Animals can influence one another more than farmers realize. Careful observation reveals how social behaviour affects feeding, grazing, adaptation, and farm management. Observation improves decisions.

My ram stopped eating because of diarrhoea and refused to graze outside. However, beside another hungry ram, he surprisingly started grazing. Companionship can encourage feeding.

This experience reminded me that animals respond positively to companions. A healthy animal can encourage another to resume feeding. Behaviour can influence recovery and adaptation.

I watched a farmer introduce animals that refused feed. After mixing them with an established flock, the newcomers began feeding by following others. Leadership matters.

The same principle applies to poultry production. Farmers sometimes keep broilers alongside young turkeys because active birds can encourage them to learn feeding behaviour daily.

Understanding animal behaviour can improve practical farm management during introduction, brooding, stress, or feeding challenges. Farmers should observe closely, respond wisely, and keep learning daily.

Best regards,

Abdullah Opeyemi Akande
B.Agric. (FUNAAB)
GAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Animal Sci. (UI)
RAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Int’l Business (UU, UK)
Ph.D. in view