Responsiveness of dairy cows to human approach and novel stimuli |
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| Authors: | Jenny Gibbons Alistair Lawrence Marie Haskell |
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| Institution: | 1. Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento Animal, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 14.884-900 Jaboticabal, Brazil;2. Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Etologia e Ecologia Animal, Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 14.884-900 Jaboticabal, Brazil, CNPq Researcher;1. University of Agriculture in Krakow, Department of Cattle Breeding, 30-059 Kraków, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, Poland;2. Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland;1. Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands;2. Biometris, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands;3. Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands;1. CSIRO, Agriculture and Food, Locked Bag 1, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia;2. School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia;3. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industry Centre, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia;4. Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia;2. Agriculture Department, Reaseheath College, Cheshire, CW5 6DF, United Kingdom |
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| Abstract: | This study investigated intra-test and inter-test consistency of dairy cattle behavioural responses to a series of tests involving human approach and exposure to novelty. Thirty-six lactating Holstein–Friesian cows were each subjected to three human approach tests and three novel stimuli tests. Flight response score was assessed by an experimenter approaching cows when they were in the passageway of the home-pen (AP), lying down (AL) and at the feedface (FF). Each human approach test was repeated on each cow three times. The intra-animal repeatability estimates were 0.65, 0.40, 0.27 for AP, AL and FF tests, respectively. Repeatability evaluates an individual's consistency across tests by comparing it to the variation within the group. Cows showed moderate consistency in their flight response scores to the different approach tests (W35 = 0.56, P < 0.01). Three novel stimuli (water spray, striped boards and flashing light) were individually presented once to each cow. Investigatory and reactivity behavioural responses were assessed. Cows showed the greatest reactivity response to the water spray compared to the striped boards (U1 = 56, P < 0.001) and flashing light (U1 = 66, P < 0.001). No statistically significant agreement existed between the novel stimuli reactivity and investigatory responses with the AP flight response scores. In conclusion, consistency over time was demonstrated over a relatively short period for the AP test and consistency between human approach situations was shown, however, consistency between human and novel situations was not found. |
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