Waterproof shuttle

HOBO^® Pendant G acceleration data loggers were used (dimensions: 58 mm x 33 mm x 23 mm, weight: 18 g) (Onset Computer Corporation, Pocasset, MA, USA). The HOBO^® Waterproof Shuttle and HOBOware^® Pro software (version 3.7.8) were used for programming and reading the HOBO loggers (Onset Computer Corporation, Pocasset, MA, USA). Data loggers were programmed to record tilt and acceleration at a logging interval of 0.25 s (4 Hz, measurement range: ±3 gravitational force (g); accuracy: ±0.075 g at 25°C). Immediately prior to testing, loggers were activated using a magnet and then attached to the back of the neck of the sheep using a small strip of Velcro^®. Velcro^® provided a fast, easy method of attachment, requiring only a short period of restraint and a small point of contact with the sheep when compared to other methods such as a collar or halter. Wool on the back of the neck was parted and the logger was nestled as close to the skin as possible so that movement of wool had minimal impact on logger angle. Sheep in all groups had been shorn 5 months prior to testing. The current paper does not discuss the suitability of these data loggers for measuring vigilance, it reports on whether attachment of the loggers altered animal behaviour during testing.

HOBO^® Pendant G accelerometer data loggers were used to record steps during the attention bias test (dimensions: 58 mm × 33 mm × 23 mm, weight: 18 g) (Onset Computer Corporation, Pocasset, MA, United States). The HOBO^® Waterproof Shuttle and HOBOware^® Pro software (version 3.7.8) were used for programming and reading the HOBO loggers (Onset Computer Corporation, Pocasset, MA, United States). Data loggers were programmed to record at a logging interval of 0.03 s (33 Hz) when activated using a magnet [measurement range: ±3 gravitational force (g); accuracy: ±0.075 g at 25°C].
On the afternoon prior to testing, after receiving their injections, all sheep had a small silicone pad attached to the outside of their left hind leg in the middle of the cannon bone using veterinary cohesive bandage. The silicone pad had a small recess in which the HOBO loggers could be placed to keep them still and away from the leg. The following day, immediately prior to entering the attention bias test, a HOBO logger was activated using a magnet, then was tucked between the bandage and the silicone pad on the outside of the leg. All data loggers were removed at the end of the day after testing had been completed. Steps were calculated from the accelerometer data using an in-house program (Little, 2015 ).