The development of a noninvasive behavioral test for assessment of goat-human interactions

The objective was to develop a protocol for a noninvasive behavioral test to assess goat-human interactions. Boer goats (n = 45) were housed in groups of 3 at the K-State Sheep and Meat Goat Unit. A 3-min human approach test (HAT) was conducted after their first- and seventh-handling experience (i.e., moved by group through the chute and scale). Video footage was analyzed using specialized software (Observer 11.5 XT, Leesburg, VA, USA). The ethogram included three main categories (mutually exclusive within category): 1) spatial (close, middle, far); 2) orientation (facing vs. turned-away); and 3) structural (lie, stand, and nutritive and nonnutritive oral behaviors). The durations of these behavior outcomes were converted to percent, and then applied to a weighted formula to create an approach index (AI). This index placed behaviors on a 0 to 100% scale (0 = lying in back of the pen; 100 = closest to the human, performing oral behaviors). The Proc Univariate (SAS v.9.3, SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC, USA) was used to evaluate descriptive statistics and calculate sample size for future projects from all behavior outcomes. In addition, each goat AI categorized as great approach (GA; ≥75% quartile), moderate approach (MA; 25% to 75% quartiles), or least approach (LA; ≤ 25%) and the 1st vs. 7th handling experience was evaluated using Chi-square (χ ²) analysis. The CV% was low for the AI outcome; therefore, less animals are needed if the AI is used rather than other behavior outcomes used. After the first-handling experience, there were less GA-goats than what was expected from the χ ² analysis (χ ² = 17.6; P ≤ 0.01; residual = 0.26; expected = 24.5). After the seventh-handling experience, there were more MA-goats than expected (χ ² = 17.6; P ≤ 0.01; residual = 1.92; expected = 52.0). Repeated handling appeared to moderately improve goat approach to humans, which indicates that this protocol is a promising behavioral test to assess welfare of goats.