Abstract
Here we view naturalness from the point of view of proximate behavioural control. The mechanisms of behaviour control have evolved in order that animals reach a specific goal after they have performed motivated behaviour. This goal was closely related to a function at the time when the mechanism evolved. Function and goal may be de-coupled in a novel environment such as artificial housing conditions. We argue that an animal that can perform the behaviour it wants and can reach the goals it likes can behave according to what is “in-its-nature” even under human influenced conditions. We illustrate this argument using abnormal sucking behaviour in calves and piglets as well as dehorning in cattle and goats. We conclude that a minimal welfare standard is ensured for animals that are given the opportunity to behave as is in-their-nature.
Highlights
The mechanisms of behaviour control have evolved in order that animals reach a specific goal after they have performed motivated behaviour
It is sufficient that the goals were closely correlated with the function when the genetic basis of that behavioural process was laid down at the time when the control mechanism evolved
They help a subject to prioritise and select motivations and execute what they “want”, they signal whether a goal state has been reached and, in the form of a specific mood state, modulate these wants and likes
Summary
The mechanisms of behaviour control have evolved in order that animals reach a specific goal after they have performed motivated behaviour. With respect to naturalness from an ethological point of view, we could say that a subject behaves naturally (that is, according to what is in-its-nature) whenever it can perform the behaviour that it wants (is motivated to perform) and can reach the corresponding goal states (it likes what it achieved with its behaviour [9,11]). If adequate stimuli are provided, even an artificial-looking environment may allow an animal to act on its wants and reach the according goal states (see Box 1, sucking behaviour).
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