The available literature provides ample evidence for the importance of gentle treatment and handling of farm animals for the establishment of relationships with humans. The present study is an attempt to verify the assumption that massage can be a tool for building sheep-human relationships and to determine the impact of this technique on the behaviour of lambs. In total, 40 3-week-old lambs (20 ewes of the synthetic prolific-meat line (BCP) and 20 Świniarka breed ewes) were assigned to two control groups (BCP, Świniarka) and two experimental groups (BCP, Świniarka). The lambs from the experimental groups received modified Shantala massage. During each session, the zoophysiotherapists massaged the chest, forelimbs, abdomen, hindlimbs, back, and face always in the same way and the same order. The massage was applied three times a day (at fixed times) for 21 consecutive days. Based on the behaviour manifested by the lambs during the massage sessions, a 2-point scale was developed for assessment of the animals from the research groups. After the massage, behavioural tests with the participation of a human, a dog, and a novel object were carried out for three consecutive days. Behaviours indicating curiosity (frequency of interaction, time of direct contact, latency) and fear (frequency of climbing and attempts to escape, duration of vocalisation) were assessed. The behavioural tests revealed significant differences in the behaviour of massaged and non-massaged lambs of both breeds, which confirms that the massage has a modifying effect on the behaviour of these animals. The influence of the applied technique was reflected by an increase in curiosity and a reduced level of fear.

This study analysed stocking density as a major stress factor for laying hens and assessed its impact on selected behavioural and physiological traits of the birds. The study population included 142 birds of the Green-legged Partridge breed (12 males and 132 females). The birds were randomly assigned to three experimental groups of standard, low, and high stocking density, and a modified open-field test was conducted to assess their behavioural traits. The following blood parameters were analysed: corticosterone, cortisol, and testosterone. The behavioural test results demonstrated an impact of stocking density on laying hens’ behaviour. The birds kept at a low density exhibited the greatest diversity in behaviour as well as the most frequent and longest locomotion. There were no differences between the groups in terms of stress hormone results. All groups showed a significant decrease in testosterone levels compared to the control. This may suggest that, despite differences in stocking, the structure was established quickly, resulting in decreased competition and, consequently, a positive impact on the birds. When kept in lower-stocking-density groups with a stable structure, birds are less competitive; this stable structure improves their well-being to a greater extent than the stocking density.

The sense of smell is the first sense by which horses determine the suitability of feed for consumption. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the degree of familiarity with the smell and taste of plants on horses’ olfactory exploration. Behavioural responses of twenty adult horses to nine herbs of three degrees of familiarity—least familiar (unknown in the first trial), known only by smell, and known by smell and taste—were investigated. During the tests, the horses were allowed to explore the individual herbs placed in a crib constructed to prevent them from eating the contents. Horses’ pre-consuming behaviour towards olfactory cues of plants was mainly expressed by different times of exploration. The horses explored herbs known by smell and taste less intensively than those initially unfamiliar, but not less intensively than herbs known only by smell. Thus, having more sensory experience (taste and olfactory) with a plant in the past, horses are often quicker to recognise plants based solely on the sense of smell in the future. The sex and type of the horse (warmblood, pony) may influence responses towards herbs of different levels of familiarity.

Social transmission of the animal-human relationship from mother to offspring has been found in horses, but we do not know whether it exists in cattle or other farmed animals. Vertical social transmission could facilitate a good animal-human relationship in calves raised by cows that have a good relationship with humans. We investigated the effect of a person interacting gently with foster cows on the later reactions of their foster calves toward humans. A total of 33 foster calves in 2 batches were assigned to 2 different treatments: 18 calves could observe a handler stroking and talking to their foster cow, and 15 calves only experienced the handler's presence and talking. Each calf experienced the respective treatment 5 times per week during the first 3 wk of life for 5 min/d. During the treatments, we recorded the behavior of the cows to assess whether they perceived the situation as positive. After the treatment period, we assessed the avoidance distance (AD) of the calves toward the handler and toward a less familiar person (the helper) in the home pen and the approach behavior and AD toward the handler in an unfamiliar environment. At ∼6 mo of age, we assessed the AD toward the handler and the helper of all available calves in the home pen. During the treatments, the cows displayed few behavioral signs of enjoyment, such as neck stretching or ear hanging. At 3 wk of age, we found no effect of the treatment on the calves' AD toward the handler or helper in the home pen, nor a significant effect on the AD or approach behavior toward the handler in the unfamiliar environment. The AD at ∼6 mo of age did not differ between the treatments. Calves that had the possibility to observe gentle interactions between a person and their foster cow did not have a better animal-human relationship than the calves experiencing the person's presence and talking alone. Because the cows did not show behavior indicative of enjoyment, the transmission of a positive animal-human relationship was impossible. In addition, direct learning effects might have occurred during the experiment, masking the effect of the treatment. Therefore, further investigations would be useful.

The level of stress is undoubtedly related to the position occupied by an individual in a social group. Research shows that this relationship is complex and can be ambiguous. The study involved 53-week-old 80 Greenlegged Partridge hens kept in four independent identical boxes divided by opaque...

Socialisation with humans and willingness to interact with them are essential traits for animals involved in animal-assisted services (AAS). This study examined whether goats without prior intensive socialisation with humans may show predispositions to AAS in terms of sociability towards people. Ten goats underwent four tests: (1) acceptance of human approach and touch, voluntary approach to (2) a passive and (3) an active human, and (4) a novel sound fear test. Tests 1–3 were conducted with the caretaker and a familiar neutral person, and 4 with the neutral person. The goats generally accepted being approached and touched but showed little interest in interacting voluntarily with humans. Goats’ responses did not differ between the caretaker and the neutral person (p > 0.05). In the fear test, goats escaped less often and returned more quickly after the sound playback when a human was present (p < 0.01). Female goats exhibited higher sociability towards humans. Overall, the goats demonstrated some predispositions to AAS, such as tolerance of human contact and a tendency to perceive humans as a source of support during stress. However, these traits alone are insufficient for participation in AAS. Additional training is needed to increase the goats’ willingness to initiate interactions with people.