Project Number: 6208-32000-004-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: May 19, 2004
End Date: Jan 31, 2008

Objective:
1. Determine the mechanisms by which stressors affect performance, health, and well-being of livestock from birth to market; and how such mechanisms are influenced by endogenous and exogenous factors. 2. Evaluate responses of individual animals to the production environment, stress, social behavior, and space requirements, and develop alternative production practices and systems. 3. Evaluate the feasibility of using applied animal behavioral responses for early detection of homeland security threats.

Approach:
Measures of well-being are needed to give producers and consumers the information they need to evaluate management practices and determine which techniques best assure the well-being of animals used for food production. Development of scientific measures of well-being and an enhanced ability to interpret such measures is crucial to the evaluation of current agriculture practices and development of improved alternatives. The research strategy will focus on indicators of animal well-being that can be refined and applied to the assessment of individual management conditions. Stress caused by social and environmental stressors and the interaction of social and environmental stressors need to be understood to limit negative impacts on production efficiency and well-being. The application of animal behavior to early detection of homeland security threats is a heretofore unexplored area of research which may be fruitful.