Farm Animal Behaviour And Welfare

Completely updated and revised, and synthesizing the recent explosion in animal welfare literature, the sixth edition of this best-selling textbook continues to provide a thorough overview of behaviour and welfare of companion and farm animals, including fish. The introductory section has been completely revised, with all following chapters updated, redesigned and improved to reflect our changing understanding. Written by a world-leading expert and key opinion leader in animal behaviour and welfare, this text provides a highly accessible guide to the subject. It is an essential foundation for any veterinary, animal science, animal behaviour or welfare-focused undergraduate or graduate course.

The practical focus of this authoritative, comprehensive encyclopedia promotes the understanding and improvement of animals' behaviour without compromising welfare. It will be an essential resource for practising veterinarians, researchers and students in zoology and ethology, and for all those working with and interested in animals and their welfare. --Book Jacket.

Fundamental processes in behaviour; Experience, learning and behaviourdevelopment; Motivation; Evolution and optimality; Neuroethology; Hormones and pheromones; Organization of behaviour in the individual animal; Reactivity to predators and social stimuli; Feeding; Body care; Locomotion and other movements; Exploration; Spacing behaviour; Rest and sleep; Social and reproductive behaviour; General social behaviour; Association; Social interaction; Reproductive abilitation; Female sexual behaviour; Male sexual behaviour; Copulation; Early behaviour and parental behaviour; Fetal behaviour; Parturient behaviour; Maternal behaviour; Neonetal behaviour; Juvenile behaviour; Play, practice and exercise; Welfare; Welfare terminology and concepts; Welfare measurement; Humane control of livestock; Welfare and behaviour in relation to disease; Abnormal behaviour 1: Stereotypies; Abnormal behaviour 2: Self-directed and environment-directed; Abnormal behaviour 3: Addressed to another animal; Abnormal behaviour 4: Failure of function; Abnormal behaviour 5: Anomalous reactivity; Cattle welfare problems; Pig welfare problems; Poultry welfare problems.

Commences with the foundations and methods of behaviour, including neuroethology, and progresses through production of behaviour relating to maintenance and social activities. Other topics discussed include reproduction and development, abnormal behaviour, and the practice of farm animal welfare.

An understanding of social behaviour is increasingly necessary in farm animal husbandry as more animals are housed in groups rather than in individual stalls or pens. There may be economic or welfare reasons for such housing. This book is the first to specifically address this important subject. The chapters fall into three broad subject areas: concepts in social behaviour; species specific chapters; current issues. Authors include leading experts from Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.Animal welfare/behaviour issues are becoming increasingly importantCombines theoretical and practical details about the social behaviour of our most common farm speciesWritten by leading experts from around the world

Completely revised, updated and with four new chapters on sustainability, new technologies, precision agriculture and the future of animal welfare. This book is edited by an outstanding world expert on animal welfare, it emphasizes throughout the importance of measuring conditions that compromise welfare, such as lameness, heat stress, body condition, and bruises during transport.The book combines scientific information with practical recommendations for use on commercial operations and reviews practical information on livestock handling, euthanasia, slaughter, pain relief, and assessments of abnormal behavior.

The second edition of this book contains chapters that discuss the role of the stockperson in animal welfare, including attitudes, human-animal interactions, human and animal behaviour and improvement of human-animal interactions in animal production. This book is intended for those with an interest in human-animal interactions, including trainers, livestock farm managers, students and academics.