1984 Yearbook of Agriculture. Farm Animal Health and Disease Control. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. The owner is the most vital link to the continued and progressive health of his animals and also can interpret symptoms of illness and convey those to a health professional. In order to interpret irregular behavior as an illness or lack of health, one must first understand the normal behavior of that animal or species of animal.
Normal behavior is determined by time spent observing the habits of a normal and healthy animal.
Once normal behavior is determined, abnormal behavior is easier to identify by contrast. It is important to note that what may be a normal habit for one animal or group may be abnormal for another. Have students record behavior of normal animals. This can be done at home or on the school farm. It can be done with pets or livestock.