Invited review: Defining cattle handler skill-A systematic review and conceptual framework.

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior and Welfare
• Agricultural Science
• Human-Animal Interactions

Background:

• Cattle handling is crucial for animal welfare, productivity, and handler safety.
• Current understanding of stockperson skill is limited, hindering training and evaluation.
• Defining handler skill is essential for understanding human-animal interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review literature on cattle handling and stockperson factors.
• To develop a comprehensive, evidence-informed taxonomy of cattle handler skill.
• To provide a framework for evaluating handler competence and improving outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of the Web of Science database.
• Screening articles based on predefined inclusion criteria (cattle, handler influence, empirical data).
• Grounded theory methods for data extraction and synthesis into a handler-centered taxonomy.

Main Results:

• Identified 57 relevant peer-reviewed articles.
• Developed the VITAL model (Values and Attitudes, Integration of Knowledge, Technical Execution, Situational Awareness, Continuous Learning).
• The VITAL model comprises 5 interrelated dimensions of handler skill.

Conclusions:

• The VITAL model offers a comprehensive framework for defining and evaluating cattle handler competence.
• This taxonomy can guide the development of training curricula, assessment tools, and welfare standards.
• Provides a shared vocabulary to enhance training consistency and improve animal welfare, worker safety, and productivity.