Animal Behavior

general term used to refer to the study of domestic animal behavior

problems with aggression and social structure arise when humans and animals are forced to vie for dominance

understanding circadian and other rhythms helps us understand animal behavior cycles influenced by: light(seasonal estrus), barometric pressure, endocrine system, feeding, etc

requires a study of the physiological basis of sexual behavior, including endocrine and nervous system influences

includes a study of bonding, mutual recognition, negligence or neglect by the female, nest-building, nursing, weaning, learned behavior

studying the way animals consume feed and water has implications in animal management studying ingestive behavior requires study of what controls feed intake, such as: influence of herd or flock behavior, palatability, environment, hormones

one determinant of how an animal will react during handling genetics + environment measures- chute scoring: animal in confined area and observe behavior exit velocity: how fast they leave the enclosure when it’s open blood cortisol level

livestock have wide-angle vision: cattle, pigs, and sheep have visual field in excess of 300 degrees this means that objects in over 80% of the space around them can distract them lighting can influence behavior

unexpected loud or novel noises can be highly stressful to livestock however, animals readily adapt to reasonable levels of continuous sounds

the animal’s safety zone when a person enters an animal’s flight zone, the animal moves away factors that influence flight zone: size of enclosure- smaller enclosures make smaller flight zones approaching animal at its head increases flight zone size

shelter seeking behavior that has been selected for in sheep at the least hint of danger they move closer together