Behavioral research to answer questions about animal welfare.

A research strategy designed to develop systematically the behavioral catalogues (ethograms) of domestic production animals is presented. Measurement scales, observational techniques and recording methods are discussed. Suggestions about how these behavioral measures may be used to resolve animal welfare problems are presented. The need for trained applied ethologists and for the allocation of research funds to increase our understanding of animal behavior, in general, and to use this knowledge to enhance the quality of life of production animals is emphasized.