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Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry (ITT)

Research field Behavioural demands and disorders

The species-specific behavioural repertoire of farm animals is the result of natural selection in evolution. Even human selection that farm animal species have undergone during domestication for thousands of years has only led to quantitative changes in behaviour.

In the housing environment, behaviour is regulated by immediate internal (e.g. boredom) and external (e.g. occupational material) stimuli (= proximate behaviour control). Certain conditions must therefore be fulfilled to enable farm animals to perform their species-specific behaviours. In their housing environments, however, farm animals are always confronted with restrictions (e.g. lack of stimuli) that can disrupt behaviour pattern or the perception of behavioural goals. Restrictions due to husbandry that negatively affect the adaptability of farm animals can lead to behavioural disorders (e.g. feather pecking or tail biting). Restrictions that are not associated with negative effects for the animal may be seen as successful adaptations.

Research at the Institute for Animal Welfare and Husbandry on the behavioural requirements of our farm animal species and the causes of behavioural disorders are a basic prerequisite for the development of animal-friendly and sustainable husbandry systems.

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Current Research projects

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Comparative analysis of keel bone damages in chicken of divergent genetics

| behaviour and disorders

Duration: 01.02.2023 bis 31.01.2026

 

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Research project “ErhEb” - Evaluation of the elevated platforms as useable space for fattening pigs using of digital monitoring methods

| Animal friendly and sustainable husbandry

Project duration: 01.09.2023 - 31.12.2027

Funding Organisation: Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture

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Animal welfare friendly nutrition and lamb rearing on organic goat farms (MiZie)

| ITT

Project duration: 01.10.2023 – 30.09.2026

Funding: The project is supported by funds of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) based on…

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European Partnership Animal Health & Welfare: Assessment of positive welfare; defining animal-based measures – Poultry

| behaviour and disorders

duration: 01.01.2024 – 31.12.2026

Funding: Co-funded by the European Union

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