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Abstract
This study examined the relationships between the attitude and the behaviour of the
stockperson towards cows and the behavioural response to humans and the milk production
of cows at 31 commercial dairy farms over one lactation. The attitude of the stockperson
was measured on the basis of the stockperson's opinion of the cow's behaviour and
how the stockperson evaluated his own behaviour. The behaviour of the stockperson
was measured by recording the nature and frequency of the tactile interactions and
some visual and auditory interactions directed towards the cows. The behavioural response
of cows to humans was assessed by observing their approach behaviour to an unfamiliar
experimenter in a standard test and production records were collected for the entire
lactation at each farm. Correlation and regression analyses using farm averages were
used to examine relationships between human and cow variables. Several cow behaviour
variables, indicative of fear of humans, were moderately (P<0.05) to highly (P<0.01)
correlated with milk yield and composition and regression analysis indicated that
fear of humans accounted for 19% of the variation in milk yield between farms. The
results suggest that at farms where milk yield was low, cows showed less approach
to the experimenter in the standard fear test than at farms where milk yield was higher.
A composite attitude score, based on the responses of stockpeople to questions about
patting and talking to cows, ease of movement of cows and cows recognising unfamiliar
stockpeople, was moderately (P<0.05) to highly (P<0.01) correlated with the behaviour
of the stockperson. While a number of stockperson behaviour variables were correlated
(P<0.05) with milk yield, the former variables were generally poorly correlated with
cow behaviour. Therefore these preliminary findings provide evidence that, as seen
in the pig industry, sequential relationships may exist between the attitude and behaviour
of the stockperson and the behaviour and productivity of commercial dairy cows. Research
is required to further examine these relationships because of the possible implications
on cow productivity and welfare.