Which is the best way to record behaviour of goats in free range conditions , is it observation or through camera recordings? Due to high cost of other behavioural recording inputs ( GIS collar or activity meters on goats), we are not able to use these for our current project. Please suggest what method and sampling period will be useful for us to record the above mentioned behaviours
What about a series of wild-cameras fixed to trees or bushes (they are not that expensive)?
What about a series of wild-cameras fixed to trees or bushes (they are not that expensive)?
Hi.
Automatic cameras can be useful in a few strategic locations, such as to identify or count animals frequenting a waterhole. However, their resolution does not allow to correctly identify a behaviour beyond a few tens of meters, in an open environment.
Under free range conditions, dozens of cameras would be needed to properly sample goat behaviour.
The cost of acquisition and maintenance of cameras and image processing (including time spent) may therefore be much higher than that of direct observation, without being able to provide such precise information.
See for ex:
Agreil, C. and M. Meuret (2004). "An improved method for quantifying intake rate and ingestive behaviour of ruminants in diverse and variable habitats using direct observation." Small Ruminant Research 54(1-2): 99-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2003.10.013
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