Kl. Launchbaugh et al., OVERCOMING FOOD NEOPHOBIA IN DOMESTIC RUMINANTS THROUGH ADDITION OF AFAMILIAR FLAVOR AND REPEATED EXPOSURE TO NOVEL FOODS, Applied animal behaviour science, 54(4), 1997, pp. 327-334
Food neophobia, observed as a decreased intake of novel foods, can cau
se significant livestock production losses. For example, in the transi
tion from rangeland to feedlot, livestock are usually offered novel di
ets that they sample cautiously, gradually increasing intake. This fam
iliarization period can slow weight gains and increase time to slaught
er. This research examines two ways to overcome food neophobia. First,
we determined if the addition of a familiar flavor would increase the
acceptance of a novel food. Lambs (n = 30) were fed barley, onion-fla
vored barley, or onion-flavored rice twice a day for 4 days. All lambs
were then offered onion-flavored rice. The lambs that had previously
eaten onion-flavored barley ate more (P < 0.05) onion-flavored rice th
an those that had previously eaten unflavored barley. Second, we exami
ned if repeated exposure to novel foods increased the acceptance of su
bsequent novel foods. Controlling for order of food offered, lambs (n
= 72 total) were offered four novel foods (calf manna, corn, rice, and
wheat bran) for 3 consecutive days each (12 days total). Lambs ate mo
re (P < 0.05) of the fourth novel food than of the first novel food of
fered. These results indicate that flavor generalization and repeated
exposure to novel foods may increase the acceptance of novel foods. (C
) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.