The section has expertise in behavior and welfare of domestic animals (production and pet animals, on land and in water) and domestic animal environment
About the section
We have broad expertise in ethology and livestock environment and in most species of livestock, as well as dogs, cats and horses.
The research is mainly related to animal welfare and the creation of knowledge to understand the behavior of farm animals in relation to the physical and social environment, as well as in relation to humans.
Within dogs, cats and horses, there are onging work on interactions between animals and people, training methods, heritability of behavior and behavior testing for specific purposes. The specialist group provides continuing education courses for behavior consultants on dogs, cats and horses.
News from the ethologists
The section members contribute to teaching in livestock biology and livestock production, and are involved in several general interdisciplinary and more focused courses, not only at NMBU, but also at other colleges and universities.
The specialist group also has continuing education courses (on dogs, cats, horses, animal-assisted interventions) for external participants
Our projects receive support from the Research Council of Norway, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry's research funding and the Animal Protection Alliance (Dyrevernalliansen.)
We work closely with the industry (e.g. Animalia, Aninova, Norsvin, Tine) and other research institutes (e.g. Veterinærinstituttet, SINTEF, Akvaplan NIVA), to contribute high-quality research and applicable innovations to society.
Leader:
Members:
Silje Eftang
Stipendiat
Juni Rosann E. Johanssen
Stipendiat
Scientific publications 2022
Farrowing pens for individually loose-housed sows: results on the development of the SowComfort Farrowing Pen
Andersen, I.L., Ocepek, M. 2022. . Agriculture, 12, 868. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12060868
Early life environment and adult enrichment: effects on fearfulness in laying hens
Dumontier, L., Janczak, A.M., Smulders, T.V., Moe, R.O., Vas, J., Nordgreen, J. 2022. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 256, 105750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105750
Non-invasive sampling of water-borne hormones demonstrates individual consistency of the cortisol response to stress in laboratory zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Midttun, H.l.E., Øverli, Ø., Tudorache, C., Mayer, I., Johansen, I.B. 2022. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 6278.
The effects of pen size and design, bedding, rooting material and ambient factors on pen and pig cleanliness and air
Ocepek, M., Andersen, I.L. 2022. Animals, 12, 1580. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12121580
Digipig: First developments of an automated monitoring system for body, head and tail detection in intensive pig farming
Ocepek, M., Žnidar, A., Lavrič, M., Škorjanc, D., Andersen, I.L. 2021. Agriculture, 12, 2 https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12010002
Developing a novel welfare assessment tool for loose-housed laying hens – the Aviary Transect method
Vasdal, G., Marchewka, J., Newberry, R.C., Estevez, I., Kittelsen, K. 2022. Poult. Sci., 101, 101533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2021.101533
Scientific publications 2021
Effect of environmental complexity and stocking density on fear and anxiety in broiler chickens
Anderson, M.G., Campbell, A.M., Crump, A., Arnott, G., Newberry, R.C., Jacobs, L. 2021. . Animals,11, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082383
Prenatal and early postnatal behavioural programming in laying hens, with possible implications for the development of injurious pecking
De Haas, E.N., Newberry, R.C., Edgar, J., Riber, A.B., Estevez, I., Ferrante, V., Hernandez, C.E., Kjaer, J.B., Ozkan, S., Dimitrov, I., et al. 2021. Front. Vet. Sci. 8, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.678500
Effects of repeated short episodes of environmental acidification on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from a landlocked population
Höglund, E., Høgberget, R., Åtland, Å., Haraldstad, T., Øverli, Ø., Vindas, M.A. 2021. Science of the Total Environment, 753, 141403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141403
Investigating cow−calf contact in cow-driven systems: behaviour of the dairy cow and calf
Johnsen, J.F., Ruud, L.E., Johanssen, J.R.E., Vøien Aaby, A., Kischel, S.G., Soki-Makilutila, A., Kristiansen, T.B., Wibe, A., Bøe, K.E., Ferneborg, S. 2021. Journal of Dairy Research. 88(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022029921000194
The effect of LPS and ketoprofen on cytokines, brain monoamines, and social behavior in group-housed pigs
Veit, C., Janczak, A.M., Ranheim, B., Vas, J., Valros, A., Sandercock, D.A., Piepponen, P., Dulgheriu, D., Nordgreen, J., 2021. Frontiers in Vetereinary Science. 7:617634 https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.617634
Popular science articles 2021
Drikkenipler eller drikkekar til drektige søyer?
Bøe, K.E., Kischel, S.G. 2021. Sau og geit. 2021(2), 42-43.
Tillit mellom dyr og menneske er viktig for dyrevelferden
Vas, J., Bøe, K.E. 2021. Sau og geit. 2021(2), 62-66.
Stort mangfold i norsk geitehold.
Vas, J., Bøe, K.E. 2021. Sau og geit. 2021(2), 67-68.
Scientific publications i 2020
Play behaviour reduced by environmental enrichment in fast-growing broiler chickens
Liu, Z., Torrey, S., Newberry, R. C., Widowski, T., 2020. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 232:105098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105098
Effects of hair coat characteristics on radiant surface temperature in horses
Jørgensen, G.H.M., Mejdell, C.M., Bøe, K.E. 2020. Journal of Thermal Biology. 87:102474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2019.102474
Caring for the horse in a cold climate—Reviewing principles for thermoregulation and horse preferences
Mejdell, C.M., Bøe, K.E., Jørgensen, G.H.M. 2020. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 231:105071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105071
Maize silage as enrichment material improves the welfare of growing-finishing pigs in environmentally-friendly pens
Ocepek, M., Goold, C.M., Busancic, M., Aarnink, A. 2020. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 230:105043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105043
Which types of rooting material give weaner pigs most pleasure?
Ocepek, M., Newberry, R. C., Andersen, I. L., 2020. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 231:105070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105070
Slow-growing broilers are healthier and express more behavioural indicators of positive welfare
Rayner, A.C., Newberry, R.C., Vas, J., Mullan, S., 2020. Scientific Reports. 10, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41598-020-72198-x
Rewarding memories? Behaviour of broiler chickens towards peat in flocks with and without previous exposure to peat
Vas, J., BenSassi, N., Vasdal, G., Newberry, R.C. 2020. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 232:105129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105129
Popular science articles 2020
Nylig publisert studie: saktevoksende kylling.
Vas, J., Newberry, R.C., Rayner, A., Mullan, S. 2020. Fjørfe. 8, 37-39.
Torv: Gir kyllinger gode minner
Vas, J., Newberry, R.C., Vasdal, G. 2020. Fjørfe. 9, 33-34.
Research projects
Both projects we lead and those we are involved in