Advancing knowledge of individual differences in feeding behaviour of dairy cattle

在科学文献中，人们对探索动物行为的个体差异产生了越来越大的兴趣。动物个体在不同的环境中表现出不同的行为(动物个性)，对环境变化的反应也不同(行为可塑性)。到目前为止，几乎没有工作来解释成熟奶牛摄食行为的个体差异。在其他物种中，个体内通过摄食行为调节的营养消耗水平受到个性差异和个体可塑性的高度影响。因此，个性化喂养策略的发展不仅取决于了解个体的营养需求，而且取决于个体如何消费其饲料及其消费行为的适应性。因此，拟议研究计划的长期目标是进一步了解奶牛饲养行为的个体差异，目的是利用这些信息在个体水平上设计饲养策略，以改善奶牛的健康、福利和生产效率。为了解决这一问题，我的具体短期目标是确定：1)一致的个性特征如何有助于奶牛饲养行为的个体差异；2)个性特征与喂养行为的可塑性之间的关系，以应对生理、环境和社会差异；以及3)个性和行为可塑性的知识如何帮助根据个体的行为和生理需求进行营养管理。一系列实验将共同解决这些目标。通过研究，我预测，通过创建考虑到动物个性和行为可塑性差异的个性化营养计划，奶牛的健康、生产和效率可能会得到改善。将使用各种方法来评估个性(例如，社交能力、探索性、胆量、恐惧)。饲养行为的可塑性将通过让奶牛承受生理、环境和社会应激来评估。最后，实验将测试精准喂养策略，这些策略既考虑了动物的营养需求，也考虑了它们独特的行为特征。这项研究将为导致个体饲养行为差异的因素提供新的生物学见解，并为精确营养战略提供基本基础，这些战略可减少代谢性疾病，通过满足奶牛的个人行为需求改善福利，并通过针对营养摄入量最大限度地减少营养浪费和环境影响，从而提高生产效率。本研究对乳品生产者具有一定的经济效益和社会效益。食用动物的福利以及可持续农业做法日益受到公众的关注，并影响到消费者对动物农业产品的选择。

The scientific literature has seen a burgeoning interest in exploring individual differences in animal behaviour. Individual animals differ in their expression of behaviour across a range of contexts (animal personality'), and in response to environmental variation (behavioural plasticity'). To date, little work exists to explain individual differences in feeding behaviour of mature dairy cattle. In other species, nutrient consumption levels, as mediated through feeding behaviour, within individuals are highly influenced by personality differences and individual plasticity. Development of individualized feeding strategies is, thus, not only hinged on knowing individual nutrient requirements, but also on knowledge of how the individual consumes their feed, and the adaptability of their consumption behaviour. Thus, the long-term goal of the proposed research program is to further the understanding of individual differences in dairy cow feeding behaviour with the aim of using this information to design feeding strategies at the individual level that improve cow health, welfare, and efficiency of production. To address this, my specific short-term objectives are to determine: 1) how consistent personality traits may contribute to individual variability in feeding behaviour in dairy cows, 2) the relationship between personality traits and plasticity of feeding behaviour in response to physiological, environmental, and social variation; and 3) how knowledge of personality and behavioural plasticity can help tailor nutritional management to the behavioural and physiological needs of the individual. A series of experiments will collectively address these goals. Across studies, I predict that cow health, production, and efficiency may be improved by creating individualized nutritional programs that account for differences in animal personality and behavioural plasticity. A variety of methods will be used to assess personality (e.g. sociability, exploration, boldness, fearfulness). Plasticity of feeding behaviour will be assessed by subjecting cows to physiological, environmental, and social stressors. Finally, experiments will test precision feeding strategies that take into account both individual animal nutrient requirements and their unique behavioural traits. This research will provide new biological insights into factors contributing to individual variability of feeding behaviour, and the fundamental basis for precision nutritional strategies that decrease metabolic disease, improve welfare by meeting the individual behavioural needs of the dairy cow, and minimize nutrient waste and environmental impact by targeting nutrient intake and, thus, increasing production efficiency. This research has economic benefits to dairy producers and societal benefits. The welfare of food animals along with sustainable agricultural practices are of continually increasing concern to the public, and affect choices by consumers of the products of animal agriculture.