Influence of two different kinds of foraging devices on feeding behaviour of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) (1999)

Bertrand, F., Seguin, Y., Chauvier, F. et al.

Abstract

A foraging device fitted on the ceiling of the cage (H), and a foraging device fitted on the front of the cage (V) and filled with pellets were tested in 12 individually housed animals. The animals moved the pellets from the reserve to a hopper. ... We found that the amount of waste food was up to 17 times lower in the V foraging device than in the control feeder and that the feeding time was much longer with the foraging device than with the control feeder. Over 90% of the food was eaten within the first 15 minutes with the control feeder, whereas it took 60 or 75 minutes to reach this percentage using the foraging device, whether it was a V or an H one. Each puzzle required specific skills. Whichever the feeding device, the subjects ate their whole daily ration and their weight remained stable.