Three of Japanese Black female cattle were grazed in a young forest area of Chamaecyparis obtuse plantation (YF, June to September in 2003) and in a native grassland area (NG, October and November in 2003). Twenty-four hour behavioral observation of the cattle was conducted and a GPS was used to determine the distance traced by the cattle once a month during experimental period. The rumen fluid was collected twice in each area on early and late set-stocks. Grazing time averaged 537.7±109.8 min/day and was positively correlated with the rate of grazing Miscanthus sinensis (p<0.05) and negatively correlated with the rate of grazing Pleioblastus simonii (p<0.001). The rate of grazing M. sinensis was negatively correlated (p<0.05) with the rate spent grazing P. simonii and other plants (p<0.001) and positively correlated (p<0.05) with the rate of lying posture. The rate of grazing other plants was negatively correlated (p<0.05) with rumination time. Distance covered by cattle ranged from 5001m to 6879m through experimental period. Differences in total VFA were slight, however, differences in individual VFA's were seen with area as well as set-stock time. NH_<3^->N concentrations were higher in YF (6.4mg/dl and 7.2mg/dl) than in NG (4.5mg/dl and 4.3mg/dl). Total protozoa counts per ml decreased from 2.0×10^6 (early set-stock) to 3.0×10^5 (late set-stock) in YF, whereas in NG remained the same at 1.0×10^6. Entodinium was found in highest percentages in both areas. Total bacteria counts/ml was ranged from 1.4×10^7 to 8.2×10^8 and gram negative cocci and gram positive cocci bacteria were found in high percentages. In this study, it is shown that cattle is able to adapt to the young forest and native grassland by changing the behavior and selecting plants from the diverse vegetation.

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Previous studies have reported high frequency of stereotypy in captive bears. Environmental enrichment for bears is important for animal welfare. This study evaluated environmental enrichment effects (using branches and supplemental feeding) on three Japanese black bears (three females) at the Morioka Zoological Park from 23 October to 28 November by investigation of their behaviors. The bears lived 9:00-16:30 in the yard, containing rocks, a pergola and a pool. The bears fed once each day in a shed at about 16:30. Branches were put in the pool (without water) and a pergola. Chestnuts were hidden three each at 10 openings in the yard's rocks and branches before 9:00. Those hiding points were changed daily throughout the experimental period. Food pellets were scattered around the yard about 13:00. We investigated their behavior every 1min by direct observation before the study and at 1 day, 1 and 2 weeks, and 1 month after enrichment. Exploratory behavior 1 day after enrichment (18.64 times/h) was significantly more frequent than that before enrichment (4.53 times/h)(Kruskal-Wallis test, P<0.05). Exploratory behavior 1 month after enrichment (7.34 times/h) was significantly less frequent than that of 1 day after enrichment (P<0.05). Respective social behaviors 1 day and 2 weeks after enrichment were 1.17 and 1.43 times/h, indicating a significantly higher frequency than that before enrichment (0 times/h)(P<0.05). Results suggest that environmental enrichment activated the bears, but that its effects had limited duration.

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The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of washing used equine bedding straw before drying on ammonia gas emission in a model experiment. At first, concentrations of ammonia gas emission from pre-and post-washing bedding straw with 10 fold its weight of water, prepared with rice straw and equine urine, were determined by a passive dositube and the values were calculated with respect to the stable conditions in the equine barn as an intensity of odor. In determining ammonia gas emission, washing of bedding straw with 10 fold its weight of water reduced emissions by 35.6% from the largest value. This reduction corresponds to a 0.5 point reduction in the intensity of odor. Prior to the determination of nitrogen volume for ammonia gas emission, uric voluntary nitrogen determination apparatus was established and its performance was evaluated. Using this apparatus, nitrogen emission was determined for pre-and post-washing of bedding straw, and the nitrogen volume in non-treated rice straw, urine, and pre- or post-washed bedding straw was also determined. In the results of nitrogen balance determined with the trial apparatus, washing reduced 60% of the ammonia gas emission from the bedding straw. Secondly, the appropriate washing water weight (5, 10 and 15 fold) for the used bedding straw weight was evaluated according to the nitrogen levels in the washing water. While the nitrogen concentration decreased in accordance with the increase in washing water volume, there was no significant difference in the nitrogen leve 1s, which was less than the sewage disposal standard. Therefore the washing of used bedding straw seemed to be a useful method before drying them for recycle use. However, some problems related to the washing water and bedding straw endurance remains to be clarified before the actual use of this treatment.

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[in Japanese]

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