Ethology
        Animal Behavior
  • Scientific study of animal behavior in their natural 
   or usual environment
  • Study of habits and customs of animals
  • Founders of this study = famous behaviorists 
   Lorenz and Tinbergen
  • Earned Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for their work
  • Big Theory = Animal’s behavior evolved through 
   the animal’s interaction with its environment
  What is animal behavior?
  • Behavior: is the way in which animal interact 
   with its surrounding environment, both
   –Animate Environment= (humans, other animals, 
    plants)
   –Inanimate Environment= (objects, places, sun, air)
  • All acts performed by animals (feeding, 
   drinking, fighting, etc..
  • Response of animal to a certain stimulus
                    Aim of ethology (7 T)
     1. To find and establish the optimum environmental 
          condition
     2. To know what is going within the animal mind and 
          understand the body language
     3. To diagnose disease (normal Vs. abnormal)
     4. To examine and treat animals (how to handle animals)
         1.   Select method of restraint acc. To behavior of animal
     5. To achieve animal reproduction and raise livestock  
          (sexual and maternal behavior)
     6. To achieve animal welfare which will lead to high 
          performance and production
     7. To know the actual causes which induce the 
          behavioral disorders or vices
   Behavior and animal production
  • An understanding of the behavior of livestock 
   will facilitate handling, reduce stress, and 
   improve both handler safety and animal 
   welfare. Large animals can seriously injure 
   handlers and/or themselves if they become 
   excited or agitated.
  • Stockman, farm manager, animal transporter, 
   and designer of animal houses have to be 
   aware of farm animal behavioral informations
  • Feeding behavior: 
   –what is the type and amount of food that animal 
    need, feed conversion efficiency, control of 
    feeding
  • Reproductive behavior:
   –Successful mating
   –Survival of young animals
  • Social behavior
   –Knowledge of floor space and stocking density are 
    important for animal production