lecture 2

Question 1

List the behaviour measures in welfare science

Answer 1

behavioural measure in welfare science

• behavioural observation
• choices and preferences
• work that an animals will do to gain a resource
• work that an animal will do to escape unpleasant stimuli
• deviation from normal behaviour
• interactions with humans

Question 2

For behavioural observation
list what is used
how it is conducted
limitation

Answer 2

behavioural observation
use a ethogram to list and describe the patterns of behaviour
you observe the animal in different environments like natural, restricted and then compare the 2.
the limitations of this is it doesn’t;t tell us which restrictions are important to the animal (we cannot tell if a hen in a battery cage is motivated to flap her wings)

Question 3

For choice and preference list the definition
an example
limitations

Answer 3

choices and preference
-offer the animal a variety of options and allow the animal to choose
-measure and record behaviour (time to enter/choose option, time spent in /at different options, frequency of visits)
response may vary due to environmental factors like temp, and internal factors like sex and age.
an example is a hen had access to bean bag nests and flat floor nest.
limitations; doesn’t answer the question of whether the animal suffer is they can’t get what they want
need an estimate of how much the animal values different resources

Question 4

For work than an animal will do to gain a resource list
defintion
how this is conducted
an example

Answer 4

work that an animal will do to gain a resource
ask the animal to work for reward
amount of work indicates the importance of the reward
assessing the motivation
-animal is taught how to perform to get the reward
-work is increased to gain reward
-repetition and sample size
e.g measure the work sows will do to gain cease to straw for nest building

Question 5

For work that an animal will do to escape unpleasant stimuli define it

Answer 5

work that an animal will do to escape unpleasant stimuli

measure how hard an animal will work o avoid a stressful or painful situation

Question 6

For deviations from normal behaviour when is it seen provide an example

Answer 6

deviation from normal behaviour
abnormal behaviour patterns can be difficult to interpret
highly present in restricted environments
eg. feather pecking in chickens in those big shed things

Question 7

For interaction with humans

how is it tested

Answer 7

Interactions with humans
animals learn by experience
to test this
-observe the interactions of humans wiht the animals they care for
observe the reactions of animals to humans
subject animals to different human behaviour and measure their reactions

Question 8

List the advantages and disadvantages with behavioural indicators in welfare science

Answer 8

advantages 
-easier/less invasive 
-require less equipment 
-more direct measure 
-can be done away from the lab 
disadvantages 
interpretation maybe difficult 
some consider less objective

Question 9

List the factors which influence behaviour

Answer 9

actors which influence behaviour
innate behaviour
learnt behaviour

Question 10

Explain innate behaviour

Answer 10

innate behaviour;
doesn’t require learning
fully functional first time performed e.g nest building
is modification by experience

Question 11

For learning behaviour 
discuss non-associate learning 
-habituation
-sensitisation
and associative learning 
-conditioning

Answer 11

learning behaviour;
Non-associate learning
-habituation; waning of a response to repeated stimulus, its used to adjust to the environment as it changes, so the animal can concentrate on important changes and ignore others
-sensitisation; animal responds more each time its exposed to the stimulus
Associative learning
-conditioning; animals have learn specific stimuli or behaviours with good or bad outcomes
responses can be made more likely (reinforced) or less likely (punishment)
reinforcement and punishment can be -ve (removal of something) or +ve (addition of something)
classical conditioning
operant conditioning

Question 12

Give example for classical and operant condition

Answer 12

classical conditioning; vet and pain

operant condition; dog sits and gets a treat

Question 13

What causes behavioural actions

Answer 13

behavioural actions

cause by internal (experience) and external stimuli (season)

Question 14

For motivation list the definition

2 phases

Answer 14

motivation
choosing the behaviour to perform in time and place is called decision making and the internal factors ethic contribute to the animal behaving in a certain way is called motivation
motivation causes the animal to obtain a resource
which occurs 2 phases
appetitive phase
searching for the resource
consummatory phase
consuming the resource to satisfy the motivation