Effect of gentle physical contact on behavioural indicators in sheep
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 d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Animal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731123002215 |
| _version_ | 1797682563337158656 |
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| author | J. Sokołowski K. Janicka G. Zięba A. Junkuszew I. Rozempolska-Rucińska |
| author_facet | J. Sokołowski K. Janicka G. Zięba A. Junkuszew I. Rozempolska-Rucińska |
| author_sort | J. Sokołowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:01:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d868ad9b2a0143d7b97cced773977d08 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-7311 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:01:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal |
| spelling | doaj.art-d868ad9b2a0143d7b97cced773977d082023-09-18T04:29:48ZengElsevierAnimal1751-73112023-09-01179100924Effect of gentle physical contact on behavioural indicators in sheepJ. Sokołowski0K. Janicka1G. Zięba2A. Junkuszew3I. Rozempolska-Rucińska4Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 Street, 20-950 Lublin, PolandInstitute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 Street, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; Corresponding author.Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 Street, 20-950 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Animal Breeding and Agricultural Consulting, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 Street, 20-950 Lublin, PolandInstitute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13 Street, 20-950 Lublin, PolandThe 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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731123002215EthologyEweHuman-Animal RelationshipMassageSocialisation |
| spellingShingle | J. Sokołowski K. Janicka G. Zięba A. Junkuszew I. Rozempolska-Rucińska Effect of gentle physical contact on behavioural indicators in sheep Animal Ethology Ewe Human-Animal Relationship Massage Socialisation |
| title | Effect of gentle physical contact on behavioural indicators in sheep |
| title_full | Effect of gentle physical contact on behavioural indicators in sheep |
| title_fullStr | Effect of gentle physical contact on behavioural indicators in sheep |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of gentle physical contact on behavioural indicators in sheep |
| title_short | Effect of gentle physical contact on behavioural indicators in sheep |
| title_sort | effect of gentle physical contact on behavioural indicators in sheep |
| topic | Ethology Ewe Human-Animal Relationship Massage Socialisation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731123002215 |
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