J Anim Sci. 2017 Nov;95(11):4703-4707. doi: 10.2527/jas2017.1835.
When considering methodologies for collecting behavioral data, continuous sampling provides the most complete and accurate data set whereas instantaneous sampling can provide similar results and also increase the efficiency of data collection. However, instantaneous time intervals require validation to ensure accurate estimation of the data. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate scan sampling intervals for lambs housed in a feedlot environment. Feeding, lying, standing, drinking, locomotion, and oral manipulation were measured on 18 crossbred lambs housed in an indoor feedlot facility for 14 h (0600-2000 h). Data from continuous sampling were compared with data from instantaneous scan sampling intervals of 5, 10, 15, and 20 min using a linear regression analysis. Three criteria determined if a time interval accurately estimated behaviors: 1) ≥ 0.90, 2) slope not statistically different from 1 ( > 0.05), and 3) intercept not statistically different from 0 ( > 0.05). Estimations for lying behavior were accurate up to 20-min intervals, whereas feeding and standing behaviors were accurate only at 5-min intervals (i.e., met all 3 regression criteria). Drinking, locomotion, and oral manipulation demonstrated poor associations () for all tested intervals. The results from this study suggest that a 5-min instantaneous sampling interval will accurately estimate lying, feeding, and standing behaviors for lambs housed in a feedlot, whereas continuous sampling is recommended for the remaining behaviors. This methodology will contribute toward the efficiency, accuracy, and transparency of future behavioral data collection in lamb behavior research.
在考虑收集行为数据的方法时，连续采样提供了最完整和准确的数据集，而瞬时采样可以提供相似的结果，同时也提高了数据收集的效率。然而，瞬时时间间隔需要验证，以确保对数据的准确估计。因此，本研究的目的是验证在饲料场环境中饲养的羔羊的扫描采样间隔。对 18 只杂交羔羊在室内饲料场设施中饲养 14 小时（06:00-20:00）期间的进食、躺卧、站立、饮水、运动和口腔操作进行了测量。使用线性回归分析，将连续采样数据与 5、10、15 和 20 分钟的瞬时扫描采样间隔数据进行了比较。三个标准确定了时间间隔是否能准确估计行为：1）≥0.90，2）斜率与 1 无统计学差异（>0.05），3）截距与 0 无统计学差异（>0.05）。躺卧行为的估计值在 20 分钟的间隔内是准确的，而进食和站立行为仅在 5 分钟的间隔内是准确的（即，满足所有 3 个回归标准）。饮水、运动和口腔操作在所有测试间隔的相关性都较差（<0.05）。本研究结果表明，对于在饲料场中饲养的羔羊，5 分钟的瞬时采样间隔将准确估计躺卧、进食和站立行为，而对于其余行为，则建议进行连续采样。这种方法将有助于提高未来羔羊行为研究中行为数据收集的效率、准确性和透明度。
