This study was conducted to analyze the vocalizations of Japanese Black calves after weaning. Twenty-four Japanese Black calves (14 males and 10 females) at 4-6 months were used in this experiment. The vocalizations of calves were recorded after weaning. These vocalizations were classified using waveform shapes and spectrograms. Acoustic features of vocalizations were extracted using Praat acoustic analysis software. The call duration, fundamental frequency, intensity, and formants differed significantly (P < 0.001) among individual calves. However, call duration and fundamental frequency were different (P < 0.05) between male and female calves. These results suggest that vocalization analysis could be a useful tool to investigate individual and sex differences of Japanese Black calves.

Journal of Warm Regional Society of Animal Science, Japan 67（2）: 65-71, 2024

This study aimed to obtain basic knowledge to improve the effectiveness of electric fences in preventing sika deer (Cervus nippon) from invading grasslands. We used behavioral techniques to determine whether certain colors used in electric fences are difficult to distinguish from that of cool-season forage grass (Italian ryegrass Lolium multiflorum Lam.). In an operant conditioning room (4 × 8 m), a pair of colored panels (0.4 × 0.3 m) was presented to each captive sika deer (one male and one female) per session. Green-yellow was used as the positive stimulus and purple, purple-blue, blue, blue-green, green, yellow, yellow-red, red, or red-purple were negative stimuli. Each session consisted of 15 trials for the male and 20 trials for the female. The criterion for successful discrimination was to achieve a minimum of 80% correct choices for the male and 75% for the female sika deer out of the total trials for three consecutive sessions (P < 0.05, Chi-square test) by the 20^th session. Both male and female sika deer could discriminate between green-yellow and the other colors, except yellow. These results indicate that certain wire colors are difficult for sika deer to distinguish when an electric fence is installed in grasslands.

Journal of Warm Regional Society of Animal Science, Japan 67 （2）: 73-82, 2024

This study was conducted to separate Japanese Black calf vocalizations after weaning and to compare the acoustic parameters of each segment. Vocalization was divided into two segments by directly observing the calf utterance action and performing spectrogram analysis. As a result, the first and second segments were defined in order of time. These vocalizations were classified using waveform shapes and spectrograms. The acoustic features of vocalizations were extracted using Praat acoustic analysis software. Differences in call duration, fundamental frequency, intensity, and formants (1–4) were compared among the segments. The acoustic parameters, except formant 1, differed (P < 0.001) between the first and second segments. In addition, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in formants between male and female. Thus, Japanese Black calf vocalizations after weaning are capable of segmenting, the acoustic features of segment were revealed.

Journal of Warm Regional Society of Animal Science, Japan 67（2）: 111-117, 2024