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Social Behaviour in Farm Animals

edited jointly by
 
Dr. Harold W. Gonyou, Prairie Swine Centre, Canada
 
Dr. L. J. Keeling, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

- published by CAB International 2001 -

Hardback 432 pages   List price: US$110   UK£60 currency conversions

Contents     Synopsis    Review

Ordering details: USA & international   Canada   UK & Europe (all deliver world-wide)
 

Synopsis

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 important
  
• Theoretical and practical details about the social behaviour of farm species

 

Contents

Part I: Concepts in social behaviour

• Living in groups: An evolutionary perspective
  M Mendl and S Held, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol
  
• Group life
  C Lindberg, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol
  
• Parent behaviour
  P Jensen, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
  
• The evolution and domestication of social behaviour
  W R Stricklin, Department of Animal & Avian Sciences, University of Maryland
  
Part II: The social behaviour of domestic species

• The social behaviour of cattle
  M F Bouissou, INRA, Nouzilly, France, et al
  
• The social behaviour of pigs
  H W Gonyou, Prairie Swine Centre, Saskatchewan, Canada
  
  Basic Social Characteristics
  Composition & structure of social groups
  Use of space
  Communication
  Cohesion & dispersion
  Inter-group interactions
  Intra-group interactions
  Social Groupings under Commercial Conditions
  Social groupings
  Social effects of production
  Effects of group size & space allowances on social behavior
  Social Behaviour, Management & Welfare
  Grouping pigs
  Separation & weaning problems
  Abnormal behavior
  References
  
• Social behaviour of domestic birds
  J Mench, Department of Animal Science, University of California and L Keeling
  
• The social behaviour of sheep
  A Fisher and L Matthews, AgResearch, Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
  
• The social behaviour of horses
  N Waran, Institute of Ecology & Resource Management, University of Edinburgh
  
• Social behaviour of fish
  E Brännäs, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umea
  
Part III: Contemporary topics in social behaviour

• Breaking social bonds
  Ruth Newberry, Washington State University and Janice Swanson, Kansas State University, USA
  
• Individual differences and personality
  H Erhard, Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen and W Schouten, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
  
• People as social actors in the world of farm animals
  Jeff Rushen, Agricultural & Agri-Food Canada, Lennoxville, Canada, et al
  
• Social cognition of farm animals
  S Millman, Humane Society of the US, Washington DC and I Duncan, Department of Animal & Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Canada
• Index

Review

Readership:
Farm livestock advisors, veterinarians, students and researchers in agriculture, animal science, veterinary medicine, zoology and applied farm livestock ethology.

Overview:
Unlike wild animals, farm animals often cannot choose their own social groups, but try to adapt as best they can to the situations we place them in. Contributors from around the world working in the fields of agriculture, animal science, and animal welfare have brought together their exertise and understanding of the processes involved in social behaviour of livestock and fish under a range of circumstances. Their insights into social social needs and interactions are most illuminating. The book is also fully referenced throughout. Selection and presentation of data is designed to provide insight for the management, productivity, and welfare of farm animals.

The book begins by setting out concepts in social behavior, then moves on to species-specific behaviours, concluding with a section on contemporary issues and topics such as social isolation and separation trauma, personality, and people as social actors in the world of farm animals.

The section on fish is important to the growing industry of fish farming as well as those who spend time leisure time fishing.

It is a phenomenal and much needed compendium of socialisation needs and behaviors under both intensive and extensive farming conditions

Ordering details: USA & international   Canada   UK & Europe (all deliver world-wide)

 

 

 
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