Farmed Animals

Expressing Natural Behaviour in Livestock

The ability to express natural species-specific behaviours is a fundamental welfare requirement for farm animals.

Key Facts

The Five Freedoms include freedom to express normal behaviour as a core welfare requirement
Pigs are highly motivated to root, explore, and manipulate objects in their environment
Cattle are motivated to graze, walk, and interact with other herd members
Laying hens are strongly motivated to perch, dust bathe, and forage
Frustration of natural behaviours causes chronic stress and stereotypic behaviour

Welfare Considerations

Farm animals are behaviorally complex animals with strong motivations to engage in species-specific behaviours. When these behaviours are blocked by housing conditions, the resulting frustration causes lasting welfare harm. Housing design and management should start with an understanding of animals' natural behavioural repertoire and accommodate it.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certifications that include natural behaviour provision as a core standard
Choose products from farms where animals have opportunity to express natural behaviours
Advocate for natural behaviour requirements to be included in all welfare legislation
Support research into the behavioural needs of different farm animal species