Controlling Environmental Variables

Question 1

Aspects of the environment to consider (15)

Answer 1

Temperature
Pen placement
Drafts/ventilation
Bedding
Flooring
Siding and penning
Penmates
Lighting
Nutrition
Consistency of management practices
Handling and stress
Enrichment
Identification
Colours
Observers

Question 2

What behaviours does temperature change

Answer 2

Drinking, shade seeking, activity, huddling

Question 3

How does pen placement affect behaviour

Answer 3

Interaction with neighbours, temperature (gradient), door near pen = used to ppl

Question 4

How would flooring affect behaviour

Answer 4

Flat vs slanted
Traction
Grooves in floor
Mucky or dry
Proper size
Colour

Question 5

How does siding and penning affect behaviour

Answer 5

Solid sides when moving animal to prevent distractions/interactions

Question 6

Behaviours affected by having penmates

Answer 6

Aggression, mating, play, feeding, water, enrichment

Question 7

What behaviours does lighting affect

Answer 7

Handling
Lay cycle
Seasonal breeders

Question 8

How do colours affect behaviour

Answer 8

If other animals can see it
Red = response to blood in some animals (pigs, poultry)
Becomes novel/contrasts = draws attention

Question 9

What is the yoking method

Answer 9

Animals living in the same environment (same experiences) but one can decide what is happening in the environment other cannot (e.g. animals controlling temp for their room and the one next to it)