Emotionality modulates the effect of chronic stress on feeding behaviour in birds.
Chronic stress is a long-lasting negative emotional state that induces negative consequences on animals' psycho-physiological state. This study aimed at assessing whether unpredictable and repeated negative stimuli (URNS) influence feeding behaviour in quail. Sixty-four quail were exposed to URNS from day 17 to 40, while 64 quail were undisturbed. Two lines divergently selected on their inherent emotionality were used to assess the effect of genetic factors on the sensitivity to URNS. All quail were submitted to a sequential feeding procedure (using two diets of different energetic values) which placed them in a contrasting situation. Behavioural tests were performed to assess the emotional reactivity of the two lines. Results confirmed that differences exist between them and that their emotional reactivity was enhanced by URNS. Diet preferences, motivation and daily intake were also measured. URNS did not change the preferences for the hypercaloric diet compared to the hypocaloric diet in choice tests, but they reduced daily intakes in both lines. Motivations for each diet were differently affected by URNS: they decreased the motivation to eat the hypercaloric diet in quail selected for their low inherent fearfulness whereas they increased the motivation to eat the hypocaloric diet in quail selected for their high inherent fearfulness, which suggested a devaluation process in the former and a compensatory behaviour in the later. Growth was furthermore reduced and laying delayed by URNS in both lines. In conclusion, the exposure to URNS induced interesting changes in feeding behaviour added with an increase in emotional reactivity and an alteration of production parameters. This confirms that both lines of quail experienced a chronic stress state. However differences in feed motivation and emotional reactivity between lines under chronic stress suggested that they experienced different emotional state and use different ways to cope with it depending on their genetic background.
UMR 791 Modélisation Systémique Appliquée aux Ruminants, AgroParisTech, Paris, France ; UMR 791 Modélisation Systémique Appliquée aux Ruminants, INRA, Paris, France.
Angélique
A
Favreau-Peigné
UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA, Nouzilly, France ; UMR 6175, CNRS, Nouzilly, France ; Université de Tours, Tours, France ; IFCE, Nouzilly, France.
Ludovic
L
Calandreau
UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA, Nouzilly, France ; UMR 6175, CNRS, Nouzilly, France ; Université de Tours, Tours, France ; IFCE, Nouzilly, France.
Paul
P
Constantin
UE 1295 Pôle d'Expérimentation Avicole de Tours, INRA, Nouzilly, France.
Bernard
B
Gaultier
UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA, Nouzilly, France ; UMR 6175, CNRS, Nouzilly, France ; Université de Tours, Tours, France ; IFCE, Nouzilly, France.
Aline
A
Bertin
UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA, Nouzilly, France ; UMR 6175, CNRS, Nouzilly, France ; Université de Tours, Tours, France ; IFCE, Nouzilly, France.
Cécile
C
Arnould
Ethos UMR 6552, Université de Rennes 1, CNRS, Rennes, France.
Agathe
A
Laurence
Ethos UMR 6552, Université de Rennes 1, CNRS, Rennes, France.
Marie-Annick
MA
Richard-Yris
Ethos UMR 6552, Université de Rennes 1, CNRS, Rennes, France.
Cécilia
C
Houdelier
Ethos UMR 6552, Université de Rennes 1, CNRS, Rennes, France.
Sophie
S
Lumineau
UMR 1213 Herbivores, INRA, St-Genès Champanelle, France.
Alain
A
Boissy
UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA, Nouzilly, France ; UMR 6175, CNRS, Nouzilly, France ; Université de Tours, Tours, France ; IFCE, Nouzilly, France.
Christine
C
Leterrier
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D011784:Quail / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors