J.L. and Mochrie, R.D. Forage Evaluation: Concepts and Techniques. CSIRO and American Forage and Grassland Council. Melbourne, Australia, 367-372.
Power Generation/Storage
SupplyingContinuousAdequatePower to
ElectronicsWorn by
Free-rangingAnimals
is anImportant
Key
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A Major Challenge
Illustration Courtesy of John Deere Company
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First study that employed GPS to locateanimals (moose) began in March 1994
GPS used in farming beginning in 1990’s
Commercial Collars
GPS + Argos
GPS 7000
http://www.telonics.com/products/gps4/
User Frustrations!http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2369222902&topic=3227
TELLUS 1C GPS COLLAR
Radio Frequency Ear Tags (RFID)
The first commercially available long range (1/2 Mile) radio frequency ear tag. The FaST TAG can be read using a stationary monitoring system or with the portable FaST TRACKER hand held reader that connects wirelessly with FaST TRACK software. (FaST Tag)
http://www.fort-supply.com/products.php?c=30&id=168
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“Crittercams”
http://searesearch.org/animals-and-exhibits/exhibits/716-crittercam
Origin of CrittercamCrittercam was conceived in 1986 by marine biologist and filmmaker Greg Marshall.
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Acoustic Telemetry
Nelson et al. 2005. Wildlife SocietyBulletin. 33(2): 624-632
Sazonova et al. 2008. Physiological Measurements.29(5): 525-541.
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“Drilling” into the data
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From Andrew F. Rose; Gould Ranch Meeteetse, Wyoming 10-29-93
< “Control level” stimulation
Before stimulation >
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Electronic Cattle Training
http://abcasiapacific.com/nexus/leadingedge/s1574962.htm
http://www.ict.csiro.au/files/AutonomousSystems/Flecks.pdfJER
Fleck Electronic Belt + Halter Platform
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Stretch Halter & Neck Saddle
SolarPanel
GPSAntenna
Left Speaker
Left Electrodes
Battery
Neck Saddle
Stretch Halter
Xu, S., Talwar, S.K., Hawley, E.S., Li, L. and Chapin, J.K. 2004. A multi-channel telemetry system for brain microstimulation in freelyroaming animals. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 133(1-2): 57-63.
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Internal Cuing – Maybe?
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+100
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-25
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-75-100
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Key : (+) Indicates increasing intensity1 = Virtual Boundary (VB™), 200 m wide
2 = Virtual Paddock (VP™) with animals
3 = (+) sound only
4 = (+) sound & (+) electrical stimulation
5 = (++) sound & (++) electrical stimulation
6 = (+++) sound & (+++) electrical stimulation
7 = VP™ without animals
8 = Virtual Center Line (VCL™)
9 = Angle of approach to VCL™
Directional Virtual Fencing (DVF™)Theory of operation
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Can you accept “leaky” boundaries?
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If the health or safety of either humans or animals must not be compromised,… Do Not Use Virtual Fencing
Thoughts to Ponder as You Return Home
Do you have the appropriate research team in place?
What is the experimental unit?
Are you using the correct equipment, and is its upkeep adequate for the question being asked?
What is the consensus of past research?
Abiotic as well as biotic factors impact animal grouping
Experimental designs should always embrace how the animal “perceives” its world
Behavioral research may require more animals than nutritional research
Be discerning when applying results from “small groups” to “large groups”
Statistics should “serve” rather than be the “master” for explaining results
Use teams having the necessary expertise
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Biology/ethology Engineering/electronics
Spatial statistics
Effective Teams are Key
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The Human Mind + Cutting-Edge Technology
Mention of a trade name does notconstitute a guarantee, endorsement,
or warranty of the product by the USDA-ARS over other products not
mentioned.
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Disclaimer
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Contact Information:Dean M. Anderson [email protected]
Thank you ---- are there any questions?
Judge a person by his questions rather than his answers
