1. AG-ASB- 10 i, j, k EQ: How do animals behave socially?
Social Behavior
AG-ASB- 10 i, j, k
EQ: How do animals behave socially?

2. Ethology
The study of how animals behave in their natural habitat

3. Categories of animal behavior
Instinctive
Most basic behavior
Set in an animal at birth and causes the animal to respond automatically to an environmental stimulus
Learned
Imprinting
Intelligence – ability to learn
Conditioning – Pavlov Theory

4. Gregarious The tendency to want to want to stay together in a group
Sheep
Cattle
Fish
Rabbits

5. Pecking order
The ability to exert social influence or pressure over others in the group
Pigs – each piglet has a particular teat it will nurse on
Animals are separated in terms of feeding because otherwise the dominant animals would eat everything

6. Dominance
If two males are present, they will fight to determine dominance.
The strongest and most vigorous male will breed the females.
Deer
Bulls
Chickens

7. Sexual and Reproductive Behavior
Estrus - the period of heat or rut; the period of maximum sexual receptivity of the female.
When ovulation is occuring
Mount or ride other animals.
Males become more aggressive toward other animals and humans
Most sexual and reproductive behavior exhibited in animals is instinctive.

8. Mother’s behavior after birth
She most always becomes more aggressive and protective of her young.
This is natures way of protecting the young from predators.
Imprinting/ Orphans
A sow will accept an orphan pig if she has an open teat
Cows and sheep do not accept orphans readily.