Jens Malmkvist

Studies of the behaviour of domestic animals, and the links to stress and welfare. Jens has investigated how breeding, housing, and management can improve welfare and production performance in these animals. He has also studied the development of abnormal behaviours that can be induced in animals that are unable to perform strongly-motivated behaviours. The aim is to create a novel understanding of animal minds, and to find solutions to reduce animal stress. Another of Jens Malmkvist’s interests is maternal behaviour and the finely tuned interaction between mother and offspring, which is crucial for survival and vitality in early life. The research encompass a range of domestic animal species. 

WelBredPOrg - Breeding for natural behaviour in organic pig production for the benefit of animal welfare, climate, and environment 

EUPAHW - European Partnership of Animal Health and Welfare

MSc in Biology from the University of Southern Denmark in 1995. After working on farm animal welfare at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences for a few years, Jens Malmkvist pursued research education at the University of Copenhagen. He graduated with a PhD in Ethology in 2001. His doctoral research focused on the potential for breeding confident, less fearful farm mink and the associated changes in mink behaviour and stress responses. 

Following the PhD, Jens continued experimental research of farm animal behaviour, stress, and welfare, now at Aarhus University, Denmark, advancing from scientist (2001) to senior researcher (2006). His studies encompassed a range of species, including pigs, mink and horses. In April 2024, Jens joined SLU as professor in Applied Ethology.

I supervise and teach in animal and veterinary sciences. Main organiser of the PhD course 'Interpretation of Animal Stress Responses', provided six times since 2009, and planned for 20-24 October 2025.