Colorado Agriscience Curriculum
Section
Animal Science
Unit
Unit 7: Animal Behavior and Environment
Lesson Title
Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Agricultural Education Standards
Standard AGS 11/12.3 Then students will demonstrate an understanding of physiological
processes in agriculturally important animals.
Enabler AGS 11/12.3.36 Identify Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Science Standards
Standard SCI 3.0 Life Science: Students know and understand the characteristics and
structure of living things, processes of life, and how living things interact with each other
and their environment.
Competencies SCI 3.1 Students know and understand the characteristics of living
things, the diversity of life, and how things interact with each other and the
environment.
Student Learning Objectives (Enablers)
As a result of this lesson, the student will …
Objective #1 List and provide examples of the ten main types of animal behavior
Objective #2 Relate this information to better management techniques for livestock
producers.
Time Instruction time for this lesson: 50 minutes.
Resources
 Scientific Farm Animal Production, Taylor, Fourth Edition
 Biology, The Dynamics of Life Textbook
 http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/eng1741#understanding)
Tools, Equipment, and Supplies
 Poster board and Markers
 Handouts of material (1 set to separate for group work)
 Copies of worksheet (one for each student)
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
1
Key Terms. The following terms are presented in this lesson and appear in bold italics:
Pheromones, Courtship behavior, Disposition, Temperament, Ingestive Behavior, Ruminate,
Shrink, Circadian rhythm, Migration, Allelomimetic behavior, Cannibalism
Interest Approach
Discuss the following question with your class. Use this time to get an idea of each
individual’s experience with animals.
If you were looking at a field of 30 head of cows and each of them had a calf, how does a
mother cow know which calf belongs to it?
Students should come to the conclusion that animals communicate through vocal sounds
and a cow and calf may recognize each other’s sounds. However, more importantly, the
cow recognizes her calf by smell. As the calf comes up to nurse, the cow smells the
offspring and accepts or rejects it. You may also discuss the fact that foster calves can
often be grafted on to a ewe or cow if the animal’s amniotic fluid is smeared on the
animal.
This is just an example of one type of animal behavior. Today we’re going to study all
ten types in order to better understand livestock management issues that the industry
faces. You will need to rely on any previous knowledge you have to help share examples
of these behaviors with the class.
Summary of Content and Teaching Strategies
Objective 1
List and provide examples of the ten main types of animal behavior
Before class, write this list of ten types on animal behaviors on the board or on an
overhead for projection: Sexual, Maternal, Communicative, Social, Feeding,
Eliminative, Shelter seeking, Investigative, Allelomimetic and Maladaptive.
In a book written by Robert E. Taylor, Scientific Farm Animal Production, all animal
behavior is classified into 10 categories, which you’ll find listed on the board. (Or put on
an overhead.) Today, you will become an expert in one of these areas by reading some
information and creating a poster that teaches it to the rest of the class. So that everyone
has an equal assignment, I have combined or split up a few of the behavior types. These
are the categories (also written on the board.)
Sexual, Maternal, Communicative, Social- Part 1, Social-Part 2, Feeding and Eliminative,
Shelter seeking, Investigative, Allelomimetic and Maladaptive
While creating your poster, you’ll want to make sure you answer all the questions in your
area of the worksheet. Then you will post your poster and complete the rest of the
worksheet that will guide you through all the other posters in search of important
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
2
information. (Depending on class size, you will have groups of 1-3 for each topic. They
should work together to make one poster.) At the end of the hour, I have a special
presentation to make. The poster that is the most eye appealing, informative and creative
will win a prize. Now, when I call out your shoe size (or any other characteristic) come
forward to get in line and choose your topic. (It helps to have students write their names
by the topics they choose on the board so you know what they’re working on. If it is
appropriate for your class, assign groups. At this time, give them the correct handout for
their chosen topic.)
Students should spend about 30 minutes as a group making the poster. After 30 minutes,
ask them all to post their posters around the room and begin to travel around finding the
answers. Students do not need to go in consecutive order when working through the
worksheet.
Objective 2
Relate this information to better management techniques for livestock
producers.
When you ask students to post their posters, explain the structure of the worksheets with
the following instructions. Students may work individually or in their groups to search
for information. The individual teacher must make that decision.
For each category, there are at least 5 questions that you must search each poster to find
the answers to. You don’t have to go in any certain order, as they are written in
categories. Please try to spread yourselves out so everyone has access to a poster. In each
category, there is one essay question that you have to analyze the information to answer.
Essay question answers should be 3-5 full sentences long. You should complete this
before the end of the hour with good, quality answers.
Review/Summary
Using the worksheet key, conclude the class by choosing at least one question from each
type of behavior and have the class answer them from their worksheets. This will create
a discussion about behavior in general that will touch on major points. If assessment is
needed, a quiz could easily be made by modifying the worksheets.
Application
Extended classroom activity:
 Visit a feedlot or other animal facility and analyze and evaluate their handling and
restraint systems. After the visit, have students design their own facility on graph paper.
 Invite a vet or vet tech in to teach a simple lesson on restraining dogs and cats for
vaccination and care.
FFA activity:
 Invite students to research careers that work with animal behavior – there is a wide
variety.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
3

Students can use their public speaking skills to re-teach this information to a group of
younger 4-H members who are enrolled in livestock projects.
SAE activity:
 Encourage students with livestock SAE projects to analyze their own facilities and
develop a financial plan to improve them.
Evaluation
Because this is a time-consuming assignment, students should be evaluated on the correct
completion of their worksheets individually. In addition, the following rubric could be
used to establish a group grade for the posters.
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Poster Rubric
Circle the score (1=low, 5=high)
Poster is neat and legible
1
2
3
4
Correct information is included in poster
1
2
3
4
All members of team worked together
1
2
3
4
Poster is eye-appealing and creative
1
2
3
4
Poster is completed on time
1
2
3
4
Total
5
5
5
5
5
_____/25
Answers to Assessment:
See Worksheet key in following pages.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
4
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 1 - Sexual Behavior
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
Observations on sexual behavior of female farm animals are useful in implementing breeding programs.
Males and females of certain species produce pheromones, chemical substances that attract the opposite
sex. Cows, ewes, and mares may have pheromones present in vaginal secretions and urine when they are
in heat. Bulls, rams, and stallions will smell these pheromones. A common behavioral response in this
process is called flehmen, during which the male animals lifts its head and curls its upper lip.
When females are sexually receptive, they usually seek out a male if mating has not previously occurred.
Females are receptive for varying lengths of time; cows are in heat for approximately 12 hours, whereas
mares show heat for 5-7 days with ovulation occurring during the last 24 hours of estrus.
It appears that in a sexually active group of cows, the bull is attracted to a cow in heat most often by visual
means (observing cow-to-cow mounting) rather than olfactory clues. Cows that are in heat, for example,
allow themselves to be mounted by others. Producers observe this condition of “standing heat” or estrus.
The ram chases a ewe that is coming into heat. The ram champs and licks, puts his head on the side of the
ewe, and strikes with his foot. When the ewe reaches standing heat, she stands when approached by the
ram.
The buck goat snorts when he detects a doe in heat. The doe shows unrest and may be fought by other
does. Mating in goats is similar to that in sheep.
The boar does not seem to detect a sow that is in heat by smelling or seeing. If introduced into a group of
sows, a boar chases any sow in the group. The sow that is in heat seeks out the boar for mating, and when
the boar is located she stands still and flicks her ears. Boars produce pheromones in the saliva and
preputial pouch, which attracts sows and gilts in estrus to the boars.
The sequence of events in estrus detection in horses appears to be similar to swine (previously described).
The stallion approaches a mare from the front and a mare not in heat runs and kicks at the stallion. When
the mare is in standing heat she stands, squats somewhat, and urinates as he approaches. Her vulva
exhibits winking (opens and closes) when she is in heat.
Male chickens and turkeys show a preference for certain females and may even refuse to mate with other
females. Likewise, the females may refuse to mate with certain males. This is a serious problem when pen
mating of one male and 10-15 females are practiced. The eggs of some females may be infertile. The
preferential mating is a greater problem in chickens, as AI is the common breeding practice in turkeys.
Some profound behavior patterns are associated with sex of the animal and changes resulting from
castration. This verifies the importance of hormonal-directed expression of behavior. Intact males have
more aggressive behavior, whereas castrates are more docile after losing their source of male hormone.
Taken from Biology, The Dynamics of Life
Much of an animal’s courtship behavior is instinctive. Courtship behavior is a behavior that males and
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
5
females of a species carry out before mating. Like other instinctive behaviors, courtship has evolved
through natural selection. Imagine what would happen to the survival of a species if members were unable
to recognize other members of the same species. Different species of fireflies, for example, can be seen at
dusk flashing distinct light patterns. However, female fireflies of one species respond only to those males
exhibiting the species-correct flashing pattern.
Some courtship behaviors help prevent females from killing males before they have had the opportunity to
mate. For example, in some spiders, the male is smaller than the female and risks the chance of being
eaten if he approaches her. Before mating, the male presents the female with a nuptial gift, an insect
wrapped in a silk web. Wile the female is unwrapping and eating the insect, the male is able to mate with
her without being attacked. After mating, however, the male may be eaten by the female anyway.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
6
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 2 - Maternal Behavior
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
There is evidence that more cows calve during periods of darkness that during daylight hours.
The calving pattern, however, can be changed by when the cows are fed. Cows that are fed
during late evening have a higher percentage of their calves during daylight hours.
When the young of cattle, sheep, goats and horses are born, the mothers clean the young by
licking them. This stimulates blood circulation and encourages the young to stand and to nurse.
Sows to do not clean their newborn but encourage them to nurse by lying down and moving their
feet as the young approach the udder region. They thus help the young to the teats.
Most animal mothers tend to fight intruders, especially if the young squeal or bawl. Often cows,
sows and mares become aggressive in protecting their young shortly after parturition. Serious
injury can occur to producers who do not use caution with these animals.
Strong attachments exist between mother and newborn young, particularly between ewe and
lamb and cow and calf. Beef cows diminish their output of milk about 100-120 days after birth
of young, and ewes do the same after 60-75 days. This reduction in milk forces the young to
search for forage, the consumption of which stimulates rumen development. It is at this time that
care giving by the mother declines.
If young pigs have a high energy feed available at all times, they nurse less frequently. Without a
strong stimulus of nursing, sows reduce their output of milk. Some sows may wean their pigs
early and show little concern for them a few days after they are weaned. Pigs are usually weaned
by producers at 21-35 days of age.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
7
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 3 - Communication Behavior
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
Communication exists when some type of information is exchanged between individual animals.
This may occur with the transfer of information through any of the senses.
A distress call, involving a different type of sound, occurs from either the female or her young
when they become separated. Young animals cry for help when disturbed or distressed. Lambs
bleat, calves bawl, pigs squeal and chicks chirp. Even adult animals call for help when under
stress. The female and her offspring may recognize each other’s vocal sound; however, it
appears that the most effective way the dam recognizes her offspring is by smell. The young
usually nurses with its rear toward the female’s head. This allows a dam to smell her offspring
and decide to accept or reject it. A rejected young animal is usually bunted with the head of the
dam and kicked with the rear legs when it attempts to nurse. The young animals are less
discriminated in their nursing behavior than are their dams.
Females more easily adopt other young through transfer of the odor of one young animal to
another. Cows have fostered several calves if their own calves are removed at birth, and the
foster calves are smeared with amniotic fluid previously collected from the second ”water bag.”
Many farm animals learn to respond to the vocal calls or whistles of the producer who wants the
animals to come to feed. The animals soon learn that the stimulus of the sound is related to
being fed.
The bull vocally communicates his aggressive behavior to other bulls and intruders into his area
through a deep bellow. This bellow and aggressive behavior is under the control of the male
hormone (testosterone), as the castrated male seldom exhibits similar behavior. The bull also
issues calls to cows and heifers, especially when he is separated from, but still within sight of,
them.
Cattle are especially perceptive in their sight, as they have 310-360-degree vision. This affects
their behavior in many ways, for example, when they are approached from different angles and
when they are handled through various types of facilities.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
8
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 4 - Social Behavior (Part 1)
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
Social behavior includes behavior activities of fight and flight and those of aggressive and
passive behavior when an animal is in contact (physically) with another animal or with livestock
and poultry producers
Interaction with Other Animals
Unless castrated when young, the males of all farm animals fight when they meet other
unfamiliar males of the same species. This behavior has great practical implications for
management of farm animals. Male farm animals are often run singly with a group of females in
breeding season, but it is often necessary to keep males together in a group at times other than the
breeding season. The typical producer simply cannot afford to provide a separate lot for each
male.
Bulls and other males may exert prolonged physical activity when fighting and thus generate
much heat. Therefore, bulls and other potential fighting males should be put together either early
in the mourning or late in the evening when the environmental temperature is lower than at
midday. Often fighting can be reduced when male animals are mixed and put into a new
environment.
Cows, sows and mares usually develop a peck order but fight less intensely than males. Sows
that are strangers to each other sometimes fight. Ewes seldom, if ever, fight, so ewes that are
strangers can be grouped together without harm.
Some cows withdraw from the group to find a secluded spot just before calving. Almost all
animals withdraw from the group if sick.
Status and social rank typically exist in a herd of cows, with certain individuals dominating the
other submissive ones. The presence or absence of horns is important in determining social rank,
especially when strange cows are mixed together. Also, horned cows usually outrank polled or
dehorned cows where close contact is encountered, such as at feedbunks or on the feed ground.
Large differences in age, size, strength, genetic background, and previous experience, have
powerful effects in determining social rank. Once the rank is established in a herd, it tends to be
consistent from one year to the next. There is evidence that genetic differences exist for social
rank.
Animals fed together consume more feed than when they are fed individually. This competitive
environment evidently is a stimulus for greater feed consumption. Dairy calves, separated from
their dams at birth, appear to gain equally well whether fed milk in a group or kept separate.
There is, however, evidence that they learn to eat grain earlier when group fed compared with
being individually fed.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
9
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 5 - Social Behavior (Part 2)
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
Interactions with Humans
Producers rank the disposition or temperament of animals from docile to wild or “high strung.” This
evaluation is usually made when the animals are being handled through various types of corrals, pens,
chutes, and other working facilities. The typical behavior exhibited by animals with poor dispositions is
one of fear or aggressive fighting or kicking. There is evidence that farm animals develop good or poor
dispositions from the way they have been treated or handled, though there is evidence that disposition is an
inherited basis as well. A few heritability estimates for disposition are the medium-to-high category,
indicating that the trait would respond to selection. Some producers cull or eliminate animals with poor
dispositions from their herds and flocks because of the potential for personal injury and economic loss
(broken fences and facilities) as well as to reduce the excitability of other animals.
Behavior During Handling and Restraint
Most animals are handled and restrained several times during their lifetime. Ease of handling depends
largely on the animals’ temperament, size, and previous experience and the design of the handling
facilities. Understanding animal behavior can assist in preventing injury, undue stress and physical
exertion for both animals and producers. An example is knowing how to approach animals so they will
respond to how the producer prefers the animals to move. Most animals have a flight zone. When a person
is outside this zone, the animal usually exhibits inquisitive behavior. When a person moves inside the
flight zone, the animal usually moves away. With their 310-360 degree field of vision, cattle are sensitive
to shadows and unusual movements observed at the end of the chute or outside the chutes. For these
reasons, cattle move with more ease through curved chutes with solid sides. Round pens, having the
absence of square corners, handle cattle that are more excitable with less injury occurring to them.
Blood odor appears to be offensive to some animals; therefore, the reduction of elimination of such odors
may encourage animals to move through handling facilities with greater ease. Animals are easily disturbed
by loud or unusual noises such as motors, pumps, and compressed air.
Some breeders claim that AI facilities should permit cows to be handled quietly and carefully, and that
using facilities where cows have previously felt pain should be avoided. They also state that pregnancy
rates will also increase. This may sound logical, but research has not substantiated these claims.
Understanding the Flight Zone (taken from http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/eng1741#understanding)
The flight zone is the animal's personal space. If you move
inside the flight zone, the animal will move away. When you
back off, the animal will stop moving. The size of the flight
zone depends on wildness or tameness of the cattle, angle of
handler approach and state of excitement of the cattle. Work
at the edge of the flight zone at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees
behind an animal's shoulder. The cattle will circle away from
you. The flight zone radius may be 5 to 25 ft. for feedlot cattle
and 300 ft. for range cattle. If you are behind the point of
balance, the animal retreats.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
10
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 6 - Feeding Behavior
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
Ingestive behavior is exhibited by farm animals when they eat and drink. Rather than initially chewing
their feed thoroughly, ruminants swallow it as soon as it is well lubricated with saliva. After the animals
have consumed a certain amount, they ruminate (regurgitate the feed for chewing). Cattle graze for 4-9
hours/day and sheep and goats graze for 9-11 hours/day. Grazing is usually done in periods, followed by
rest and rumination. Sheep rest and ruminate more frequently than cattle- cattle ruminate 4-9 hours/day;
sheep, 7-10 hours/day.
Under range conditions, cattle usually do not go more than 3 miles away from water, whereas sheep may
travel as much as eight miles a day. When cattle and sheep are on large range, they tend to overgraze near
the water area and to avoid grazing in areas far removed from water. Development of water areas, fencing,
placing of salt away from water, and herding the animals are management practices intended to assure a
more uniform utilization of range forage.
Grazing Behavior
Cattle, horses, and sheep have palatability preferences for certain plants and many have difficulty changing
from one type or types of plants and other types. Most animals prefer to graze lower areas, especially if
they are near water. These grazing behaviors tend to cause overgrazing in certain areas of the pasture and
to reduce weight gains.
Age of cow and weather affect the typical behavior of cows grazing native range during the winter. At the
Range Research Station in Miles City, Montana, cows grazed less as temperatures dropped below 20
degrees Fahrenheit, and at a –30 degrees Fahrenheit, 3-year-olds grazed approximately 2 hours less than 6year-olds. Also, with colder temperatures, cows wait longer before starting to graze in the morning. At 30
degrees Fahrenheit, cows started grazing between 6:30 and 7:00 A.M., but at –30 degrees Fahrenheit, they
waited until about 10 A.M. to begin grazing.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
11
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 7 - Eliminative Behavior
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
Cattle, sheep, horses, goats, and chickens void their feces and urine indiscriminately. Hogs, by contrast,
defecate in definite areas of the pasture or pen. Knowing defecation patterns of the pigs can plan ease of
cleaning swine pens.
Cattle, sheep, goats, and swine usually defecate while standing or walking. All these animals urinate while
standing, but not usually when walking. Cattle defecate 12-18 times a day; horses, 5-12 times. Cattle and
horses urinate 7-11 times per day. Animals on lush pasture drink less water than when they consume dry
feeds; therefore, the amount of urine voided may not differ greatly under these two types of feed
conditions.
All farm animals urinate and defecate more frequently and void more excreta than normal when stressed or
excited. They often lose a minimum of 3% of their live weight when transported to and from marketing
points. Much of the shrink in transit occurs in the first hour, so considerable weight loss occurs even when
animals are transported only short distances. Weight loss can be reduced by handling animals carefully
and quietly, and by avoiding any excessive stress or excitement of the animals.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
12
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 8 - Shelter-Seeking Behavior
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
Animal species vary greatly in the degree to which they seek shelter. Cattle and sheep seek a
shady area for rest and rumination if the weather is hot, and pigs try to find a wet area. When the
weather is cold, pigs crowd against one another when they are lying down to keep each other
warm. In snow and cold winds, animals often crowd together. In extreme situations, they pile up
to the extent that some of them smother. Unless the weather is cold and windy, cattle and horses
often seek the shelter of trees when it is raining. This may be hazardous where strong electrical
storms occur because animals under a tree are more likely to be killed by lightning than those in
the open.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
13
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 9 - Investigative Behavior
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
Pigs, horses, and dairy goats are highly curious, investigating any strange object. They usually
approach carefully and slowly, sniffing and looking as they approach. Cattle also do a certain
amount of investigating. Sheep are less curious and more timid than some other farm animals.
They may notice a strange object, become excited, and run away from it.
Taken from http://www.flockguard.org/trainbehaviorofdogs.htm
Investigative behavior is undoubtedly one of the most prominent types of behavior seen in the
dog. It is one of the most important factors that must be considered when law enforcement is
selecting a dog for narcotic detection training. The dog that possesses a high degree of
investigative behavior is very inquisitive and has a desire to examine objects very closely,
therefore he will normally excel very fast when teaching him to hunt for narcotic odors. There are
several observable signs to recognize investigative behavior in dogs. One of the most
characteristic activities of dogs when kenneled is to trot around, investigate objects with the nose
and eyes and stopping to look and listen whenever there is a sound. Other characteristics of dog's
investigative behavior include:
(1.) Walking or running with nose to ground, sniffing.
(2.) Head in air sniffing, may run from side to side.
(3.) Sniffing anal and/or genital region.
(4.) Sniffing nose or face of another dog.
(5.) Head raised, ears erect (listening and looking).
(6.) Nosing and sniffing urine or feces.
(7.) Crawling forward, moving head from side to side, sniffing.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
14
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 10 - Allelomimetic Behavior
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
Allelomimetic behavior means that animals of a species tend to do the same thing at the same
time. Cattle and sheep tend to graze at the same time and rest and ruminate at the same time.
Range cattle gather at the watering place at about the same time each day because one follows
another. This behavior is of practical importance because the producer can then observe the herd
or the flock with little difficulty, notice anything that is wrong with a particular animal, and have
that animal brought in for treatment. If one is artificially inseminating beef cattle, the best time to
locate range cows in heat is when they gather at the watering place. This type of behavior is
useful in driving groups of animals from one place to another.
Taken from Biology, The Dynamics of Life
Some instinctive behavior is exhibited in animals in response to internal, biological rhythms.
Behavior based on a 24-hour day/night cycle is one example. Many animals, humans included,
sleep at night and are awake during the day. Other animals, such as owls, reverse this pattern and
are awake at night. A 24-hour cycle of behavior is called a circadian rhythm. Most animals
come close to this 24-hour cycle of sleeping and wakefulness. Experiments have shown that in
laboratory settings with no windows to show night and day, animals continue to behave in a 24hour cycle.
Rhythms also can occur yearly. Migration is a yearly rhythm. Migration is the instinctive,
seasonal movement of animals. In the United States, about 2/3 of bird species fly south in the
fall to areas such as South America where food is available during the winder. The birds fly
north in the spring to areas where they breed during the summer. Whales migrate seasonally, as
well. Change in day length is thought to stimulate the onset of migration in the same way that it
controls the flowering of plants.
Biological rhythms are clearly governed by a combination of internal and external cues. Animals
that migrate might be responding to colder temperatures and shorter days, as well as to
hormones. You can easily see why animals migrate from a cold place to a warmer pace, yet most
animals do not migrate. How animals cope with winter is another example of instinctive
behavior. Many mammals, some birds, and a few other types of animals go into hibernation
during the cold winter months. Hibernation is a state in which the body temperature drops
substantially, oxygen consumption decreases, and breathing rates decline to a few breaths per
minute. Animals that hibernate typically eat vast amounts of food before entering hibernation.
This extra food fuels the animal’s body while it is in this state.
Estivation is a state of reduced metabolism that occurs in animals living in conditions of intense
heat. Desert animals appear to estivate sometimes in response to lack of food or periods of
drought. However, other animals estivate even when kept in laboratory conditions with constant
food and water.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
15
Ten Types of Animal Behavior
Group 11 - Maladaptive or Abnormal Behavior
Taken from Scientific Farm Animal Production, Robert Taylor
Animals that cannot adapt to their environment may exhibit inappropriate or unusual behavior.
Some animals under extensive management systems, such as poultry and swine, are often kept in
continuous housing to reduce costs of the land and facilities. Frequently, both chickens and swine
result to cannibalism, which may lead to death, if preventive measures are not taken. Some
swine producers remove the tails of baby pigs to prevent tail chewing. Tail chewing can cause
bleeding, and whenever bleeding occurs, the pigs are likely to become cannibalistic.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
16
Ten Types of Animal Behavior Worksheet
Name _____________________________________
Date _____________________
Use the posters you have created to search for the answers to these questions.
Sexual Behavior
1.
What are pheromones?
2.
What are some actions that male animals exhibit when a female is in heat?
3.
What is preferential mating, as it occurs in chickens and turkeys?
4.
Intact males have more __________________behavior than castrates of most animals.
5.
What is courtship behavior?
6.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
Do you think that animal species must occasionally adapt their courtship behaviors for
survival in the wild? Why?
Maternal Behavior
7.
When the young of cattle, sheep, goats and horses are born, how do their mothers care for
them?
8.
How do sows encourage their young to nurse?
9.
Do some animal’s mothers become aggressive in protecting their young? When? Why?
10.
How many days after parturition does the care of the mother begin to decline for cows?
Ewes? Sows?
11.
Young pigs may begin to nurse less frequently if they have _______________________
available.
12.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
If you were managing cattle, would good maternal traits be important to select for? Why
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
17
Communication Behavior
13.
What is a distress call? When does it occur?
14.
What is the most effective way for a female to recognize her offspring?
15.
Will females adopt other young? Under what circumstances?
16.
Many farm animals learn to respond to _____________________of the producer who
feeds the animals.
17.
Cattle have ____________degree vision.
18.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
How does 310-360-degree vision of cattle affect their behavior?
Social Behavior (Part 1)
19.
Unless ________________ when young, the males of all farm animals fight when they
meet other unfamiliar males of the same species.
20.
Why might an animal withdraw from the group?
21.
How do horns affect the social rank in a herd of cows?
22.
Does social rank in a herd carry over from one year to the next?
23.
Do animals fed together consume more or less feed than when they are fed individually?
Why?
24.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
What are three issues that a horse producer might think about in relation to social
behavior before turning 10 horses, who were strangers, into the same pen?
Social Behavior (Part 2)
25.
How do producers determine disposition or temperament?
26.
How do animals with poor dispositions effect an operation?
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
18
27.
What is the flight zone?
28.
How does sensitivity to shadows and unusual movements affect the handling of cattle?
29.
AI facilities can increase ____________________ rates if the animals are handled quietly
and carefully.
30.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
Where is the point of balance? How can an individual use it to more effectively handle animals?
Feeding Behavior
31.
What is Ingestive behavior?
32.
What does ruminate mean? Which animals ruminate?
33.
Under range conditions, how far will cattle travel while grazing? Sheep?
Eliminative Behavior
34.
Hogs ___________________ in definite areas of the pasture or pen. Knowing defecation
patterns of the pigs can plan ease of cleaning swine pens.
35.
Animals usually lose about 3% of their live weight when transported; this is called
____________________.
36.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
Could changes in ingestive behavior alert a producer of health problems in an animal?
Give examples.
Shelter-Seeking Behavior
37.
In snow and cold winds, animals often _______________________ for warmth.
38.
Cattle and horses often seek the shelter of ______________ when it is raining.
39.
Some instinctive behavior is exhibited in animals in response to internal, biological
_________________________.
40.
What is circadian rhythm?
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
19
41.
What is one example of a yearly rhythm?
42.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
Compare and contrast Hibernation and Estivation.
Investigative Behavior
43.
How does an animal show curiosity?
44.
Which species of farm animal is least curious?
45.
Describe two of the characteristics of a dog’s investigative behaviors.
46.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
How can an animal’s investigative behavior, such as a dog’s, be useful in our society?
Allelomimetic Behavior
47.
What is Allelomimetic behavior?
48.
Why is this behavior of practical importance?
Maladaptive or Abnormal Behavior
49.
Animals that cannot adapt to their environment may exhibit
______________________________ behavior.
50.
Both chickens and swine have resulted to _______________________ at times when
kept under extensive management systems.
51.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
Do you believe that extensive management systems create problems with animal
behavior?
Why or why not?
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
20
Ten Types of Animal Behavior Worksheet Key
Name _____________________________________
Date _____________________
Sexual Behavior
1.
What are pheromones? chemical substances that attract the opposite sex
2.
What are some actions that male animals exhibit when a female is in heat?
flehmen, during which the male animal lifts its head and curls its upper lip.
Chasing the female, snorting, etc.
3.
What is preferential mating, as it occurs in chickens and turkeys?
Male chickens and turkeys show a preference for certain females and may even refuse to
mate with other females.
4.
Intact males have more _aggressive __ behavior than castrates of most animals.
5.
What is courtship behavior?
Courtship behavior is a behavior that males and females of a species carry out before
mating.
6.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
Do you think that animal species must occasionally adapt their courtship behaviors for
survival in the wild? Why?
Maternal Behavior
7.
When the young of cattle, sheep, goats and horses are born, how do their mothers care for
them?
Clean the young by licking them. This stimulates blood circulation and encourages the
young to stand and to nurse.
8.
How do sows encourage their young to nurse?
By lying down and moving their feet as the young approach the udder region.
9.
Do some animal’s mothers become aggressive in protecting their young? When? Why?
Often cows, sows and mares become aggressive in protecting their young shortly after
parturition.
10.
How many days after parturition does the care of the mother begin to decline for cows?
Ewes? Sows?
Cows, 100-120 days. Ewes, 60-75 days, Sows, 21-35 days.
11.
Young pigs may begin to nurse less frequently if they have _high energy feed________
available.
12.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
If you were managing cattle, would good maternal traits be important to select for? Why?
Communication Behavior
13.
What is a distress call? When does it occur?
A distress call, involving a different type of sound, occurs from either the female or her
young when they become separated.
14.
What is the most effective way for a female to recognize her offspring?
By smell.
15.
Will females adopt other young? Under what circumstances?
Females more easily adopt other young through transfer of the odor of one young animal
to another.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
21
16.
Many farm animals learn to respond to vocal calls or whistles of the producer who feeds
the animals.
17.
Cattle have __310-360____degree vision.
18.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
How does 310-360-degree vision of cattle affect their behavior?
Social Behavior (Part 1)
19.
Unless castrated when young, the males of all farm animals fight when they meet other
unfamiliar males of the same species.
20.
Why might an animal withdraw from the group?
Some cows withdraw from the group to find a secluded spot just before calving. Almost
all animals withdraw from the group if sick.
21.
How do horns affect the social rank in a herd of cows?
The presence or absence of horns is important in determining social rank, especially when
strange cows are mixed together. Also, horned cows usually outrank polled or dehorned
cows where close contact is encountered.
22.
Does social rank in a herd carry over from one year to the next?
Yes, usually.
23.
Do animals fed together consume more or less feed than when they are fed individually?
Why?
More; a competitive environment evidently is a stimulus for greater feed consumption.
24.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
What are three issues that a horse producer might think about in relation to social
behavior before turning 10 horses, who were strangers, into the same pen?
Social Behavior (Part 2)
25.
How do producers determine disposition or temperament?
when the animals are being handled through various types of corrals, pens, chutes, and
other working facilities
26.
How do animals with poor dispositions effect an operation?
personal injury, economic loss (broken fences and facilities), excitability of other animals.
27.
28.
29.
30.
What is the flight zone?
When a person is outside this zone, the animal usually exhibits inquisitive behavior.
When a person moves inside the flight zone, the animal usually moves away.
How does sensitivity to shadows and unusual movements affect the handling of cattle?
Cattle move with more ease through curved chutes with solid sides. Round pens, having
the absence of square corners, handle cattle that are more excitable with less injury
occurring to them.
AI facilities can increase __pregnancy ______ rates if the animals are handled quietly and
carefully.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
Where is the point of balance? How can an individual use it to more effectively handle animals?
Feeding Behavior
31.
What is Ingestive behavior?
Ingestive behavior is exhibited by farm animals when they eat and drink.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
22
32.
What does ruminate mean? Which animals ruminate?
regurgitate the feed for chewing
cattle, goats, sheep
33.
Under range conditions, how far will cattle travel while grazing? Sheep?
Cattle usually do not go more than 3 miles away from water, whereas sheep may travel as
much as eight miles a day.
Eliminative Behavior
34.
Hogs ____defecate____ in definite areas of the pasture or pen. Knowing defecation
patterns of the pigs can plan ease of cleaning swine pens.
35.
Animals usually lose about 3% of their live weight when transported; this is called
___shrink__.
36.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
Could changes in ingestive behavior alert a producer of health problems in an animal?
Give examples.
Shelter-Seeking Behavior
37.
In snow and cold winds, animals often ___crowd together___ for warmth.
38.
Cattle and horses often seek the shelter of __trees__ when it is raining.
39.
Some instinctive behavior is exhibited in animals in response to internal, biological
____rhythms____.
40.
What is circadian rhythm?
A 24-hour cycle of behavior is called a circadian rhythm.
41.
What is one example of a yearly rhythm?
Migration is a yearly rhythm.
42.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
Compare and contrast Hibernation and Estivation.
Investigative Behavior
43.
How does an animal show curiosity?
They usually approach carefully and slowly, sniffing and looking as they approach.
44.
Which species of farm animal is least curious?
Sheep.
45.
Describe two of the characteristics of a dog’s investigative behaviors.
(1.) Walking or running with nose to ground, sniffing.
(2.) Head in air sniffing, may run from side to side.
(3.) Sniffing anal and/or genital region.
(4.) Sniffing nose or face of another dog.
(5.) Head raised, ears erect (listening and looking).
(6.) Nosing and sniffing urine or feces.
(7.) Crawling forward, moving head from side to side, sniffing.
46.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
How can an animal’s investigative behavior, such as a dog’s, be useful in our society?
Allelomimetic Behavior
47.
What is Allelomimetic behavior?
Animals of a species tend to do the same thing at the same time.
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
23
48.
Why is this behavior of practical importance?
Because the producer can then observe the herd or the flock with little difficulty, notice
anything that is wrong with a particular animal, and have that animal brought in for
treatment.
Maladaptive or Abnormal Behavior
49.
Animals that cannot adapt to their environment may exhibit inappropriate or unusual
behavior.
50.
Both chickens and swine have resulted to cannibalism at times when kept under extensive
management systems.
51.
Apply Your New Knowledge!
Do you believe that extensive management systems create problems with animal
behavior?
Why or why not?
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
24
TEN TYPES OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
I.
SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
II.
MATERNAL BEHAVIOR
III.
COMMUNICATION BEHAVIOR
IV.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
V.
FEEDING BEHAVIOR
VI.
ELIMINATIVE BEHAVIOR
VII.
SHELTER-SEEKING BEHAVIOR
VIII.
INVESTIGAVTIVE BEHAVIOR
IX.
ALLELOMIMETIC BEHAVIOR
X.
MALADAPTIVE or ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR
Unit 7, Lesson 2: Ten Types of Animal Behavior
25