Environmental and animal behavior management is a key pillar of modern livestock production systems, given its direct impact on animal health, welfare, and productivity. Providing a suitable environment that respects the animal's natural behavior contributes to reducing stress levels, improving production efficiency, and enhancing economic returns. This article aims to highlight the concept of environmental and animal behavior management, explain the factors influencing them, and their role in supporting sustainability in livestock production. Introduction Livestock production systems have witnessed remarkable development recently. The primary goal is no longer simply maximizing production, but rather focusing on animal welfare and improving their environmental and behavioral conditions. Neglecting the management of the animal's environment leads to abnormal behaviors, declining productivity, and increased susceptibility to disease. Hence, the importance of understanding the interaction between the environment and animal behavior to ensure balanced and sustainable livestock production. Animal Environment Management Animal environment management encompasses a range of factors surrounding animals within barns or pastures, including: Climatic conditions such as temperature and humidity Ventilation efficiency and lighting levels Flooring quality and housing space Cleanliness and noise levels This management aims to provide suitable living conditions that minimize environmental stresses and ensure animal comfort in accordance with their natural needs. Animal Behavior Animal behavior refers to all actions and responses exhibited by animals as a result of their interaction with their surrounding environment. This includes feeding, resting, movement, and social interaction behaviors. Behavior is an important indicator reflecting the animal's health and psychological state, as well as the suitability of its environment. The Impact of the Environment on Animal Behavior Environmental factors play a fundamental role in shaping animal behavior. For example: Exposure to heat stress leads to decreased feed consumption and disrupted resting patterns. Poor ventilation leads to respiratory problems and abnormal behaviors. Overcrowding leads to increased aggression and competition among animals. Therefore, improving environmental conditions contributes to promoting natural behaviors and reducing negative ones. The Role of Environmental and Behavioral Management in Animal Production Sound management of the environment and animal behavior positively impacts production performance, leading to: Improved feed utilization efficiency Increased milk or meat production Reduced disease rates Improved reproductive efficiency Extended productive lifespan of animals Methods of Improving Environmental and Animal Behavioral Management Environmental and animal behavior management can be improved through: Designing production facilities that consider animal comfort and behavioral needs Implementing effective ventilation and cooling systems Organizing feeding processes that align with natural behavior Adopting humane handling methods during transport and milking Training workers and promoting a culture of animal welfare Economic and Ethical Dimensions The importance of environmental and animal behavior management extends beyond production to include ethical and social dimensions. Attention to animal welfare reflects the commitment of animal production systems to sustainable practices and international standards. Summary Environmental and animal behavior management forms a solid foundation for the success of modern livestock production systems, playing a vital role in balancing animal welfare and production improvement. Investment in this area contributes to achieving sustainable positive outcomes at both the economic and environmental levels. Al-Mustaqbal University is ranked first among private universities in Iraq.