Tactile contact is often used to improve the human–foal relationship, in particular during sensitive periods such as weaning. However, the method used to provide the contact (forced or unforced) may ...affect subsequent reactions to humans. The aim of our study was to compare the effect of forced and unforced handling at weaning on horses’ behaviour towards humans and handling.
A total of 23 Anglo-Arabian foals received individual human contact at weaning. Constrained-handled foals (forced human contact; FC,
n
=
8) were stroked while being restrained (i.e., held by the halter without being led) so that human contact was forced. Unconstrained-handled foals (unforced human contact; UC,
n
=
7) were stroked without any restraint and could thus avoid contact if they so wanted. Each individual was handled 5
min twice a day for 14 consecutive days. Control foals were not handled (no contact; NC,
n
=
8). Foals’ reactions towards a human (e.g. proximity and contact seeking), and their manageability (fitting of a halter) were then assessed. The animals from the different treatments were then mixed and tested again 4 months later. Non-parametric Mann–Whitney
U-tests were used to compare experimental groups.
Only forced human contact reduced fear reactions toward humans (e.g. shorter latency to approach a passive human,
P
<
0.01; shorter latency to touch the foal,
P
<
0.05) in the short-term (immediately after the handling sessions) and increased foals’ manageability in a familiar environment (shorter latency to be placed a halter on and less defences displayed,
P
<
0.05). It had no effect in an unfamiliar environment. These effects did not last longer than 4 months.
Forced human contact thus appears to be more efficient in improving human–horse relationships and subsequent handling than unforced human contact. However, the lack of effect on reactivity towards humans in an unfamiliar environment, and the lack of long-term effects suggest that this method needs to be improved to be more effective. Some of our results suggest that horses could perceive human contact (i.e., stroking) as positive, however further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Beef cattle responses to handling depend partly on the genetic characteristics of the animals. However, the various methods used in order to assess these responses differ to a great extent. The ...purpose of this work is to study the relationship between two different situations extensively used to evaluate cattle reactions to handling. Moreover, the genetic variability of cattle responses to these two handling situations was investigated. Behavioural reactions of 245 Limousine heifers, from 10 sires, were evaluated both in a docility test and in a crush test. In the docility test, a human tried to lead and then to maintain the animal in the corner of a pen during 30 consecutive seconds, with a maximum duration of the test of 3.5
min. A docility score summarised the animal’s behavioural reactions to the test. The crush test procedure consisted of social isolation of the animal in a crush, with the head maintained in a head gate (5
min), then exposure to a stationary human (30
s), and finally stroking on the forehead (30
s). An agitation index for each part of this test was computed from PCA analyses based on agitation behaviours. Sire effect was significant for every part of both tests (
P<0.05). Heifers’ behavioural responses to the docility test were significantly correlated with their responses to the crush test, when the animals were in isolation (
r=0.29;
P<0.001), when the human stood motionless in front of the animals (
r=0.37;
P<0.001), and when the human stroked them (
r=0.28;
P<0.001). Sires’ behavioural reactions to the docility test (computed from their daughters’ scores) were correlated with their reactions to the crush test only when the human was present, both when motionless (
r=0.88;
P<0.001) and when stroking the heifer (
r=0.81;
P<0.05). No relationship appeared between sires’ behavioural reactions to the docility test and their responses to restraint in the crush when the human was absent (
P=0.17). Furthermore, the crush test did not reveal the animals which presented aggressive reactions to handling in the docility test. The results exposed in this paper pointed out the existence of a general reactivity of beef cattle to handling, whether the animals are restrained or not, which appears influenced by the sire. Such reactivity is suggested to be mainly a consequence of the animals reactions to humans. The human environment needs to be precisely defined in the handling test procedures before using them as a selection criteria.
Devices used to measure cardiac activity (elasticized belt, electrodes, etc.) in standardised behavioural tests could be stressful for the animals, and therefore affect their responses. Preliminary ...habituation to the device is not always possible. To date, the impact of carrying such devices has been poorly evaluated. In the present experiment, we examined the impact of a device used to measure cardiac activity on the behavioural responses of handled and non-handled lambs in a standard human test. We also studied variations in heart rate in response to human presence and separation. Twenty-one lambs were separated from their dam 12
h after birth: 11 received no additional human contact (non-handled) and 10 received additional contact for 1 week and then 1 day a week until 6 weeks. They consisted of stroking and milk-feeding (handled). At 6.5 weeks of age, each lamb was submitted twice to a behavioural test. The procedure comprised three phases: the lamb stayed alone for 2
min, then for 2
min with the familiar stockperson, and then alone for 2
min again. The tested lambs were equipped or not with a cardiac device in a cross-over design. The device used to measure cardiac activity led to a decrease in vocalisations and locomotion (
P
<
0.05). It had only a limited impact on the behavioural differences between handled and non-handled lambs. It reduced slightly the time spent near the stockperson for the non-handled lambs (mean
±
S.E. 0.1
±
0.1
s with cardiac device versus 3
±
1
s without;
P
<
0.05) but had no effect on the handled lambs (35
±
15
s versus 23
±
10
s;
P
>
0.1). In handled lambs, the frequency of vocalisations and the heart rate decreased as the stockperson entered (
P
<
0.05). When he left, we observed an increase in frequency of vocalisations but no change in heart rate (
P
>
0.1). No change in heart rate was observed for the non-handled lambs.
We conclude that the device used to measure cardiac activity led to a general decrease in activity but did not affect the difference between handled and non-handled lambs. Consequently, this method seems to be appropriate for further exploring artificially reared lambs’ perception of humans, with few risks of behavioural alterations. However, the absolute values of locomotor and vocal activities should be taken with caution. Behavioural and physiological measures were not totally consistent, which questions then-respective emotional significance.
Understanding how farm animals perceive their stockperson is a major challenge, especially for artificially reared animals which are known to show strong attraction to humans. Replacing the ...stockperson by its photograph in an arena test could be a useful method for standardising human stimuli. Such an approach requires individual consistency in young lambs’ responses to their stockperson, which has not yet been demonstrated. Our objective was to test this consistency and to determine whether the responses of lambs to a photograph of a stockperson in an arena test are linked in a specific way to their responses to the real stockperson in that same test. Thirty-six female lambs were bucket-fed by two men. The individual responses of the lambs to the person feeding them were assessed when the lambs were 4, 5 and 10 weeks of age, in a test pen where the lambs were first alone for 2
min, then left with their stockperson for 2
min, and then left alone again for a further 2
min. At 11 weeks of age, a similar test was run with photographs (object and stockperson). Responses to the real stockperson were positively correlated between tests (
r
s
>
0.44,
P
<
0.01). The lambs spent more time near the photograph of their stockperson than a photograph of an object (40
±
5
s versus 29
±
4
s,
P
=
0.02). The time spent near the two photographs was statistically linked (
P
<
0.02) to the time spent near the real stockperson in the previous test. We observed an increase of the frequency of vocalisations and locomotion when the stockperson left the pen (
P
<
0.001), but not when the photographs were removed. In conclusion, individual lambs’ give consistent responses to the presence or disappearance of a stockperson in an arena test. This suggests an early individual behavioural trait in lambs, and therefore the possibility of early selection for this trait. Our results do not support the use of photographs of humans in arena tests, due to an absence of specific link.
L’élevage des grands herbivores se transforme, diminuant la présence humaine auprès des animaux tout en augmentant la taille du troupeau et l’élevage en extérieur. Quelle peut-être alors la réaction ...des animaux à l’homme et aux manipulations dans ces conditions ? Quels problèmes peuvent se poser à la fois pour les animaux et pour leur éleveur ? Quelles solutions sont envisageables ? Ce texte présente d’abord différentes méthodologies utilisées pour mesurer la réaction des animaux d’élevage à l’homme. Elles permettent d’inférer la perception de l’homme par l’animal. Ce texte passe ensuite en revue les différents facteurs de la réaction des animaux à l’homme en abordant les facteurs génétiques et l’histoire de l’individu ainsi que l’importance de la composante humaine de cette relation. Les conséquences pour le bien-être de l’animal et pour le travail de l’éleveur ou du manipulateur sont soulignées de même que sont évoqués les moyens envisagés ou envisageables pour améliorer la relation animal-homme. Comprendre la perception de l’homme par l’animal est un élément essentiel de la bonne cohabitation entre l’homme et l’animal d’élevage. L’homme pourrait s’intégrer dans l’univers social de l’animal. Malheureusement, c’est un champ de recherche encore à explorer.
The present paper focuses on six main issues. First, we briefly explain why an increased understanding of the human¿animal relationship (HAR) is an essential component of any strategy intended to ...improve the welfare of farmed animals and their stockpersons. Second, we list the main internal and external factors that can influence the nature of the relationship and the interactions between human beings and farm animals. Third, we argue that the numerous tests that have been used to assess the HAR fall into three main categories (stationary human, moving human, handling/restraint), according to the degree of human involvement. Fourth, the requirements that any test of HAR must fulfil before it can be considered effective, and the ways in which the tests can be validated are discussed. Fifth, the various types of test procedures that have been used to assess the HAR in a range of farmed species are reviewed and critically discussed. Finally, some research perspectives that merit further attention are shown. The present review embraces a range of farmed animals. Our primary reasons for including a particular species were: whether or not general interest has been expressed in its welfare and its relationship with humans, whether relevant literature was available, and whether it is farmed in at least some European countries. Therefore, we include large and small ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats), pigs, poultry (chickens), fur animals (foxes, mink) and horses. Although horses are primarily used for sport, leisure or therapy they are farmed as draught, food or breeding animals in many countries. Literature on the HAR in other species was relatively scarce so they receive no further mention here.
Ruminants and man: an ancient link which must be maintained Le Neindre, P. (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Saint Genes Champanelle (France). Centre de Clermont Ferrand, Adaptation des Herbivores aux Milieux); Trillat, G; Chupin, J.M ...
1994
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