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Do animals always know what they need? a key question in assessing animal well-being

J.F. Hurnik Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont. NIG 2W1, Canada

Abstract

Ethical concerns for the quality of animals' lives demand careful attention to their phys- ical and psychological requirements. This presentation focuses on the complex relation- ship between animal needs and animal desires. It defines the difference between animal needs and animal desires, and the consequences of such a distinction for the methodology of animal welfare research and animal welfare philosophy.

The influence of the human-animal interaction in the milking parlour on the behaviour, heart-rate and

milk yield of dairy cows

U. Knierim, N.K. Waran

Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Abstract

The behavioural and physiological response of cows to the routine milking procedure in a modern dairy farm was investigated and human-animal interactions received special attention. Six cows that were considered to be easy to handle, and six cows that were con- sidered difficult to handle were selected on the basis of subjective assessments by the dairy-