An assessment of several potential enrichment devices for feedlot cattle $ S.C. Wilson a,* , F.M. Mitlo Èhner a , J. Morrow-Tesch b , J.W. Dailey b , J.J. McGlone a a Department of Animal Science & Food Technology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2141, USA b USDA-ARS, Livestock Issues Research Unit, Lubbock, TX 79409-2141, USA Accepted 6 January 2002 Abstract ThebehaviorofCharolaiscrossheiferskeptinexperimentalfeedlotpens3pens, N 10perpen) wasobservedforfrequencyanddurationofuseofandpercentagesofanimalsinteractingwith,®ve environmentalpotentialenrichmentdevicesPEDs)overaperiodof22days.ThePEDsconsistedof ascratching/rubbingwalkway,amoveablescratching/rubbingdevice,amilk-scentreleasingdevice, a lavender-scent releasing device and a control non-scented device. The scratching/rubbing devices hadhigherdurationsandfrequenciesofusethanthescentdevicesP < 0:05).Useofthescratching/ rubbingwalkwaydecreasedinfrequencyanddurationbutthisstabilizedbyday16P < 0:05).Use ofthemoveablescratching/rubbingPED¯uctuatedbuttherewerenodifferencesbetweenday2and day 22, the last day of the trial. The scratching/rubbing walkway and the moveable scratching/ rubbingdevicewerealsousedbymoreanimals75.0and75.8%)thanthemilk,lavenderandblank- scentdevices50.0,20.0and15.8%,pooledS:E: 3:98, P < 0:05).Frequencyanddurationofuse ofthemilk-scentandlavender-scentdevicewashigheronday2thanfortheblank-scentdevicebut there were virtually no differences between the three devices for the remainder of the trial. These results indicate that the scratching/rubbing devices are good environmental enrichment candidates whilecattlequicklylostinterestinthetestedscentdevices. # 2002ElsevierScienceB.V.Allrights reserved. Keywords: Cattle; Feedlot; Behavior; Environmental enrichment devices Applied Animal Behaviour Science 76 2002) 259±265 $ The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the information and convenience of thereader.SuchusedoesnotconstituteanofficialendorsementorapprovalbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentof AgricultureortheAgriculturalResearchServiceofanyproductorservicetotheexclusionofothersthatmaybe suitable. * Corresponding author. Tel.: 1-806-743-2466; fax: 1-806-743-2334. E-mail address: stewilso@ttacs.ttu.edu S.C. Wilson). 0168-1591/02/$ ± see front matter # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII:S0168-159102)00019-9