Humans have a natural interest in animals; through a long history of domestication, they have become tools, a food source and even friends. Behaviour is a significant indicator of animal health and well-being, and understanding this behaviour is therefore the key to good management.

Covering all aspects of animal behaviour and how this relates to welfare for companion animals, farm animals and farmed fish, this book reviews development, socialisation, locomotion, reproduction and more. It takes a comprehensive approach to the subject, including a section of chapters addressing common abnormal behaviours and reviewing some animals, such as rabbits, from both a pet and farm perspective. 

Completely updated and revised, and synthesizing the recent explosion in animal welfare literature, the sixth edition of this best-selling textbook continues to provide a thorough overview of behaviour and welfare of companion and farm animals, including fish.

The introductory section has been completely revised, with all following chapters updated, redesigned and improved to reflect our changing understanding.

This edition includes:
- New and revised chapters on climate change and sustainability, ethics, and philosophy to ensure that the book provides the latest information in a changing world;
- New information on human interactions with other animal species, big data, modern technologies, brain function, emotions and behaviour;
- Solutions and advice for common abnormal behaviours.

Written by a world-leading expert and key opinion leader in animal behaviour and welfare, this text provides a highly accessible guide to the subject. It is an essential foundation for any veterinary, animal science, animal behaviour or
welfare-focused undergraduate or graduate course.

Table of contents

1: Introduction to Ideas and Measurement

1: One Biology, Ethics, Sentience and Sustainability

2: Behaviour and Welfare Concepts

3: Describing, Recording and Measuring Behaviour

2: Fundamental Topics

4: Learning, Cognition and Behaviour Development

5: Motivation

6: Evolution and Optimality

7: Welfare Assessment

3: Organization of Behaviour

8: Defence and Attack Behaviour

9: Finding and Acquiring Food

10: Body Care

11: Locomotion and Space Occupied

12: Exploration

13: Spacing Behaviour

14: Rest and Sleep

4: Reproductive and Social Behaviour

15: General Social Behaviour

16: Human–Domestic Animal Interactions

17: Seasonal and Reproductive Behaviour

18: Sexual Behaviour

5: Early and Parental Behaviour

19: Fetal and Parturient Behaviour

20: Maternal and Neonatal Behaviour

21: Juvenile and Play Behaviour

6: Welfare Topics

22: Handling, Transport and Humane Control of Domestic Animals

23: Stunning and Slaughter

24: Welfare and Behaviour in Relation to Disease

25: Abnormal Behaviour 1: Stereotypies

26: Abnormal Behaviour 2: Self-directed and Environment-directed

27: Abnormal Behaviour 3: Addressed to Another Individual

28: Abnormal Behaviour 4: Failure of Function

29: Abnormal Behaviour 5: Anomalous Reactivity

7: Welfare of Various Animals

30: Welfare of Cattle

31: Welfare of Sheep and Goats

32: Welfare of Pigs

33: Welfare of Poultry

34: Welfare of Farmed and Pet Fish

35: Welfare of Deer, Camelids and Ostriches

36: Welfare of Animals Kept for Fur Production

37: Welfare of Horses, Other Equids and Other Draught Animals

38: Welfare of Farmed and Pet Rabbits

39: Welfare of Dogs

40: Welfare of Cats

41: Welfare of Other Pet Animals

42: Welfare in a Moral World