Continuous sampling provides the most complete data set for behavioral research; however, it often requires a prohibitive investment of time and labor. The objectives of this study were to validate behavioral observation methods of young broiler chickens using 1) 7 scan sampling intervals (0.5, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30 min) and 2) an automated tracking software program (EthoVision XT 14) compared to continuous behavioral observation, considered the gold standard for behavior observation. Ten 19-day-old Ross 708 broiler cockerels were included in this study. All behavior was video recorded over an 8-h period, and data were collected using a continuous sampling methodology. The same video files were utilized for analysis for scan sampling and automated tracking software analysis. For both analyses, the following criteria were used to identify which method accurately reflected the true duration and frequency for each behavior, as determined by continuous observation: R2 ≥ 0.9, slope was not different from 1 (P > 0.05), and intercept was not different from 0 (P > 0.05). Active, eating, drinking, and maintenance behaviors were accurately estimated with 0.5-min scan sample intervals. Active, inactive, eating, and maintenance behaviors were accurately estimated with 1-min scan sample intervals. Inactive behavior was accurately estimated with 5-min scan sample intervals. The remainder of sampling intervals examined did not provide accurate estimates, and no scan sampling interval accurately estimated the number of behavior bouts. The automated tracking software was able to accurately detect true duration of inactive behavior but was unable to accurately detect activity. The results of this study suggest that high-frequency behaviors can be accurately observed with instantaneous scan sampling up to 1-min intervals. Automated tracking software can accurately identify inactivity in young broiler chickens, but further behavior identification will require refinement.

中文翻译：

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验证年轻肉鸡的替代行为观察方法。

连续采样为行为研究提供了最完整的数据集；然而，它通常需要大量的时间和劳动力投入。本研究的目的是使用 1) 7 个扫描采样间隔（0.5、1、3、5、10、15 和 30 分钟）和 2) 自动跟踪软件程序 (EthoVision XT) 验证幼龄肉鸡的行为观察方法14）与连续行为观察相比，被认为是行为观察的金标准。本研究包括 10 只 19 日龄的罗斯 708 肉鸡。所有行为均在 8 小时内进行视频记录，并使用连续采样方法收集数据。相同的视频文件用于分析扫描采样和自动跟踪软件分析。对于这两种分析，以下标准用于确定哪种方法准确反映了通过连续观察确定的每种行为的真实持续时间和频率：R2 ≥ 0.9，斜率与 1 没有差异（P > 0.05），截距与 0 没有差异（ P > 0.05)。以 0.5 分钟的扫描采样间隔准确估计活动、进食、饮水和维护行为。以 1 分钟的扫描采样间隔准确估计活动、不活动、进食和维护行为。以 5 分钟的扫描采样间隔准确估计不活动行为。检查的其余采样间隔没有提供准确的估计，并且没有扫描采样间隔准确估计行为发作的次数。自动跟踪软件能够准确检测不活动行为的真实持续时间，但无法准确检测活动。这项研究的结果表明，可以通过高达 1 分钟间隔的瞬时扫描采样准确地观察到高频行为。自动跟踪软件可以准确识别年轻肉鸡的不活动状态，但进一步的行为识别需要改进。