The Acceptance of Dyed Grain by Feral Pigs and Birds II. Penned Feral Pigs

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to determine the acceptance of dyed and undyed grain bait by penned feral pigs. The experiments were conducted with three grains (wheat, sorghum and maize) each coloured blue, green or black with a powdered food dye or pigment. The pigs showed no preference for any of the three grains and ate as much dyed grain as they had previously eaten undyed grain. However, high levels of pigment concentration depressed (P<0.05) intake. These results indicate that the addition of dye to poison grain will not reduce grain intake. There was evidence to suggest that pigs have a degree of colour vision, because they showed preference for certain coloured grain.