@inproceedings{8736466,
  abstract     = {{Low stress stockmanship (LSS) is based on using the right amount of pressure and release at the edge 
of a cow’s flight zone in combination with positioning oneself strategically relative to the cow’s points of 
balance. This study assessed the effects of LSS training on both human and animal behaviour.
Participating stockpersons (n=17) – all employees of the same free stall dairy farm – were asked to do 
the same animal handling assignment on 3 different time-points: within two weeks prior to training 
(baseline), three to four weeks after training (short term), and approximately three months after training 
(long term). Participants were requested to subsequently move three lying cows of choice out of the 
cubicle. Behaviour of both stockpersons and cows was assessed from video-recordings by a single 
observer blinded to the time-point. The occurrence of the behaviours of the ethogram was recorded
from the start of the assignment until the respective cow had moved out of the cubicle and had taken 
three steps on the walking alley. Additionally, a modified Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) was 
performed for each individual cow. Means of all three cows per stockperson per time-point were 
calculated for each behaviour separately and for pooled behaviours categorized as positive, neutral or 
negative and analysed for statistical differences using a mixed linear model.
LSS-training increased positive human behaviour in the short (P=0.001) and long term (P=0.001). 
Stockpersons more often used techniques such as exercising pressure and release, and placement of 
their foot near the cow’s head (although the latter was only numerically – not significantly – increased 
on the long term). Usage of a stick (to direct, tap or hit the cow) decreased after training (although only 
significantly for directing with a stick). In the long term, neutral and negative human behaviour 
decreased numerically (not significantly), each approximately by half as compared to before being 
trained. Positive animal behaviour was observed more often in the long term compared to the baseline 
assessment (P=0.016). Some positive (calm, friendly), and some negative emotional states (frustrated, 
distressed) of the QBA had respectively increased (P<0.001) and decreased (P<0.050) after the 
training. (Negative) tail flicking behaviour was reduced in the long term only (P<0.001).
In conclusion, LSS training did have some positive effects on the human-animal relation. Periodically 
raising awareness and/or refresher trainings might bring even more LSS benefits.}},
  articleno    = {{P103}},
  author       = {{Thys, Mirjan and Valckx, Marjolein and Vanden Berghe, Sigrid and Vandaele, Leen and Ampe, Bart and Tuyttens, Frank}},
  booktitle    = {{VIIIth UFAW Animal Welfare Conference on Recent Advances in Animal Welfare Science (UFAW2021), Abstracts}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  location     = {{online}},
  pages        = {{1}},
  title        = {{Effects of low stress stockmanship training on behaviour of stockpersons and dairy cows}},
  url          = {{https://www.ufaw.org.uk/downloads/ufaw-conference-virtual-21---poster-abstracts.pdf}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}