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WG3 will focus on links between environment, health, and damaging behaviour in adult animals.

The objectives of WG3 are to map and summarize current knowledge about the relationship between damaging behaviour and health status under commercial conditions, to develop new ideas for further research and to disseminate scientific knowledge to effect real change on farms.

Pigs: There will be a focus on exploring the relationship between symptoms of poor health and associated behaviour, with a focus on tail biting and aggression related behaviour. WG3 will also share best practice and standardise methodologies for assessing health status and disease tolerance in pigs, focussing on immunological, genetic and behavioural indicators so that these can be better linked to tail biting, aggression and/or disease tolerance.

Laying hens: There will be a focus on studying and optimising environmental effects on feather pecking, aggressive behaviour, cannibalism and health in adult birds.

For both pigs and laying hens, WG3 will also assess the cost-effectiveness of ethically justified practical strategies to reduce damaging behaviour and favour health that can be implemented at the farm level. The group will publicise and disseminate the most cost-effective ethically responsible solutions to stakeholders, including end users, interest organisations, policymakers and the general public.

Working group 3 had our first group meeting at the 3rd Management Committee meeting in Belgrade, November 2016. A report of our meeting can be seen here.