Directory UMM :Data Elmu:jurnal:A:Applied Animal Behaviour Science:Vol70.Issue3.Jan2001:
Applied Animal Behaviour Science 70 (2001) 187±199
Reactions of calves to handling depend on housing
condition and previous experience with humans
B.J. Lensinka,1, S. Raussib,c, X. Boivina,
M. PyykkoÈnenb, I. Veissiera,*
a
INRA, Centre de Clermont-Ferrand-Theix, Unite de Recherches sur les Herbivores,
63122 Saint-GeneÁs Champanelle, France
b
MTT Agricultural Engineering Research Vakola, 03400 Vihti, Finland
c
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Science Ð Animal Hygiene, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Accepted 29 May 2000
Abstract
This study investigated the in¯uence of stockperson's behaviour and housing conditions on
calves' behavioural reactions to people, and behavioural and physiological reactions to handling
and short transport. Sixty-four Finnish Ayrshire male calves were used; half of them were housed in
individual pens, the other half were housed in group pens of two calves. In both housing conditions
half of the calves received minimal contact from the stockperson, while the other half were stroked
on their necks and shoulders for 90 s a day, after milk meals. The effects of housing and contact
with the stockperson on the responses of calves to people, either entering or approaching the pen,
were studied. Furthermore, calves' behavioural and physiological (cortisol, heart rate) reactions to
being loaded onto a truck, transported for 30 min and unloaded were observed. When a person
entered the home pen, calves housed by pairs took signi®cantly more time to interact and interacted
less frequently with the person than individually housed calves did (p
Reactions of calves to handling depend on housing
condition and previous experience with humans
B.J. Lensinka,1, S. Raussib,c, X. Boivina,
M. PyykkoÈnenb, I. Veissiera,*
a
INRA, Centre de Clermont-Ferrand-Theix, Unite de Recherches sur les Herbivores,
63122 Saint-GeneÁs Champanelle, France
b
MTT Agricultural Engineering Research Vakola, 03400 Vihti, Finland
c
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Science Ð Animal Hygiene, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Accepted 29 May 2000
Abstract
This study investigated the in¯uence of stockperson's behaviour and housing conditions on
calves' behavioural reactions to people, and behavioural and physiological reactions to handling
and short transport. Sixty-four Finnish Ayrshire male calves were used; half of them were housed in
individual pens, the other half were housed in group pens of two calves. In both housing conditions
half of the calves received minimal contact from the stockperson, while the other half were stroked
on their necks and shoulders for 90 s a day, after milk meals. The effects of housing and contact
with the stockperson on the responses of calves to people, either entering or approaching the pen,
were studied. Furthermore, calves' behavioural and physiological (cortisol, heart rate) reactions to
being loaded onto a truck, transported for 30 min and unloaded were observed. When a person
entered the home pen, calves housed by pairs took signi®cantly more time to interact and interacted
less frequently with the person than individually housed calves did (p