In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the topic of farm animal behavior. This is partly an academic interest on the part of behavioral and animal scientists, but also stems from the more applied aspects of the subject as it relates to animal welfare. It is also now better appreciated that behavior and welfare of animals have a significant impact on health and production.
This book provides a thorough review of our knowledge of cattle behavior and how this can contribute to improve the care, management and well-being of cattle. Examples are drawn from around the world, and while there is some emphasis on dairy cattle, mention is made of beef, dual-purpose or draught cattle where appropriate. All of the key topics such as social, reproductive and feeding behavior are covered with thorough reviews of the research literature. The book represents a valuable work for advanced students and research workers in animal, dairy and veterinary sciences, as well as zoologists and psychologists in applied ethology.