Reducing veal calves' reactivity to people by providing additional human contact (2000)

Lensink, B. J., Boivin, X., Pradel, P. et al.

Abstract

Being stroked and sucking the stockperson's fingers [after each meal] seemed to be experienced as positive by the calf, because they reduced withdrawal from and increased approaches to familiar and unfamiliar humans in familiar and unfamiliar environments. Such a lower reactivity to people could improve ease of handling, animal performance, and animal welfare.