The mission of the Livestock Behavior Research Unit is to optimize animal welfare while assisting animal agriculture to meet ethical concerns of how we raise food-producing animals. We will develop scientific measures of animal welfare, through the study of animal behavior, physiology, nutrition, neuroscience and immunology; that will allow an objective evaluation of animal agricultural practices. This holistic method of study will allow the improvement of existing practices and invention of new practices that can enhance animal welfare and increase animal productivity. Successful completion of our mission will enable our goal of improving animal welfare for all stakeholders while ensuring economic sustainability for the animal production industries.