Ted Friend, Ph.D.
Faculty Fellow and Professor, Animal Behavior and Welbeing
Room 241 Kleberg
979-845-5214
t-friend@tamu.edu
Dr. Ted Friend is a Faculty Fellow and Professor in the Department of Animal Science. He is the leader of the department's animal behavior and animal wellbeing program. He received his bachelor's degree from Cornell University and his master's and doctorate from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Dr. Friend is a registered Professional Animal Scientist and is board certified in Animal Behavior. He received the Felix Wankle Award, an international award that recognizes advances in the scientific approach to addressing questions of animal care, was honored as Humanitarian of the Year by the Animal Protection Institute of North America, received the Department of Animal Science's Outstanding Service Award and was named a Faculty Fellow in 2010.
Dr. Friend’s interests are in the fields of animal wellbeing and applied ethology. The undergraduate course and graduate courses he teaches at A&M emphasize animal behavior as a means of understanding the nature (or “ethos”) of animals used by people and to relate their behavior to their management and wellbeing.
Dr. Friend’s undergraduate course, ANSC 310, Behavior and Management of Domestic Animals, has two hands-on laboratory sections, emphasizes learning concepts, although factual knowledge is also stressed. The course has a significant research, written and communication components. There is a progression in exercises in the class and laboratories that lead to the term project. Participation of all students in handling animals, while carrying out exercises that illustrate important aspects of behavior, is the major goal of the laboratories.
Dr. Friend’s graduate course, Animal Science 610, Applied Animal Ethology, is oriented towards review and evaluation of current research, points of controversy and the importance of behavior in experimentation and management of species important to agriculture. The goal of the course is to stimulate students to consider the implications of animal behavior as it may relate to future researchers, teachers, ranchers, or industry workers. Field trips are also a major part of this course.
Dr. Friend’s research program involves both applied and basic research projects. He and his students have published research papers on beef cattle, calves, dairy cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, elephants, dogs and tigers. Most applied studies have been related to improving animal welfare and reducing stress. This usually involves determining how animals respond to various conditions (ex. confinement, isolation, exercise, transportation, etc.) and then modifying those conditions to reduce stress. His lab has also been conducting some studies on animal cognition using techniques borrowed from psychology. One of his recent major projects focused on ways to improve the conditions of horses and cattle being transported long distances. A basic research project presently underway involves collaboration with genomics faculty to use activation of key genes involved in the inflammatory response to help differentiate between "beneficial" excitement and "deleterious” stress.
