| Popis: |
The study aimed to determine whether artificial shade influences grazing behavior and body weight of pregnant female red deer. Two groups of pregnant does were grazed in enclosures with shade (WS, n = 23), or non-shaded enclosures (NS, n = 23) of similar size and botanical composition. The animals’ location and behavior, as well as ambient and black globe temperatures were recorded. Females were weighed at the beginning and the end of the experiment. In the WS group, the percentage of animals using the shade during the day was significantly related to ambient and black globe temperatures. There were no differences between groups in grazing activity (P > 0.05). More animals were seen drinking, and more thermoregulatory behaviors (wallowing in mud; placing forelegs in troughs) were recorded in the NS group during the day (11.1 ± 1 vs. 6.7 ± 1 and 10 ± 1.4 vs. 3.3 ± 1.4 respectively, P |
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