Behavioural responses of domestic pigs and cattle to humans and novel stimuli

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted on pigs and beef cattle to study whether or not regular exposure to either humans or novel objects resulted in stimulus-specific or generalised behavioural responses. Groups of pigs and cattle were allocated to one of three treatments: regular brief exposure to either (1) an experimenter handling the animals in a positive manner (Human treatment) or (2) three novel objects (Novel Object treatment) and (3) minimal contact with humans and novel objects (Minimal treatment). After 4 weeks of treatment, the behavioural responses of the animals to humans and novel objects were studied. Pigs in the human treatment were quicker (P < 0.01) to physically interact with th..