Operant Studies on the Behavior of Pigs and Sheep in Relation to the Physical Environment

An outline is given of the use of operant conditioning techniques in the study of the behavior of farm animals. Using operant methods, pigs and sheep placed in cold environments have been trained to perform simple responses in order to obtain radiant heat. Factors which influence this behavior such as level of nutri t ion, ambient temperature and the intensity of the radiant heat have been examined. The effect of warming or cooling the hypothalamus on the motivation to work for heat production has been studied. Experiments are also described in which, using operant methods, an a t tempt has been made to determine the il lumination preferences of pigs and ruminants. (