Abstract
This book is divided into 3 parts (domesticated mammals, domesticated birds and non-domesticated farmed animals) and comprised of 12 chapters. It serves as a useful alternative or complement to other textbooks on animal behaviour, health and welfare for teachers and students of animal science, animal welfare and ethology. The growing interest in ethology and its importance to the understanding of animal health also make this book valuable to general practitioners and veterinarians in administrative or advisory services, as well as to farmers and agricultural advisers, animal welfare inspectors and other professionals in the farm animal sector. The best available scientific information on horses, cattle, pigs, rabbits, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, deer and ratites are summarized. A wide range of behavioural information is supplemented with physiological data of interest for clinical examinations and characterizing the healthy animal. The most common abnormal behaviours and stereotypies are also described, as well as examples of injuries and diseases caused by housing or management systems that do not meet health and welfare needs. Examples of disorders caused by breeding for high production are also given. A short description of useful restraint and handling techniques for each species is provided, and the importance of the stockman's behaviour is discussed. A glossary with explanations of terms frequently used in medical, ethological and agricultural literature is provided.