Environmental enrichment and social rank affects the fear and stress response to regular handling of dairy goats

Lama, Genaro C. Miranda-de la; Pinal, R.; Fuchs, Katrin; Montaldo, Hugo H.; Ducoing, A. E.; Galindo, Francisco

doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2013.03.001

Cited by 35 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…In particular, a review by Hartmann et al (2017) suggests that social relationships among horses do not affect human-horse relationships. However, in the daily feeding of goats, differences in the social rank are related to aggressiveness toward humans (Aschwanden et al, 2008;Miranda-de la Lama et al, 2013). Also, dominant cattle are willing to address the task of entering the handling chute, while subordinates adopt a passive strategy (Solano et al, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also, dominant cattle are willing to address the task of entering the handling chute, while subordinates adopt a passive strategy (Solano et al, 2004). During handling, subordinate goats approach closer to a handler than dominant goats (Miranda-de la Lama et al, 2013). This was the first study to examine the relationship between goats' social rank and behaviors during an unsolvable task.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Goats’ Performance in Unsolvable Tasks Is Predicted by Their Reactivity Toward Humans, but Not Social Rank

Yoshida

Koda

2020

Front. Psychol.

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In order to clarify the ability of animals to communicate with humans, it is necessary to examine the behaviors of animals directed at humans, taking into account individual differences. This study investigated whether the behaviors of goats (Capra hircus) can be predicted when given an unsolvable task. Two experiments were performed in a paddock using 16 domesticated goats. In Experiment 1, behavioral tests were conducted to determine the goats' social rank and reactivity toward a stranger. In Experiment 2, the goats' behaviors in an unsolvable task and two control conditions in which either only a human or bucket was presented were examined. The behaviors of the goats were video-recorded and compared between the conditions. Then, we examined whether the behaviors of goats in the presence of both the human and unsolvable task can be predicted from the scores for social rank and reactivity toward humans. Compared with the control conditions, the goats increased physical contact with the human, but did not increase gazing. It is possible that differences in individual characteristics and long-term experiences with humans can lead to differences in human-directed behaviors of animals. Although the social rank order of the goats was clearly linear, there was no correlation between their behaviors in the unsolvable task and their social rank. The goats that tended to interact with the stranger in Experiment 1 were more likely to approach and establish contact with the human in the unsolvable task than goats that reacted more averse toward humans. There was no association between the level of reactivity toward the stranger and the goats' involvements in the unsolvable task. Therefore, it is possible that the goats which increased interactions with humans did not necessarily have low motivation to engage in unsolvable tasks, but relied on humans as a means of communication. In conclusion, the behavioral changes and its diversity as the responses toward short-term changes in the environment, such as the presence or absence of humans and unsolvable tasks, were related to differences in individual behavioral characteristics (i.e., reactivity toward humans).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Goats’ Performance in Unsolvable Tasks Is Predicted by Their Reactivity Toward Humans, but Not Social Rank

Yoshida

Koda

2020

Front. Psychol.

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“…In horses, signs of stress can be characterized by vocalization, pawing, increased incidence of head movements, increased aggression, sweating, and increased respiratory and heart rates (Kay & Hall, 2009;Stull, 1997). Signs of stress in these species include an increased number of vocalizations and pawing to the ground, head movements, standing with their side facing you, or increased aggression toward the handler (Miranda de la Lama et al, 2013). Farm animals are used occasionally in therapy sessions.…”

Section: Other Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Our Ethical and Moral Responsibility

Ng¹,

Albright²,

Fine³

et al. 2015

Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy

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“…Therefore, low weight carcasses are obtained from these male kids due to their low live weight at slaughter. On the other hand, low-weight carcasses are also obtained in the extensive production system carried out with indigenous breeds, and the meat production potential of the kids is not sufficiently utilized (Ekiz et al, 2010;Özcan et al, 2010;. In both production models made with indigenous breeds under the extensive system and with dairy breeds under the semi-intensive or intensive systems, fattening of kids in the intensive fattening programme after weaning can be considered as an effective method to increase the production of kid meat (Yalcintan et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Haematological stress parameters and behavioural characteristics of dairy type goat kids compared to indigenous breeds during an intensive fattening programme

2020

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Abstract. In any production model, the extent to which the animals cope with the environment is important in terms of animal welfare and sustainability of production. The aim of the study was to investigate certain haematological parameters and behaviours of goat kids from dairy type Saanen and Maltese breeds via comparison with indigenous Hair and Gokceada breeds during the 10-week intensive fattening period. Eleven male goat kids each of Saanen, Maltese, Hair and Gokceada breeds were weaned at 3–3.5 months of age and then placed into four fattening pens prepared for each breed, separately. Cortisol, glucose and total protein levels were higher in Gokceada kids in the last period of the fattening compared to the kids of other breeds (P<0.05). In Gokceada kids, an evident decrease in the time spent hay feeding and on rumination and an increase in lying, standing and self-grooming behaviours were determined during the last 3 weeks of fattening. Moreover, there was a significant decrease regarding hay feeding in Hair goat kids in the last 2 weeks (P<0.05). Hair goat kids also exhibited less rumination behaviour compared to Saanen kids during the last 4 weeks of fattening (P<0.05). On the other hand, kids of dairy breeds did not express behavioural or biochemical stress responses during the fattening period. As a conclusion, when evaluated in terms of animal welfare, results of the current study may indicate that indigenous breeds, especially Gokceada kids, are not appropriate for intensive fattening in a pen.

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Environmental enrichment and social rank affects the fear and stress response to regular handling of dairy goats

Cited by 35 publications

References 40 publications

Goats’ Performance in Unsolvable Tasks Is Predicted by Their Reactivity Toward Humans, but Not Social Rank

Goats’ Performance in Unsolvable Tasks Is Predicted by Their Reactivity Toward Humans, but Not Social Rank

Our Ethical and Moral Responsibility

Haematological stress parameters and behavioural characteristics of dairy type goat kids compared to indigenous breeds during an intensive fattening programme

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