The nature of human contacts toward cattle can affect their subsequent behavioural response. The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of some variables used to assess the quality of human–animal relationship. These variables were: time needed to isolate a subject from the group in a corner of the pen (TI), isolation time (IT) and number of flight attempts (FA). They were recorded in 1 farm on 30 Italian Freisian males aged 10 months. Observations were conducted in the home pens by two trained people: one always recording the variables (observer), the other always performing the test (handler). Three recordings were performed at 15 day intervals. Reliability was tested using the Kendall’s W coefficient. The three observations were significantly similar (P<0.05, P<0.001 and P<0.01 for TI, IT and FA, respectively), although the W coefficient was high for IT (0.81) but lower for TI (0.50) and FA (0.67). In addition, the Spearman coefficient showed a significant correlation between IT and FA (rs=-0.40, P<0.05). These results indicate that the time of isolation may be a reliable indicator of the animal responsiveness to the stockperson.
Assessment of human-animal relationship in cattle kept on slatted floor / Napolitano, F.; Tripaldi, C.; Braghieri, A.; Saltalamacchia, F.; Grasso, Fernando; DE ROSA, Giuseppe. - STAMPA. - (2006), pp. 42-42. (Intervento presentato al convegno 57th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production (EAAP) tenutosi a Antalya- Turkey nel 17-20 September 2006).
Assessment of human-animal relationship in cattle kept on slatted floor
GRASSO, FERNANDO;DE ROSA, GIUSEPPE
2006
Abstract
The nature of human contacts toward cattle can affect their subsequent behavioural response. The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of some variables used to assess the quality of human–animal relationship. These variables were: time needed to isolate a subject from the group in a corner of the pen (TI), isolation time (IT) and number of flight attempts (FA). They were recorded in 1 farm on 30 Italian Freisian males aged 10 months. Observations were conducted in the home pens by two trained people: one always recording the variables (observer), the other always performing the test (handler). Three recordings were performed at 15 day intervals. Reliability was tested using the Kendall’s W coefficient. The three observations were significantly similar (P<0.05, P<0.001 and P<0.01 for TI, IT and FA, respectively), although the W coefficient was high for IT (0.81) but lower for TI (0.50) and FA (0.67). In addition, the Spearman coefficient showed a significant correlation between IT and FA (rs=-0.40, P<0.05). These results indicate that the time of isolation may be a reliable indicator of the animal responsiveness to the stockperson.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.