Dairy cattle’s choice of handling treatments in a Y-maze

Abstract

Our objective was to study dairy cattle’s preferences for handling practices by allowing animals to choose treatments in a Y-maze. Animals were first trained to expect one treatment on one side of the maze and another treatment on the other side of the maze. Animals were then allowed to choose between the two sides. In all experiments treatments were balanced for arm of the maze, color of clothing and handler. In the first experiment we validated the use of the Y-maze, using 34 heifers who chose between (a) pail feeding versus control; (b) hit/shout versus control and (c) hit/shout versus pail feeding. Heifers chose (a) pail feeding more often than control ( P<0.001), and (b) control more than hit/shout ( P<0.001), and (c) pail feeding significantly more often than hitting and shouting ( P<0.001). This demonstrates that animals can choose between treatments. In a second experiment, 24 cows were given choices between various handling treatments thought to be aversive (a) shout versus hit, (b) shout versus cattle prod, and (c) control versus tail twist. No significant difference was found in any of the three comparisons. In a third experiment, 16 cows were used to determine if cows had a preference for hand feeding versus control and gentling versus control and 24 heifers were used to determine if a preference existed for gentling, pail feeding, or hand feeding over control. Cows showed no preference between control and gentling treatments but chose feeding by hand significantly more often than control ( P<0.05). In contrast, heifers showed no preference between control and hand feeding but chose pail feeding more often than the control treatment ( P<0.01). Heifers also showed no preference between control and gentling. In a fourth experiment, 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). Cattle can choose between handling treatments and the Y-maze is an effective method for determining cattle’s preferences. 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.