Domestic animal behaviour and modern management techniques

Abstract

Knowledge of behaviour can contribute to the development of improved or new methods of husbandry taking in account adaptation and welfare of domestic animals. Research, especially in INRA, has led to an understanding of the mechanisms of interindividual relations : maternal behaviour in ruminants mostly relies on olfactory recognition. The establishment of the maternal bond involves the production of oestrogens by the parturient female together with the sensory stimulations of parturition. Social organization involves dominance-submission relationships which provide a solution to competition, but selective bonds between individuals maintain the cohesion of the social group together with increasing mutual tolerance. The selection for production criteria results in an evolution of domestic animal breeds towards better adaptation. Such results, could be used to improve the adaptation of domestic animals and to take in account animal welfare under modern husbandry conditions.