The social network structure of a dynamic group of dairy cows: From individual to group level patterns
The social network structure of a dynamic group of dairy cows: From individual to group level patterns
复制标题
奶牛动态群体的社会网络结构：从个体到群体层次模式
DOI：
10.1016/j.applanim.2015.11.016
复制
发表时间：
2016-01-01
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Croft, Darren P.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Boyland, Natasha K.;Mlynski, David T.;Croft, Darren P.
社会关系已被证明对野生动物种群的个体和群体成功有显著影响，但在农场动物管理中基本上被忽视。我们对农场动物如何对其社会环境作出反应的认识存在很大差距，农场之间的社会环境差异很大，但通常由于重组而不稳定。解决这些差距的基础是对社会网络结构的理解，这种结构是由群体中个人之间的关系模式产生的。在这里，我们研究了110头泌乳奶牛在四个月龄期间的社会结构。空间接近记录器收集奶牛之间的关联数据，使我们能够构建社会网络。首先，我们证明了接近记录器可以用来测量奶牛之间的关系；接近性数据与亲和性相互作用显著正相关，但与激动性相互作用无关。随着时间的推移，我们通过测试社区结构、集中化和网络结构的可重复性来衡量群体层面的模式。我们通过测量社会分化（社会关联的异质性）和网络中奶牛的分类（哺乳数量、品种、群居性和产奶量）来探索个体层面的模式。没有证据表明奶牛被细分成社会群体；个体属于单一集群，网络显示出显著的集中化。社会网络的可重复性较低，这可能对动物福利产生影响。个体形成了差异化的社会关系，性状之间存在正分类；在所有研究期间，奶牛与泌乳数量相似的同种个体的相关性更高。在某些研究时期，品种、群居性和产奶量也存在正分类。农业对社会因素对生产和福利的影响越来越感兴趣；这项研究在理解社会动态方面迈出了重要的一步。(C) 2015 Elsevier B.V.版权所有
Social relationships have been shown to significantly impact individual and group success in wild animal populations, but are largely ignored in farm animal management. There are substantial gaps in our knowledge of how farm animals respond to their social environment, which varies greatly between farms but is commonly unstable due to regrouping. Fundamental to addressing these gaps is an understanding of the social network structure resulting from the patterning of relationships between individuals in a group. Here, we investigated the social structure of a group of 110 lactating dairy cows during four one-month periods. Spatial proximity loggers collected data on associations between cows, allowing us to construct social networks. First we demonstrate that proximity loggers can be used to measure relationships between cows; proximity data was significantly positively correlated to affiliative interactions but had no relationship with agonistic interactions. We measured group-level patterns by testing for community structure, centralisation and repeatability of network structure over time. We explored individual-level patterns by measuring social differentiation (heterogeneity of social associations) and assortment of cows in the network by lactation number, breed, gregariousness and milk production. There was no evidence that cows were subdivided into social communities; individuals belonged to a single cluster and networks showed significant centralisation. Repeatability of the social network was low, which may have consequences for animal welfare. Individuals formed differentiated social relationships and there was evidence of positive assortment by traits; cows associated more with conspecifics of similar lactation number in all study periods. There was also positive assortment by breed, gregariousness and milk production in some study periods. There is growing interest in the farming industry in the impact of social factors on production and welfare; this study takes an important step towards understanding social dynamics. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.