Dairy cattle's choice of handling treatmentsin a Y-maze (2003)

Pajor, E. A., Rushen, J., de Passill?a, A. M. B.

Abstract

24 cows were used to compare talking in a gentle voice versus control, gentle voice versus shouting, and shouting versus control. Cows showed no preference between talking in a gentle voice and control but chose control and talking in a gentle voice more often than shouting (P<0.05). .. Shouting and the use of cattle prods is aversive; tail twisting is not aversive, if done gently. Feeding is rewarding although, for heifers, feeding by hand may not be. We found no evidence that gentling or being spoken to in a gentle voice is rewarding for cattle.