Table 1.
Ethogram of behavioral observation for dairy goat kids (n = 36), including the methods and unit of observation
| Behaviors1 | Observation method2 | Unit(s)3 | Description | Adapted from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grooming behaviors | ||||
| Allogrooming | Continuous | Frequency and duration | The kid grooms or licks another kid. Includes rubbing head or body against another kid. A separate grooming event is considered to occur after a break of > 1 s. | Hempstead et al. (2017), Wormsbecher et al. (2017) |
| Self-grooming | Continuous | Frequency and duration | The kid’s mouth comes in contact with any part of the body or legs (excluding biting on their HOBO). A separate self-grooming event is considered to occur after a pause of > 1 s and/or the kid is biting, or attempting to bite, objects on themselves (i.e., their own collar or HOBO on their leg). A separate biting event is considered to occur after a break of > 1 s and/or the kid tilts their head so the rear foot scratches (or attempts to scratch) any part of their head or neck. The rear fetlock must reach the shoulder. Head scratches separated by > 1 s are considered separate events and/or the kid’s head is tilted and comes in contact with any surface of the pen (e.g., wall, bar), while moving back and forth (lasting > 1 s). Head rubs separated by > 3 s are considered separate events. | Hempstead et al. (2017) |
| Redirected behaviors | ||||
| Cross-sucking | Continuous | Frequency and duration | The kid’s nose and mouth are close to any part of the other kid’s body and the kid is performing sucking movements, not including licking. Includes sucking on ear, tail, or other parts of the other kid. Bout is recorded as finished when the kid stops and turns head away and/or the kid is biting, or attempting to bite, objects on their conspecific (i.e., other kid’s collar). A separate biting event is considered to occur after a break of > 1 s. | De Paula Vieira et al. (2008), Wormsbecher et al. (2017) |
| Biting or licking | Continuous | Frequency and duration | The kid’s mouth comes in contact with any part of the pen (e.g., bars, buckets, and tubes) and the kid opens its mouth to lick or bite, or attempt to lick or bite the object. A separate biting/licking event is considered to occur after a break of > 1 s. | — |
| Nipple sucking | Continuous | Frequency and duration | The kid is sucking or chewing on the milk nipple but is not drinking milk. | — |
| Digging or pawing | Continuous | Frequency | The kid is digging down in the shavings, or pawing, with one of its forelegs. | — |
| Other behaviors | ||||
| Vocalization | Continuous | Frequency | The kid vocalizes. Each vocalization is recorded as one separate event. | De Paula Vieira et al. (2008) |
| Displacement at the nipple |
Continuous | Frequency | The kid displaces another kid at the nipple, and the other kid leaves the feeder within 5 s of a contact. | De Paula Vieira et al. (2008), Wormsbecher et al. (2017) |
1Behaviors were observed over 12 nonconsecutive minutes per day of observation.
2Continuous observations were taken throughout the observation period.
3Frequency was observed continuously as the total number of events per observation period. Duration was recorded in seconds when a behavioral event lasted over 5 s. For events that lasted 5 s or less, the duration was assigned to be 2 s.