Advancing knowledge of individual differences in feeding behaviour of dairy cattle

科学文献已经看到了对探索动物行为个体差异的新兴兴趣。个体动物在不同的环境中表现出不同的行为（“动物个性”），并对环境变化作出反应（“行为可塑性”）。到目前为止，很少有工作存在，以解释个体差异的喂养行为的成熟奶牛。在其他物种中，个体内通过摄食行为介导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，个体化喂养策略的制定不仅取决于了解个体的营养需求，还取决于了解个体如何消费饲料以及其消费行为的适应性。因此，拟议的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，改善奶牛健康，福利和生产效率。为了解决这个问题，我的具体短期目标是确定：1）一致的人格特质如何有助于奶牛喂养行为的个体差异，2）人格特质和喂养行为的可塑性之间的关系，以应对生理，环境和社会变化;以及3）个性和行为可塑性的知识如何有助于使营养管理适应个人的行为和生理需要。一系列实验将共同解决这些目标。在研究中，我预测，奶牛的健康，生产和效率可以通过创建个性化的营养计划来改善，这些计划可以解释动物个性和行为可塑性的差异。将使用各种方法来评估个性（例如，社交能力，探索，大胆，恐惧）。将通过使奶牛经受生理、环境和社会应激来评估摄食行为的可塑性。最后，实验将测试考虑到个体动物营养需求及其独特行为特征的精确喂养策略。这项研究将提供新的生物学见解，了解导致个体喂养行为变异的因素，以及精确营养策略的基本依据，这些策略可以减少代谢疾病，通过满足奶牛的个体行为需求来改善福利，并通过针对营养摄入量来最大限度地减少营养浪费和环境影响，从而提高生产效率。这项研究对乳品生产者具有经济效益和社会效益。食用动物的福利沿着可持续农业实践，公众越来越关注，并影响消费者对畜牧业产品的选择。

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.