Cattle Behaviour and Welfare

With the pressure to increase efficiency of cattle production, it can be easy to ignore the complex physical and behavioural needs of the animals. However, consumers are increasingly concerned that the welfare of cattle is evaluated throughout the system of production, and behavioural signs are often the key to this. The first edition of this book was entitled Cattle Behaviour. The intimate relationship between the behaviour of cattle and their welfare has led the author to broaden the content with four new chapters on welfare and consequently the book has a new title for this second edition. As well as tackling the welfare issues in cattle production, this book also describes the principle behaviour patterns in cattle, their ontogeny and their purpose, and takes into account the now considerable literature on these topics. A detailed knowledge of cattle behaviour enables veterinarians and stockpeople to recognise abnormal behaviour signs for disease diagnosis and indications of an inadequate environment. Cattle Behaviour and Welfare is intended for all those involved in the study of animal welfare and ethology, as well as students of animal science, agriculture and veterinary medicine. It will also be of interest to advisers in cattle husbandry, and leading farmers. Book jacket.

Clive Phillips is the author of Cattle Behaviour and Welfare, 2nd Edition, published by Wiley.