The existence of daily or circadian rhythms across variables in number of species has been documented. Rhythm generation is realized by a complex system located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Daily patterns of total locomotor activity (TLA) have been well described in domestic mammals such as rabbits, cats, dogs, sheep, goats, cows and horses. Different factors are able to entrain TLA, among which the light/dark (L/D) cycle is the most important. The aim of this study was to compare the TLA in goats and sheeps. Five clinically healthy female goats (body weight 40±2 kg) and five sheeps (body weight 45±2 kg) were enrolled in the study with owners consent. Animals were housed under natural photoperiod according to specific farm management. Water was available ad libitum and feeding was suitable for each species. Each animal was equipped by means of collar on the neck with an actigraphy-based data logger (Actiwatch-Mini®, Cambridge Neurotechnology Ltd, UK),that record a digitally integrated measure of motor activity for 10 days. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the assessment of effects due to species and days on the daily amount of activity per 24 h. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among domestic species. The highest daily amount of activity was observed during the photophase (p<0.0001) sheep, goats and cows. Our results show different pattern of locomotor activity both in goats and sheeps, underlining a diurnal pattern of locomotor activity in these species. Sheeps and goats showed a weak daily rhythm of locomotor activity that can shift from a diurnal to a nocturnal pattern, and vice versa, modifying the variables affecting the daily rhythm of locomotor activity. Effectively, sheep with restricted night time feeding substantially shifts the main bout of activity from diurnal to nocturnal. In this case the weakness of daily rhythm of locomotor activity may be due to the low robustness of the rhythm. Therefore, the daily pattern of TLA does not depend only on L/D cycle but it can be affected by several environmental variables including different activities such as feeding, drinking, walking, grooming, playing as well as all conscious and unconscious movements.

Daily rhythm of total activity/rest pattern in goatand sheep

RIZZO, MARIA;ARFUSO, FRANCESCA;MARAFIOTI, SIMONA;SAOCA, CONCETTA IDA;CONGIU, FULVIO;PICCIONE, Giuseppe
2015-01-01

Abstract

The existence of daily or circadian rhythms across variables in number of species has been documented. Rhythm generation is realized by a complex system located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Daily patterns of total locomotor activity (TLA) have been well described in domestic mammals such as rabbits, cats, dogs, sheep, goats, cows and horses. Different factors are able to entrain TLA, among which the light/dark (L/D) cycle is the most important. The aim of this study was to compare the TLA in goats and sheeps. Five clinically healthy female goats (body weight 40±2 kg) and five sheeps (body weight 45±2 kg) were enrolled in the study with owners consent. Animals were housed under natural photoperiod according to specific farm management. Water was available ad libitum and feeding was suitable for each species. Each animal was equipped by means of collar on the neck with an actigraphy-based data logger (Actiwatch-Mini®, Cambridge Neurotechnology Ltd, UK),that record a digitally integrated measure of motor activity for 10 days. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the assessment of effects due to species and days on the daily amount of activity per 24 h. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among domestic species. The highest daily amount of activity was observed during the photophase (p<0.0001) sheep, goats and cows. Our results show different pattern of locomotor activity both in goats and sheeps, underlining a diurnal pattern of locomotor activity in these species. Sheeps and goats showed a weak daily rhythm of locomotor activity that can shift from a diurnal to a nocturnal pattern, and vice versa, modifying the variables affecting the daily rhythm of locomotor activity. Effectively, sheep with restricted night time feeding substantially shifts the main bout of activity from diurnal to nocturnal. In this case the weakness of daily rhythm of locomotor activity may be due to the low robustness of the rhythm. Therefore, the daily pattern of TLA does not depend only on L/D cycle but it can be affected by several environmental variables including different activities such as feeding, drinking, walking, grooming, playing as well as all conscious and unconscious movements.
2015
978-88-907678-1-4
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11570/3059357
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