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Animal Behavior

Animal Behavior. Ethology. The study of how animals behave in their natural habitat Natural area can be area lived in in the wild or pastures, pens, or facilities of domesticated animals Temple Grandin Video. Two Types of Animal Behavior.

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Animal Behavior

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  1. Animal Behavior

  2. Ethology • The study of how animals behave in their natural habitat • Natural area can be area lived in in the wild or pastures, pens, or facilities of domesticated animals • Temple Grandin Video

  3. Two Types of Animal Behavior • 1. Instinctive – behavior that is set in an animal at birth and causes the animal to respond automatically to an environmental stimulus • Examples : • Newly born animals nursing after birth • Eating • Drinking

  4. Two Types of Animal Behavior • 2. Learned – when animals learn behaviors • Imprinting - means that an animal will attach itself to or adopt another animal or object as its companion • Examples: • Hen sits on duck eggs – ducklings accept hen as mother • Geese have been known to adopt dogs or humans as parents right after birth • Salmon imprint at birth – they travel back to their birthplace to spawn

  5. Learning • Intelligence – the ability to learn • Humans – 1st • Primates – 2nd • Dolphins and Whales next Among ag-animals, the pig is considered to be the most capable of learning and therefore the most intelligent -Some scientist rank pigs just under chimpanzees and dolphins in intelligence

  6. Learning • Conditioning- means that an animal learns by associating a certain response with a certain stimulus • Russian scientist experimented with dogs feeding them meat while ringing a bell – dogs would salivate when bell was rung and no meat • Cows running to tractor at feeding time • Dogs sitting by door at dinner time

  7. Learning • Animals can also learn on their own • Horses unlatching gate of stall • Rabbit getting out of pen • Dogs digging out of pen • Pigs lifting up top of feeder to get food • Beavers chewing on trees • Chickens drinking from automatic feeders

  8. Learning • Some animals are trained (learned) based on their characteristics • Draft Horses – Pulling • Border Collie – Herding Sheep • Labs – Retrieving/Hunting • Blood Hound - Tacking

  9. Social Behavior • Social Behavior – the manner in which animals interact with one another • Gregarious Animals – meaning they want to group together • Natural defense mechanism • Instinct to protect themselves -Darwin studied cows in herds of 10,000 – 15,000 -Cows would break off into groups of 40-100 -Sheep group in larger numbers -Wild pigs groups of about 10 Gregarious nature makes it easier for farmers to handle

  10. Social Behavior • Research has shown there is a social dominance order – there is a hierarchy in each group • Examples: • Dogs in a house • Bulls • Baby piglets – dominant get teats closest to mothers head • Carried over when pigs are weaned – dominant pigs are allowed to feed first and establish where they want to sleep in the pen Dominant male emerges from fighting in some animals -bulls, lions, etc.

  11. Sexual and Reproductive Behavior • In ag-animals, females come into estrus (heat) in preparation of mating • Communicated through scents, sounds (Cows bellow) • Males become more aggressive (Deer, Elk)

  12. Sexual and Reproductive Behavior • At the end of gestation, female animals bhavior changes • Examples: • Sows build nests if in open pasture • Cows appear nervous and isolate themselves-may hide if cover • Horse (mare) bites at her flanks, switches tail, lie down and get back up

  13. Sexual and Reproductive Behavior • After Birth – mother almost always becomes more aggressive and protective of young • Pigs will allow orphans to nurse if teats are available • Cows and Sheep – not so much- recognize scents of their offspring • Farmers try to trick them by masking the scents

  14. Ingestive Behavior • Ingestive Behavior – the manner in which animals eat and drink • Pigs in the wild root (dig) for food • Pigs will never over eat and can balance their own diet • Ruminant animals (cows and sheep) have a dental pad in which they use along with their tongue to tear grass and plants as they graze • Prefer forages at least 6” tall • Cattle graze for 4-9 hours a day

  15. Ingestive Behavior • Sheep graze lower to the ground and bite and nip at plants • Horses have top and bottom teeth in which they bite their food with • They can eat brushy plants but prefer pasture forages • Have a cecum and are non ruminant

  16. Animal Communication • Animals communicate through body motions, sounds, o through smell • Scout bees • Chickens have a certain cluck that calls their young • Turkey fanning – dominance • Dogs marking territory • Cats rubbing –scent • Deer rubbing • Horses ears direction – mood • Laid straight back – anger • Forward – interested in something

  17. Animal Communication • Cows bellow during estrus before mating • Mooing to warn of danger • Bulls lowering their head, pawing ground – ready to fight • Deer – tail raised

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