Professor Rick D'Eath

My research uses animal behaviour as a way to measure animal welfare, or to understand and solve animal welfare problems which involve behaviour.

• Behaviour-related welfare problems in pigs: social aggression, tail biting and mounting, and genetics of animal temperament in relation to these problems.
• Hunger in ration-fed animals (dry sows and broiler breeder chickens). Using behaviour, motivation, neurophysiology and gut physiology to understand, measure and ameliorate the problem.
• Precision livestock farming- collaborating to develop and validate agri-technology such as machine vision cameras and other sensors to monitor behaviour, health and welfare on farm.
• Analysis of how wider drivers and issues impact animal welfare and policy (including trade, regulations, economics and climate change).