Possible avenues for prevention of abnormal behaviour

Abnormal behaviours (stereotypies) such as bar-biting in pigs, crib-biting in horses, tongue rolling in cattle, or feather pecking in poultry arise due to stress, frustration, poor housing, or lack of stimulation. Preventing them is essential for ensuring animal welfare, productivity, and safety.

a. Environmental Enrichment

• Provide animals with opportunities to express natural behaviour.
• Reduces boredom and frustration.

Examples:

• Straw bedding or rooting materials for pigs.
• Dust-bathing material for poultry.
• Toys, perches, scratching posts for companion animals.

b. Adequate Space and Housing

• Avoid overcrowding by maintaining proper stocking density.
• Ensure freedom of movement, comfort, and resting areas.
• Group animals according to age, size, and social compatibility to reduce aggression.

c. Proper Feeding and Nutrition

• Provide balanced diets that meet nutritional and behavioural needs.
• Offer sufficient roughage to ruminants to reduce oral stereotypies (e.g., tongue rolling).
• Ensure access to feed and water without competition.

d. Social Interaction

• Allow animals to express natural social behaviours by rearing in appropriate groups.
• Isolation should be minimized except for medical or breeding needs.
• Prevent mixing of unfamiliar animals that may lead to fights.

e. Stress Reduction

• Reduce loud noises, extreme temperatures, and sudden handling practices.
• Train stockpersons in humane handling techniques.
• Provide predictable routines to reduce fear and anxiety.

f. Genetic Selection

• Select and breed animals less prone to stress and stereotypic behaviours.
• For example, poultry lines with lower tendencies for feather pecking.

g. Early Life Experience

• Provide positive and enriched environments for young animals.
• Early socialization reduces the risk of abnormal behaviours later in life.
• Example: piglets reared in enriched pens show less bar-biting.

h. Provision of Opportunities for Natural Behaviours

• Grazing access for ruminants.
• Perches for poultry.
• Wallowing areas for pigs.
• These reduce frustration from deprivation.

i. Monitoring and Welfare Assessment

• Regular observation of behaviour to detect early signs of stereotypies.
• Modify management before behaviours become established and irreversible.