[Some theoretical aspects of behavior research in domestic animals]

During the past decade, applied farm animal ethology has become of increasing significance within the behavioural sciences. The present paper investigates some of the most important terms and concepts of basic behavioural research in order to relate these approaches to farm animal ethology. It is advocated here that deviations of theoretical frameworks used in basic and applied research should be kept at a minimum, unless necessitated by particular aspects of applied research goals. It is further argued that environmental requirements of the animals and motivational causes of behaviour could be assessed more appropriately when considering behaviour as an interaction between organism and environment shaped by natural and artificial selection, i.e. as a means to ultimately maximize biological fitness. It is concluded that ultimate causation of behaviour should become a major focus in applied ethology in order to reach at valid approaches to animal welfare and improved husbandry systems which are more in line with the actual needs of the animal.