Human-Livestock Interactions The Stockperson and the Productivity of Intensively Farmed Animals

About this book

Ever since the earliest days of animal agriculture, it has been recognized that the stockperson caring for livestock plays a crucial role in managing their health, productivity and welfare. However, until recently very little research had been conducted to assess and quantify this and to evaluate the implications for the training of stockpersons. This book applies scientific rigour to the subject. It considers the full range of human characteristics which have implications for animal performance and welfare, and quantifies these effects. It then provides details of and the rationale for training and selection programmes to manipulate these human characteristics in the animal industries in order to improve animal performance and welfare. The book provides a contribution to the literature and should interest workers in animal production and veterinary science, as well as applied psychologists and ethologists.

Contents

Preface

1. Introduction: the Stockperson as a Professional - Skills, Knowledge and Status
2. Farm Animal Welfare: Assessment, Issues and Implications
3. Human-Animal Interactions and Animal Productivity and Welfare
4. Attitudes of Stockpeople
5. Stockperson Behaviour and Animal Behaviour
6. A Model of Stockperson-Animal Interactions and their Implications for Livestock
7. Changing Stockperson Attitudes and Behaviour
8. Conclusion: Current and Future Opportunities to Improve Human-Animal Interactions in Livestock Production
References
Index

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