Human communication with pigs: The behavioural response of pigs to specific human signals

Abstract

A knowledge of the influence of behavioural and non-behavioural characteristics of humans on the behavioural responses of pigs to humans is required for the development of approach and handling procedures by stockpersons which achieve and maintain human-animal relationships in which the animals are not fearful of humans. Three experiments were conducted to compare the nature of several possible signals which humans may release when interacting with pigs. The nature of the signals was compared by quantifying the approach behaviour of the pig to the experimenter releasing the appropriate signals in four 3-min tests over an 8-day period. Pigs approached the experimenter significantly more (P < ..