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

• Teaching

  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

• Collaboration partners

  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.
• Members

  Leader:

  Members of the section
• Publications

  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