Behaviour and stress biology
Head of research unit: Lene Munksgaard
Profile
Research aim and focus
The research group aims to produce and disseminate new knowledge of the behavioural needs, stress biology and adaptability of production animals in order to develop production principles ensuring animal welfare, health and production. The research group develops and applies methods for assessment of welfare and adaptability to be used in animal breeding, decision support systems as well as in disease surveillance. Further, the research group develops and evaluates animal models of pain, mental states, behaviour, and stress.
The main areas of research comprise:
- Behaviour and behavioural needs of farm animals with regard to improving barn design, management and transport.
- Importance of genetics and the physical and social environment for behavioural and physiological reactions of the animals, including interactions between animals and humans.
- Causes and prevention of detrimental behaviour.
- Methods for automatic registration and surveillance of behaviour with regard to assessment of welfare and early identification of disease etc.
The key disciplines of our research group are ethology, stress physiology and pain biology.
Research perspectives
Through applied research we contribute with new knowledge of the behaviour, stress reactions and adaptability of farm animals with a view to assessing, developing and indicating new barn systems and production principles, and working out guidelines for housing and transport of farm animals for the benefit of agriculture and society. The research group contributes with research-based teaching and counselling within our field towards authorities, universities and industry, national activities have high priority through EU-projects, networks, visiting scientists, study trips abroad and through interdisciplinary project cooperation.