Primates have traditionally been considered having a poor sense of smell compared to other orders of mammals, like carnivores, due to reduced olfactory structures of the primate brain. This thought, however, is slowly changing. There are now a range of studies showing that primates do use their sense of smell, for example in chemical communication. However, few studies have been carried out on olfactory-related behaviors in Great Apes. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of olfactory-related behaviors in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). The results do not only show that chimpanzees use their sense of smell, but also a behavioral difference between male and female chimpanzees. There was a significant difference between male to female smelling of the anogenitals and male to male smelling of the anogenitals (p = 0.0001) and also a difference between the occurrences of males and females touching an object with the hand and then smelling at the hand (p = 0. 0007). There was a significant difference between male and female frequency of smelling at an object (p = 0.001) and a significant difference between the occurrences of male and female smelling at foods and liquids (p = 0.003). There were no observations of chimpanzees performing a scent-marking behavior. These results suggest that chimpanzees use their sense of smell, from investigating new objects to the inspection of food and other chimpanzees. It would be interesting in future studies to study the difference between male and female frequency of olfactory-related behaviors.

The curiosity whether or not animals have the characteristics of long term planning skills is fairly new. Some researchers agree that certain species have a form of episodic-like memory, in the terms of where, when and what. But the most difficult thing is to find out if these species have an aim for the future which involves what some call mental time travel. This study is a part of the discussion if the tests in long term planning and foresight can be explained by associative learning and the ability of self control in highly trained animals. Many self control and delay tasks have been conducted with laboratory animals such as rats, pigeons, monkeys and apes. Here we made a self control test with a reinforcement delay in pygmy hippos (Hexaprotodon liberiensis), an endangered species (listed as vulnerable at Cites, 2000), to extend the test among species. Also for trying to find out more about their cognitive skills, so we can better fulfil their needs in captivity. In this study, the female succeeded in 71,1 % (27 out of 38 trials) of the opportunities and the male in 84,2 % (32 out of 38 trials). To our knowledge this is the first study of learning and cognition in Pygmy hippos.

Due to the expansion of the human population we are an increasing threat to all wild animals. They are driven to exist in smaller areas and in the worst case scenario extinction. Zoos are being encouraged to improve the animal’s physical and social surroundings. Environmental enrichment is a term used for such improvements. In this behavioural study, the enrichment introduced to two Pallas cats (Felis manul) at Parken Zoo in Eskilstuna, Sweden, consisted of a fishing rod and a clothes peg with a dead mouse or chick attached. The intention was to see if the feeding enrichment could increase activity levels and how the cats were using their enclosure. The enclosure was divided into seven zones which have a varying degree of opportunities for the animals to climb, hide and rest above ground level. The environmental enrichment effects on the Pallas cats´ behaviour, activity levels and use of the enclosure were measured and recorded using instantaneous scan sampling, and the mean value was calculated for each individual. The behavioural and enclosure results proved that enrichment benefits the cats activity levels. The behaviours that showed a variation when presented with enrichment were: walking, climbing, grooming, aggressive behaviour, out of sight behaviour, crouching position, sitting and standing still.  The results showed that the cats preferred the zones in the enclosure that offered a larger view of the nearby enclosures. This study shows that providing captive felids with inexpensive, easy to administer enrichment objects can have profound effects on activity behaviours and their enclosure.

The main aim of this thesis was to gain essential data from which it was possible to formulate findings about behaviour of dairy cattle in relation to the control system of feeding regime. The practical part of the thesis was based on a quantitative research and the basis of the empirical part was a research based on an observation which took place at the farm Agochlum of farming enterprise in Záluží, near Sušice. This research enables to evaluate the impact of the frequency of feed distribution and hilling on ethological behaviour of dairy cattle. The observation focused on activities connected with feed intake, drinking, lying and milking. The research took place in three continuous observational periods, each observation lasted 24 hours. The result of the research is evaluation of the average number of milking a day and average daily milk yield, preparation time for milking, milking duration, total time in the box, time in individual milkings, total activity of dairy cattle 30 minutes after milking and the evaluation of state of health of mammary gland, all of this is in connection with the feeding regime. Data gained from the observation was processed into tables and diagrams in MS Excel and it was statistically evaluated. The basic method of the research was the observation of dairy cattle in a given period by given people, recording into ethological diary, the analysis of gained data and the comparison of the result with other theses. The instructions of the thesis are based on the project NAZV - QJ1210144 and NAZV QJ1530058.

The aim of this thesis was to obtain and evaluate information from behavioural monitoring of beef cattle herd (cows, bull, calves) reared in the suckler system in the year-round grazing. The beef herd situated in the Pilsen region near Přeštice and is owned by private breeder was chosen for observation. Basic herd consisted of 20 cows with calves and one Charolais sire. There were three ethological observations, two observations in 2014 and one observation in 2015, duration of observations was 24 hours. The course of each category of behaviour was recorded by interval group method with interval length of 5 minutes. Activities as feed intake, rest, standing and movement. It was also reported comfort, sexual and maternal behaviour within the herd. The longest period of cows feed intake was recorded at the end of the grazing season (30.56% of the day, i.e. 7.33 hours). In contrast, feed intake took cattle in the winter months only 28.31% of the day (6.8 hours). Values in the standing category were not substantially different during the year. The longest standing time in the spring and autumn (5.97 hours respectively. 5.95 hours), standing time in the winter was shortened to 5.56 hours. Locomotion activity of animals in the spring reached 7.78%, i.e. 1.87 hour and due to the fact that cattle was still fed hay, but also first low vegetation started to grow in some areas and animals on its wintering actively sought it. In contrast, in the autumn the value was only 2.43%, i.e. 0.58 hours of the day due to sufficient suitable pasture. In the winter due to bad weather conditions, the value also decreased to 7.8%, i.e. 1.88 hours of the day. The longest representation of rest category in form of laying was recorded in the herd in autumn at level of 10.13 hours of the day (i.e. 40.22% of the day). In the spring rest category took 9.00 hours (i.e. 37.48%). The form of animal husbandry at the farm was in correspondence with the natural biorhythms of the animals and allowed them to freely demonstrate natural instincts and behaviour. Based on the findings it is possible to judge that the system of suckler beef herds is useful in terms of ensuring animal welfare and Charolais breed is exercisable under those conditions.

If we require higher yields from dairy cows, we have to provide them with good living conditions. It is necessary to know their natural behaviour and give them a chance to show it. One of the possibilities to make better living conditions to dairy cows seems to be an introduction of the automatic milking system to cowshed. The aim of this diploma thesis is to evaluate basic behaviour of dairy cows during all day in two cowsheds with automatic milking system, and to create a data file of dairy cows in two cowsheds with breeding of two different kinds of cattle - Czech Spotted cattle and Holstein dairy cows, and two different automatic milking systems ? Lely Astronaut and DeLaval. The results were evaluated by particular applicative statistics methods and the differences between the breeds and types of robots were compared. The thesis concerns three ethological observations in 2010 and 2011 which took place in Agricultural Cooperative Kluky near Písek, where Holstein dairy cows is bred and automatic milking system Lely Astronaut is used, and also three ethological observations in 2009 on a family farm in Chlumeček near Křemže, where Czech Spotted cattle is bred and automatic system DeLaval is used. The Holstein dairy cows spent feeding from 3,4 to 3,9 hours per day and Czech Spotted cattle spent feeding from 5,6 to 6,3 hours per day during all observation. In category standing were included: plain standing, standing with other activities (standing ? drinking, standing ? urinating, standing ? defecating, standing ? comfort behavior) and milking in robot. The Holstein dairy cows and Czech Spotted cattle spent standing from 5,6 to 6,3 hours per day. In the category of lying, significant differences were found. The Holstein dairy cows spent lying from 14,1 to 15 hours per day. The Czech Spotted cattle spent lying from 11,6 to 12 hours per day. Last observed category was moving. The Holstein dairy cows spent moving 0,4 hours per day and the Czech Spotted cattle spent moving from 0,9 to 1,1 hours per day. The quantity of milk of Holstein dairy cows per lactation was 6701 kg in average with quantity of protein 229,694 kg with content of 3,375%. The quantity of milk of Czech Spotted cattle was 4690 kg with quantity of protein 159,33 kg. The length of insemination interval of Holstein dairy cows was 71,35 days in average and service period was 159,97 days in average. The length of insemination interval of Czech Spotted cattle was 130,49 days in average and service period was 159,97 days in average. The data was processed with the help of Microsoft Excel and Statistica 10.

The aim of this bachelor´s thesis was to capture the basic behaviour categories in dairy cattle breeding cows in production stable in relation to their reproductive cycle. The research was carried out on four groups: after calving (12 pcs), between 1st - 3rd insemination (50 pcs), heavily pregnant (39 pcs) and cows in the dry period (32 pcs). The milk and combined utility type of dairy cows were housed in a large scale stable. Milk yield was monitored as a factor of milk performance traits. Milk yield of Holstein cattle (H) and Czech Fleckvieh cattle (C) were 35.10 kg and 30.88 kg (P>0.05) during increasing milk flow. In a group of dairy cows in insemination period Holstein and Czech Fleckvieh cows produced 31.16 kg of milk respectively 25.15 kg. The differences in milk yield were statistically significant (P0.01). In the group of heavily pregnant cows decreased milk yield in both Holstein and Czech Fleckvieh cattle to 18.18 kg respectively 17.31 kg of milk (P>0.05). The length of insemination interval (from the group of fertility traits) reached 75.57 days within group of dairy cows H and 67.82 days within group C. Service period of dairy cows H was 151.99 days and 152.25 days within dairy cows C (P>0.05). The length of feed intake was determined while differences in behaviour were being assessed between groups. In the group after calving took the feed intake 25.7 % days, in the group of dairy cows in insemination period 23.9 %, by heavily pregnant cows 25.8 % and by dairy cows standing in the dry period 29.6 % of total time. The length of standing achieved by the group after calving was 18.8 %, by the group of dairy cows in the insemination period 24.0 %, by heavily pregnant dairy cows 16.5 % and by dry cows 15.7 % of total time. The length of rest was by the group after calving 42.0 %, by the group of dairy cows in the insemination period 37.1 %, by heavily pregnant dairy cows 53.9 %, and by dry cows 53.2 % of total time. The average aggression in the group after calving reached a value 3.67 per one cow. In the group of dairy cows in the mating period increased aggressiveness on 4.68. In the group of heavily pregnant dairy cows fell the average to 0.33 and nearly the same was in the group of dry cows (0.38). The incidence of comfort behaviour in a group of cows after calving was for one cow 11.08. In the group of inseminated cows decreased significantly to 3.78. Other decrease was observed within the group of heavily pregnant dairy cows and by the group of dry cows too (1.44 or 1.28 per one dairy cow).

The aim of this work was evaluate the productive indexes and appreciate the behaviour of beef cattle dams reared in the system of breeding cows without market milk production. The analysis of the beef herd was performed in the agricultural company farming in above sea level altitude 650 meters. Through the years 2001 - 2006 was evaluated reproduction indexes by dams of basic herd and calves growth ability. Ethological monitoring was important for appreciation welfare conditions of breeding. Monitoring went ahead in single yearly periods in luminous parts of the day. Tracked group formed 31 pieces of dams, calves and sire.

With increasing consumption of milk and milk products, there were increased number of dairy cattle, but the increase of demand for dairy cows and thus to changes in technology and technique of milking, which would increase milk production, productivity, and improve the welfare of dairy cows. An efficient solution could be milking robots. The first robot was placed on a farm in the Netherlands in 1992. The introduction of robotic milking on agricultural farms in the Czech Republic began in 2003 when the main reason was a shortage of skilled manpower that would be willing to work in harsh working and sanitary conditions. The thesis aim was to assess the effect of milking by the milking robot on the behavior of breeding cows throughout the day in relation to milk yield and fertility in relation to lactation and genotypic classification (H100, HxC, C100). The behavioral monitoring was carried out in dairy farms Brloh (milking by milking robots) and Haklových Dvorech - the control group (in the milking house) in the period from August 2009 to January 2010. The data processing was done with using the Microsoft Excel program. For the evaluation of all parameters were observed in herds calculated basic statistics. Differences disappear individual indicators were evaluated single-factor analysis of variance. The first monitoring of the findings in cattle reproductive performance was the terms of genotype. The values were found favorable for fertility groups HxC in the both stables. Length insemination interval reached 69.1 days in ZD Brloh (compared to 110.1 of the ŠZP Haklovy Dvory), length of service period of 110.8 (vs. 142.9 days). In the meantime, the length (due to differences in the number of animals in the group) was a length of 409.5 versus 438.5 in the group of breeding cows milked in a milking house (ŠZP Haklovy dvory). Further indicators of fertility were evaluated in terms of lactation. The longest length of service period was recorded at 1st lactation in ŠZP Haklovy Dvory were 176 days. The shortest service period was found at the 3rd and subsequent lactations of 133.5 days. Insemination interval, indicating the search of breeding cows, which were in a rutting season, was roughly the same at all lactation ZD Brloh (range 72.7 to 78.2 days) for the ŠZP Haklovy Dvory was the longest period of time to 2 lactation (118.9 days). In terms of breeding cows for milk yield for each lactation cows achieve greater results in the production company with robotic milking (100 days - 3539.1 kg, 200 days - 6727.5 kg of milk 305 days - 9602.9 kg of milk). Compared to the control group, where a 100 days lactation cows milked 3240.06 kg of milk 200 days produced 5433 kg to 305 of milk and 5327.18 kg of milk daily. The behavioral surveillance in both companies was carried out for 24 hours using the interval method with a 10 minutes interval period. The largest part of the day the cows were lying. The second largest dairy operations were the category of standing, which represented the average length of 6.05 hours in ZD Brloh. In the ŠZP Haklovy Dvory was the time period 5.71 hours. The significant period between groups is also the time of feeding, which in the system with the milking in milking house is much shorter by 1.79 hours and it taken 3.71 hours. The length of the movement was in the milking house more than half the size shorter and was 0.32 hours. Also, the length of staying in the milking house was about half shorter and it was 0.22 hours.

Ethological observation of maternal sheep behaviour took place over the year 2009, particularly in spring and autumn. Direct observation was chosen as the monitoring method. The values obtained were recorded in special ethograms. In total, 30 parturition of the valachian sheep were observed.