article = {DAHVS-2020-1-101}
title = {Attitude Characterization of Dairy Calves Handler’s in Commercial Dairy Farms}
journal = {Dairy Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science}
year = {2020}
issn = {}
doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.DAHVS.2020.01.01}
url = {https://www.sciencerepository.org/attitude-characterization-of-dairy-calves-handlers-in-commercial-dairy-farms_DAHVS-2020-1-101 
author = {G.  Santos,G. S.  Slanzon,M. E.  Reis,S. M.  S. Piedade,Carla Maris Machado Bittar,}
keywords = {Behaviour, human-animal interaction, performance, stock person, welfare}
abstract ={In dairy farms, the human-animal interaction is intense, especially with baby calves and the animal's
response is linked to the handler's behaviour. Considering that attitude of calves’ handlers can improve
animal performance, this study aimed to characterize it in order to understand important gaps. One hundred
handlers of commercial dairy farms located in Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Parana were interviewed. The
interview was conducted based on a semi-structured questionnaire applied by only one interviewer and
directed to calves’ handlers. The questionnaire was developed to collect data attitude of self-reports from
people responsible for handling calves. Pearson's correlation between the cognitive, affective and
behavioural components of the attitude of calves’ handlers and the performance of calves during the milkpreweaning were very low. Nearly seven of ten respondents had a positive attitude about the statement "care
with the prepartum cow may impact calf’s performance preweaning". For 55% of the handlers, calves should
receive more than two liters of colostrum in the first meal; however, for 39% of them, the volume should
be higher. Only 28% of handlers disagree that a newborn calf should ingest colostrum directly from the
dam. Almost six in ten handlers agree that a calf should be fed with dam’s colostrum. Three in ten
respondents do not agree with the statement "In the future, I would like to work in another sector". More
than half (52%) agree that they know how to raise calves, with higher percentage observed for the largest
farm’s handlers. For some variables, the handler has a positive attitude, but in practice, the behaviour
performed is not always the same. The behaviour of the calf’s handler may have positive affective and
cognitive components. All the handlers knew how to handle the animals or at least knew the importance of
the main actions in dairy calves handling. However, the behavioural component is based on actions,
differing attitude from behaviour. There is a strong need of training calves’ handlers so their attitude and
behaviour may be modulated to improve the efficiency of raising dairy calves.}