Humans and Goats: Improving Knowledge for a Better Relationship

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior and Welfare Science
• Ethology
• Human-Animal Interaction Studies

Background:

• The human-animal relationship (HAR) quality is recognized as crucial for ensuring adequate animal welfare.
• Understanding the dynamics of human-goat interactions is vital due to its impact on both species.
• This review addresses communication, influencing factors, and measurement of HAR quality in goats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize current knowledge on human-goat communication.
• To identify key factors influencing human-goat interactions and relationship quality.
• To explore validated methods for assessing the quality of the human-goat relationship.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted, selecting 58 relevant articles.
• Analysis focused on identifying communication modalities, interaction determinants, and assessment metrics.
• Information synthesis covered goats' socio-cognitive abilities and human management practices.

Main Results:

• Human-goat communication primarily involves visual, tactile, and auditory stimuli.
• Goats possess significant socio-cognitive abilities and utilize human input for information.
• Factors like management practices, genetic traits, and farmer attitudes influence HAR quality.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced understanding of goat communication and cognition can improve HAR.
• Optimizing management practices and farmer training is essential for better animal welfare.
• Validated measures exist to assess HAR quality, aiding welfare assessments.