Feed aversion learning in cattle with delayed negative consequences.
Two experiments were conducted to study the ingestive behavior of cattle when given a delayed dose of the aversive agent lithium chloride (LiCl) after eating a novel feed. In the first experiment, 20 calves were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5). The control group (G1) received 80 mg/kg BW of sodium chloride (NaCl) 4 h after eating a novel feed. Groups 2 (G2), 3 (G3), and 4 (G4) received 80 mg/kg of LiCl at 4, 8, and 12 h, respectively, after eating the novel feed. When calves were offered the novel feed on subsequent days, G2 and G3 ate less (P < .05) than G1. There was no difference (P > .05) in intakes between G1 and G4. In the second experiment, 15 calves were randomly divided into three groups (n = 5). The control group (G1) received 80 mg/kg BW of NaCl 12 h after eating a novel feed, whereas G2 and G3 received 80 and 160 mg/kg BW, respectively, of LiCl 12 h after eating the novel feed. When calves were offered the novel feed on subsequent days, G1 and G2 ate similar (P > .05) amounts, whereas G3 ate much less (P < .05) of it than the other groups. Cattle learned to avoid novel feeds even when they experienced negative postingestive consequences up to 12 h after they ate the feeds. The capacity for long-delay learning seems to be related to the severity of negative consequences experienced.
Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717.
S L
SL
Kronberg
R B
RB
Muntifering
E L
EL
Ayers
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D002417:Cattle / Q000523:psychology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018021:Lithium Chloride; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
D002712:Chlorides; D008094:Lithium; D018021:Lithium Chloride