Normal behaviour as a basis for animal welfare assessment (2007)

Wechsler, B.

Abstract

It is necessary to assess, for each farm animal species and each housing system, whether animal welfare is at risk in any way if the behaviour observed differs from the behaviour that would occur in a natural environment. Detailed knowledge about the behavioural organisation of the animals is necessary. Such knowledge is build up from animal motivation studies and investigations into the effect of environmental structures on animal behaviour.