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NIBIOs ansatte publiserer flere hundre vitenskapelige artikler og forskningsrapporter hvert år. Her finner du referanser og lenker til publikasjoner og andre forsknings- og formidlingsaktiviteter. Samlingen oppdateres løpende med både nytt og historisk materiale. For mer informasjon om NIBIOs publikasjoner, besøk NIBIOs bibliotek.

2026

Sammendrag

The experiment aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a Monil virtual fence collar for small ruminants on mature Norwegian White ewes at the NIBIO Tjøtta station. The study aimed to evaluate the animals' learning ability and welfare, compare two auditory cues (Original vs. Modified; collar treatment), and examine the effects of wool (Shaved vs. Unshaved) on the efficacy of the virtual fence system. A total of 16 ewes were randomly assigned to two groups of 8, each equipped with one of the collars, and further divided based on wool treatment. Two mirrored training arenas were set up for the two groups. For two days, the collared animals had unrestricted access to graze the entire arena (VF-Off). This was followed by two days of restricted access to 2/3 of the arena using the virtual fence collars (VF-On). After the fourth day, the animals were switched to the other arena as a crossover design, and the sequence of VF-Off and VF-On was repeated. Data collected included position and cue logs from the virtual fence collars, heart rate monitors, and observation data gathered through three methods: Video Surveillance, Direct Observation Time Budget, and Pressure Marks Assessment. Our results indicate that the ewes were able to learn to avoid restricted zones effectively, relying more on auditory cues than on electrical cues. The virtual fence cueing imposed short-lived stress (acute stress), with both behavioral and physiological metrics returning to baseline levels within five minutes. Additionally, exclusively auditory cues resulted in less stress compared to cues associated with electrical stimulation. No indicators of chronic behavioral stress were observed. However, we found that the collars needed to move freely on the animals' necks to prevent pressure marks, suggesting that the ewes should be shaved around their necks before wearing the collars. While collar treatment showed no significant effects, wool treatment indicated that the shaved group was more compliant with the virtual fence system due to reduced insulation, which enhanced the effectiveness of electrical cues. During the deployment with the unshaved group, there were three instances in which the animals received an electrical cue that did not elicit the animal response, allowing for their “escape” over the virtual fence boundary. Therefore, equipping the virtual fence on shaved animals is paramount for enhancing the system's reliability. If the suggestion is followed, the system can effectively be used for sheep without compromising animal welfare.

Sammendrag

Denne boka, den 34. i rekken, inneholder som vanlig resultater fra forsøks- og utviklingsarbeid innenfor korn, olje- og belgvekster, jordbruksfrø og potet. Her finner du de store linjene, sammendrag for resultatene i ulike forsøksserier og konklusjoner fra prosjekter.