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This is the proceedings from a first-of-its-kind conference held in April 1995. The publication discusses how considering animal behavior in the design of livestock and poultry systems can improve profitability and efficiency. Included are thirty papers covering topics such as interpreting behavior, environmental enrichment, behavioral needs and motivations, the economic impact of disease and injury, and design assessments. The proceedings includes papers specific to dairying, beef production, swine production, broilers, layers, and broiler breeders and will interest animal scientists, producers, engineers, manufacturers, veterinarians, consultants, builders, extension staff, and equipment and facilities designers. (1995)

Considering animal behavior in the design of livestock and poultry production systems will improve profitability and efficiency. On April 19-21, 1995 in Indianapolis, Indiana a first-of-its-kind, international conference, titled "Animal Behavior and the Design of Livestock and Poultry Systems" dealt with this topic at length. Thirty experts from around the world discussed the integration of animal behavior into system design and shared the most up-to-date research. Those who could not attend will find the 342-page proceedings a valuable source of new and useful information.

Animal Behavior and the Design of Livestock and Poultry Systems, NRAES-84, discusses how awareness of specific behavioral traits can help improve the design of livestock and poultry production systems. These improvements can help prevent disease, injury, or mortality in beef, cattle, swine, cows, and poultry. The proceedings will be of interest to animal scientists, researchers, producers, engineers, manufacturers, animal processing-plant designers and operators, veterinarians, consultants, builders, cooperative extension staff, and equipment and facilities designers.

The proceedings is divided into six sections: The Design Process, The Behavior of Animals, Behavior-Based Methods of Design, Behavioral Considerations in Design, Looking at the Big Picture, and Behavior-Based Problem Solving in Practice. Topics covered include interpreting behavior, behavioral needs and motivations, the economic impact of disease and injury, environmental enrichment, and design assessments. The proceedings includes papers specific to dairying, beef, production, swine production, broilers, layers and broiler breeders.

Leadership for the conference was provided by Dr. Stanley E. Curtis, Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University. Substantial financial support was provided by the Animal Industry Foundation. The conference was sponsored by the Natural Resouce, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, with assistance from the MidWest Plan Service.

Animal Behavior and the Design of Livestock and Poultry Systems, NRAES-84, is available for $30.00 (plus shipping and handling) from NRAES, Cooperative Extension, PO Box 4557, Ithaca, New York 14852-4557. Quantity discounts are available. Shipping and handling for a single copy is $6.00 within the continental United States. New York residents, add sales tax (calculated on both the cost of publications and the shipping and handling charges. Click here for more information). If ordering multiple copies or if ordering from outside the continental United States, please contact NRAES for shipping and handling rates. Orders from outside the United States must be prepaid in U.S. funds. Checks should be made payable to NRAES. All major credit cards are accepted. For information about quantity discounts or for a free publications catalog, contact NRAES by phone at (607) 255-7654, by fax at (607) 254-8770, by e-mail at nraes@cornell.edu, or on the web at http://www.nraes.org

The Design Process

Ecological Design: Philosphy and Practice for Animal Systems
Stanley E. Curtis

The Design of Systems
Thomas Jungbluth

Team Design of System Components
Richard C. Coddington, PhD, PE



The Behavior of Animals

Behavioral Concepts Important for Environmental Design
David Fraser

Studying Animal Behavior for Directions in Design
Ian J. H. Duncan

Behavioral Reactions to Features and Problems of the Designed Environment
Paul B. Siegel

There's More to Design than Behavior
Mike Baxter



Behavior-Based Methods of Design

Comparative Evaluation and Development of Housing Systems for Laying Hens
Ragnar K. Tauson

Housing Design Based on Behavior and Computer Simulations
W. Ray Stricklin and Harold W. Gonyou

Designing Equipment around Behavior
Ian A. Taylor

Designing Systems to Meet Behavioral Needs: The Family Pen System for Pigs
Sandra Edwards



Behavioral Considerations in Design

Little Things Do Matter: Debugging Animal Environments
Temple Grandin

Waterers for Broilers, Layers, and Turkeys
Michael P. Lacy

Feed Bunk and Feeding Equipment Design for Cattle
Heinrich Pirkelmann

Appropriate Designs Facilitate Management for Group-Housed Sows
Gerrit van Putten

Farrowing Flooring: Merging Materials to Match Behavior
Peter A. Phillips and David Fraser

Flooring in Dairy Cattle Facilities
Jack L. Albright

Equipment for Keeping Sows: Gestation and Farrowing
John J. McGlone

Automatic or Robotic Milking of Cows
Jos H. M. Metz and C. C. Ketelaar-de Lauwere

Restraint of Livestock
Temple Grandin

Broiler Catching and Transport
Tip Smith

Pedometer Use for Estrus Detection
Paul Thompson, Ronald Pulvermacher, and Leo Timms

Environmental Enrichment: When and Why?
Anne Marie de Passille



Looking at the Big Picture

Animal Systems Are Not Jigsaw Puzzles
Stanley E. Curtis

Combining Equipment and Facilities into an Efficient System
Larry D. Jacobson

Quality Evaluation of Equipment and Facilities
Bjarne K. Pedersen, PhD, Verner Ruby, MS, and Erik Jorgensen, PhD



Behavior-Based Problem Solving in Practice

A Case Study with Dairy Cattle: Freestalls
Dan F. McFarland and Robert E. Graves

Case Studies with Swine
Jim McFarlane, PhD

Broiler Breeder Behavior and Management Interactions
Joseph M. Mauldin

A Case Study with Laying Hens
Donald D. Bell