human-animal interactions

Question 1

how does the animal perceive the interaction?

Answer 1

• what sensory modalities do they use
• species-specific
  
  • sensation/perception ➔ are they visual, auditory, etc.
  • prey/predator ➔ prey respond differently when frightened, etc.
• indiv-specific
  
  • familiarity
  • extreme +/− HAIs
  • ex: cows at fork chose + or neutral experiences over:
    
    • choose people with food over those without
    • choose people without food (neutral) over those that shout at/hit them
    • showed no preference btwn a person that shouts and person with electric prod

Question 2

human-animal interactions

Answer 2

the sensation/perception, (classical & operant) conditioning, familiarity, & previous experience of both human & animal influence the quality of interaction & relationship

1. how does the human perceive the interaction?
2. how does our behavior affect the animal?
3. how does the animal perceive the interaction?
4. how does the animal’s behavior affect the human?

Question 3

how does our behavior affect the animal?

Answer 3

• Taking animals’ perspective to improve our care:
  
  • ex: Temple Grandin (CSU) developed Squeeze Chute so cattle will move forward when handler crosses point of balance of each animal
  • used natural species-specific behavior patterns to ease handler’s effort & efficiency & cause less stress for cows
  • ex: quality of human handling impacts vigilance behavior in cattle ➔ Dairy cattle were more vigilant around human that was mean to them

Question 4

how does the human perceive the interaction?

Answer 4

• person’s attitude about animals influences their behavior toward animals
• negative cognitive bias further perpetuates negative perception
• ProHand = Cognitive-behavioral therapy/training program to change the behavior of stockpeople towards farm animals
• requires:
  
  • targeting the beliefs that underlie the behavior
  • targeting the behavior in question
  • maintaining changed beliefs and behaviors
• Stockperson Handling Questionnaire about personal experience with and attitudes & behaviors towards farm animals in past

Question 5

Human-Animal Relationship (HAR)

Answer 5

• a series of human-animal interactions (HAIs)
• can be negative, neutral or positive depending on the frequency and quality of the interactions between the individuals
• can be generalized to other individuals of group

Question 6

Anthrozoology

Answer 6

• Scientific study of HAIs and HARs
  
  • Therapy animals
  • Working animals
  • Pets
  • Wild animals in captivity
• encompases psychology, zoology, ethology, animal science

Question 7

Negative HAI or HAR

Answer 7

chronic fear of humans impairs production performance in livestock
- Chickens: ↓ eggs, growth, food, sexual activity
- Pigs: ↓ growth & reproductive performance
- Cattle: poor meat quality, reduced milk yield

Question 8

Positive HAI or HAR

Answer 8

• feeding, petting, inter-species play
• petting or gentle voices mimics natural grooming behavior
• Can ↓ fear of humans, increased quality of care, & lifespan of animals & humans
• early positive HAIs: socialization of animals during sensitive period
• early observation of positive HAIs: foals observing dam interacting with human improves ease of foal interacting with humans