Projects per year
Personal profile
Research
I do research in human-animal relationships and therapeutic use of animals and have established this field of research at Aarhus University, and co-operate with psychiatric and psychological researchers. At present, my main research areas are therapeutic use of animals, human-animal interaction, and animal transport.
I have worked with a range of ethological issues, including coping strategies, maternal behaviour, human-animal interactions in husbandry animals, behaviour tests, housing and grouping of horses, housing of chickens and tail biting in pigs.
Teaching
Education
1994: M.Sc. in Biology (specialized in Ethology), Aarhus University, Denmark
2001: Ph.D. in Ethology, Institute for Animal Production and Animal Science, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark
Areas of expertise
- Animal behaviour
- Human-animal relationships
- Therapy animals
- Animal transport
- Tail biting and tail docking
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Projects
- 9 Finished
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Prevention of accidents during handling of cattle - development of indicators for risk situations
Thodberg, K. (Project manager), Christensen, J. W. (Participant), Norup, M. (Participant), Nørremark, M. (Participant), Nielsen, K. J. (Participant) & Kromann, H. (Participant)
01/10/2020 → 31/12/2022
Project: Research
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Animal contact
Thodberg, K. (Project manager), Christensen, J. W. (Participant), Videbech, P. B. (Participant), Vase, L. (Participant), Lunde, S. J. (Participant) & Høeg Fuglsang-Damgaard, L. (Participant)
01/08/2020 → 31/12/2023
Project: Research
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SOTRANS: Optimization of transport of sows to slaughter – improving animal welfare and carcass value
Herskin, M. S. (Project manager), Thodberg, K. (Participant), Gould, L. M. (Participant) & Anneberg, I. (Participant)
01/02/2018 → 31/12/2021
Project: Research
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Green Care for the health and welfare of animals and humans – development of a Nordic network
Thodberg, K. (Participant)
01/01/2016 → 31/12/2017
Project: Research
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Optimale hundebesøg
Thodberg, K. (Project manager), Christensen, J. W. (Participant), Houbak, B. (Participant), Haun Poulsen, P. (Participant) & Middelhede, C. H. (Participant)
01/01/2015 → 12/12/2018
Project: Research
Research output
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Måling af halelængde hos grise med kuperede haler i deres vækstperiode
Thodberg, K., Gebreyesus, G. & Foldager, L., 19 Jan 2026, 40 p.Research output: Book/anthology/report › Report › Commissioned
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
Deck height did not affect behavioural measures of ‘natural movements’ and ‘adequate ventilation’ during 8 h and 23 h transport of weaner pigs
Kobek-Kjeldager, C., Jensen, L. D., Foldager, L., Kaiser, M., Thodberg, K. & Herskin, M. S., Sept 2025, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 290, 12 p., 106714.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
How the presence of a dog and types of interaction affect physiological responses to experimental heat pain induction in healthy humans: a randomized controlled study
Fuglsang-Damgaard, L. H., Lunde, S. J., Christensen, J. W., Vase, L., Videbech, P. B., Gee, N. R. & Thodberg, K., 1 Dec 2025, In: Physiology and Behavior. 302, 115097.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Impact of feeding a high fiber diet and roughage on stress and clinical welfare indicators in fast-growing broiler breeder pullets
Wurtz, K. E., Thodberg, K. & Riber, A. B., Dec 2025, In: Poultry Science. 104, 12, 105960.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Impact of feeding a high fibre diet and roughage on motivation for feeding in fast-growing broiler breeder pullets
Wurtz, K. E., Thodberg, K., van der Heide, M. E. & Riber, A. B., Feb 2025, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 283, 106529.Research output: Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
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Menneskers relation til dyr i naturen
Thodberg, K. (Invited speaker)
10 Nov 2021Activity: Presentations, memberships, employment, ownership and other activities › Lecture and oral contribution
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Vejleder for MSc-studerende Amalie Helene Bonnerup
Herskin, M. S. (Participant) & Thodberg, K. (Participant)
15 Jun 2020Activity: Presentations, memberships, employment, ownership and other activities › Other
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Changes in scratches and skin elasticity in cull sows after transport to the abattoir
Thodberg, K. (Invited speaker)
15 Mar 2017Activity: Presentations, memberships, employment, ownership and other activities › Lecture and oral contribution
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Behaviour of nursing home residents towards a visiting animal and the human companion - A randomized controlled trial in 4 Danish nursing homes
Thodberg, K. (Invited speaker)
22 Jan 2016Activity: Presentations, memberships, employment, ownership and other activities › Lecture and oral contribution
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Nordic ISAE 2016
Thodberg, K. (Participant)
20 Jan 2016 → 22 Jan 2016Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organisation af a conference
Press/Media
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Hvorfor hund logrer - interview til TV2 News
04/03/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Interview om eventuelle effekter af kokram til Økologisk LAndsforening.
04/03/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Nej, din hund logrer ikke med halen, bare fordi den er glad - interview til Kristeligt Dagblad
02/03/2024
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Eddie har mange venner, men han mangler kollegaer.
17/09/2023
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
Courses
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Behaviour of sows in lairage - effects of transport duration and temperature on aggression, resting and drinking behaviour
Thodberg, K. & Herskin, M. S. 02/11/2020 → 01/09/2021
Course: Supervising