Overcoming Food Neophobia in Domestic Ruminants through Addition of a Familiar Flavor and Repeated Exposure to Novel Foods

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Volume

54

Issue

4

Publisher

Elsevier

Publication Date

1997

First Page

327

Last Page

334

Abstract

Food neophobia, observed as a decreased intake of novel foods, can cause significant livestock production losses. For example, in the transition from rangeland to feedlot, livestock are usually offered novel diets that they sample cautiously, gradually increasing intake. This familiarization period can slow weight gains and increase time to slaughter. This research examines two ways to overcome food neophobia. First, we determined if the addition of a familiar flavor would increase the acceptance of a novel food. Lambs (n = 30) were fed barley, onion-flavored barley, or onion-flavored rice twice a day for 4 days. All lambs were then offered onion-flavored rice. The lP < 0.05) onion-flavored rice than those that had previously eaten unflavored barley. Second, we examined if repeated exposure to novel foods increased the acceptance of subsequent novel foods. Controlling for order of food offered, lambs (n = 72 total) were offered four novel foods (calf manna, corn, rice, and wheat bran) for 3 consecutive days each (12 days total). Lambs ate more (P < 0.05) of the fourth novel food than of the first novel food offered. These results indicate that flavor generalization and repeated exposure to novel foods may increase the acceptance of novel foods.

Comments

Originally published by Elsevier. Publisher's PDF available through remote link.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS