Potential Food Inclination of Crab-Eating Macaques in Laboratory Environments: Enhancing Positive Reinforcement Training and Health Optimization
Positive reinforcement and training for health optimization are pivotal for successful studies with monkeys. Potential food inclination is important for studies on crab-eating macaques in laboratory environments, but evaluations remain scarce. We explored crab-eating macaques’ potential food inclina...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/1123 |
| _version_ | 1827287020682084352 |
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| author | Ji Woon Kim Yoon Beom Lee Yeon Su Hong Hoesu Jung Gwang-Hoon Lee |
| author_facet | Ji Woon Kim Yoon Beom Lee Yeon Su Hong Hoesu Jung Gwang-Hoon Lee |
| author_sort | Ji Woon Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Positive reinforcement and training for health optimization are pivotal for successful studies with monkeys. Potential food inclination is important for studies on crab-eating macaques in laboratory environments, but evaluations remain scarce. We explored crab-eating macaques’ potential food inclination to establish a reward system for future behavioral assessments. Twelve male and three female monkeys underwent a food inclination assessment in which they were offered four food categories—fruits, vegetables, proteins, and nuts. The monkeys exhibited a higher inclination for plant-based foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, over animal-based proteins like chicken and tuna (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), with a notable inclination for nuts (eaten/provided = 100%). Additionally, the consistency of potential food inclination after repeated offerings was investigated, revealing a time-dependent increase in inclination for protein items. Food consumption ratios correlated positively with caloric intake (<i>r</i> = 0.59, <i>p</i> = 0.02), implying that individuals with a regular high caloric intake and increased body weight are more likely to accept food during positive reinforcement training. Our findings suggest fruits, vegetables, protein-rich foods, and nuts can help with health optimization. However, animal-based protein-rich foods initially had a low preference, which may increase over time. Our study can provide guidelines for positive reinforcement training and health optimization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:49:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5266b20d3da247a3ab72b3edc71bd28b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:49:49Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5266b20d3da247a3ab72b3edc71bd28b2024-04-12T13:14:26ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-04-01147112310.3390/ani14071123Potential Food Inclination of Crab-Eating Macaques in Laboratory Environments: Enhancing Positive Reinforcement Training and Health OptimizationJi Woon Kim0Yoon Beom Lee1Yeon Su Hong2Hoesu Jung3Gwang-Hoon Lee4Preclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic of KoreaPreclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic of KoreaPreclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic of KoreaPreclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic of KoreaPreclinical Research Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic of KoreaPositive reinforcement and training for health optimization are pivotal for successful studies with monkeys. Potential food inclination is important for studies on crab-eating macaques in laboratory environments, but evaluations remain scarce. We explored crab-eating macaques’ potential food inclination to establish a reward system for future behavioral assessments. Twelve male and three female monkeys underwent a food inclination assessment in which they were offered four food categories—fruits, vegetables, proteins, and nuts. The monkeys exhibited a higher inclination for plant-based foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, over animal-based proteins like chicken and tuna (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), with a notable inclination for nuts (eaten/provided = 100%). Additionally, the consistency of potential food inclination after repeated offerings was investigated, revealing a time-dependent increase in inclination for protein items. Food consumption ratios correlated positively with caloric intake (<i>r</i> = 0.59, <i>p</i> = 0.02), implying that individuals with a regular high caloric intake and increased body weight are more likely to accept food during positive reinforcement training. Our findings suggest fruits, vegetables, protein-rich foods, and nuts can help with health optimization. However, animal-based protein-rich foods initially had a low preference, which may increase over time. Our study can provide guidelines for positive reinforcement training and health optimization.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/1123crab-eating macaquepositive reinforcement trainingwelfaredietary choiceprimatebehavioral assessment |
| spellingShingle | Ji Woon Kim Yoon Beom Lee Yeon Su Hong Hoesu Jung Gwang-Hoon Lee Potential Food Inclination of Crab-Eating Macaques in Laboratory Environments: Enhancing Positive Reinforcement Training and Health Optimization Animals crab-eating macaque positive reinforcement training welfare dietary choice primate behavioral assessment |
| title | Potential Food Inclination of Crab-Eating Macaques in Laboratory Environments: Enhancing Positive Reinforcement Training and Health Optimization |
| title_full | Potential Food Inclination of Crab-Eating Macaques in Laboratory Environments: Enhancing Positive Reinforcement Training and Health Optimization |
| title_fullStr | Potential Food Inclination of Crab-Eating Macaques in Laboratory Environments: Enhancing Positive Reinforcement Training and Health Optimization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential Food Inclination of Crab-Eating Macaques in Laboratory Environments: Enhancing Positive Reinforcement Training and Health Optimization |
| title_short | Potential Food Inclination of Crab-Eating Macaques in Laboratory Environments: Enhancing Positive Reinforcement Training and Health Optimization |
| title_sort | potential food inclination of crab eating macaques in laboratory environments enhancing positive reinforcement training and health optimization |
| topic | crab-eating macaque positive reinforcement training welfare dietary choice primate behavioral assessment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/7/1123 |
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