Time lapse photographic studies of livestock behaviour outdoors on the College Farm, Aberystwyth

Summary

A Bolex S1 ciné camera, Kodachrome II colour reversal 8 mm film and a Specto analysis projector provided acceptable records of heifer behaviour from dawn to dusk throughout the year. Films are available on application.

Two groups of heifers showed logical and persistent behavioural responses to clement and inclement weather. Their daily behavioural routine was a response to, and in turn was modified by, the weather. Their group behaviour was readily recorded by time-lapse photography but an easy study of the more individual reactions of sheep was not possible from time-lapse film due to problems of identification and flock turbulence.

Heifers responded to bright sunshine predictably but differently in summer and winter, a definite response to a change in the direction of the incident wind being recorded in warm summer sunshine. A hitherto unrecorded reaction to unusually cold, strong, dry wind, viz. vigorous, non-stop grazing in the absence of effective upwind obstructions— requires verification.

Shelter usage was largely related to the incidence of wind-driven rain and, on the area of study, the slope of rainfall and the direction and strength of the wind which brought heavy rain were the main factors affecting sheltering activity. This unfortunately meant that shelter usage was synonymous with the fouling and poaching of sheltered ground.