Human-Animal Interactions in Dairy Goats

Area of Science:

• Animal Welfare Science
• Ethology
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Human-animal interactions significantly influence farm animal welfare.
• Effective methods for assessing the human-animal relationship in lactating goats are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate methods for assessing and monitoring lactating goat welfare.
• To specifically assess human-animal relationship assessment methods.

Main Methods:

• Conducted tests including avoidance distance (pen and manger) and approach tests on 14 Italian dairy goat farms.
• Observed stockman-animal interactions during milking.
• Utilized Rossa Mediterranean goat breed.

Main Results:

• Avoidance distance at the manger was shorter than in the pen.
• Manger-based avoidance distance and touch percentages correlated positively with pen-based measures.
• Neutral stockman interactions correlated with less approachable goats and fewer positive human-animal interactions.

Conclusions:

• Avoidance distance tests (pen and manger) are valid for evaluating the human-animal relationship in goats.
• Avoidance distance at the manger can reliably substitute for pen-based tests.
• Understanding human-animal interactions is key to improving goat welfare.