Main description:

In recent years there has been a huge rise in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research in animal sciences which has accelerated improvements in animal welfare. Down to earth and practical, this book gives guidance on how cross-disciplinary research can advance animal welfare. With numerous examples and case studies, the text explains: * the different concepts regarding cross-disciplinary research * how to set up cross-disciplinary research projects * how to work in cross functional teams and models for effective team working * how different fields can impact animal welfare, including social sciences, neurosciences, genetics, behavioural ecology and technology. The aim of the book is to help researchers and graduate animal science students to understand how to advance animal welfare through the integration of disciplines.

Contents:

Section 1: Crossing disciplines 1: Interdisciplinary Research to Advance Animal Welfare Science: An Introduction 2: Pragmatics for Cross-disciplinary Collaboration 3: Doing Animal Welfare Transdisciplinary Research with Stakeholders: Advantages, Pitfalls and Hands-on Solutions 4: Interdisciplinarity and the Dilemmas of Knowledge Section 2: Applying other disciplines in animal welfare research 5: Human-centred Research Approaches to Improve Animal Welfare: Survey Design and Stakeholder Involvement 6: Human Behaviour Change Models for Improving Animal Welfare 7: Applying Economic Models to Assess the Viability of Animal Welfare Interventions 8: Application of Psychometrics to Assess Quality of Life in Animals 9: Behavioural Tests for Learning and Cognition in Humans and Animals 10: Using Neuroscience to Better Understand Animals and their Welfare 11: The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Determining Social Behaviours of Animals 12: Improving Animal Welfare Using Genetic and Genomic Tools 13: Epigenetic Tools to Identify Stress and Exposure to Detrimental Conditions in Production Animals 14: Using Principles from Behavioural Ecology to Address Animal Welfare Issues 15: Practical Considerations for the Use of Precision Livestock Farming to Improve Animal Welfare