Foraging behaviour of gregarious Mediterranean water shrew Neomys anomalus was investigated in 7 individuals. Shrews were tested individually and in a 4-animal-group in a terrarium. Shrew behaviour was recorded in darkness using 2 infra-red sensitive video-cameras. Two experimental variants, with and without natural structures in the terrarium, were established. When foraging individually, N. anomalus consumed only few food portions at the places of finding. Shrews hoarded most food in the nest and/or in hiding-places and ate it under cover. The presence of natural structures caused hoarding and eating of food in scattered hiding-places, instead of carrying it to the nest. During group foraging, N. anomalus did not hoard food communally, and preparation of individual stores almost ceased. In all tests, they ate successively more food items at the places of finding as the duration of foraging increased.

Study was preformed to assess the relationship between water consumption, feed intake, and respiratory disease in 2200 commercial finishing pigs in the U.K. The pigs were housed in 4 conventional finishing sheds in groups of 20-25 per pen and fed ad-lib. Water was supplied via bite drinkers. Meters were installed on the water supply line to each shed and daily readings were taken. Feed intake was assessed daily by the stockman. Coughing incidence was measured daily as an indicator of respiratory disease. On a clinicial evaluation Enzootic Pneumonia and/or Swine Influenza outbreaks occurred during the study. During the study 9 episode of decreased food intake occurred/ In 8 of these there was a concurrent decrease in water usage. During 4 episodes there was an increase in the coughing sours. In these 4 cases the water decrease preceeded the decline in food intake and the rise in coughing. A clear correlation between water consumption and food intake is demonstrated which suggests that daily water meter readings are an acceptable alternative to maintaining food intake as an indicator of health. It may be possible to use decreased water intakes as an indicator of impending respiratory disease. Overall a water intake of approx 1 litre per 10 kg body weight in the 30-60 kg range was observed.