Measuring the human–animal relationship in cows by avoidance distance at pasture

The human–animal relationship is an essential part of farm animal welfare. Avoidance distance at the feeding rack (ADF) has been validated as a measure (HAR) for cows indoors, but no pasture yet. aim this study was to test validity ‘avoidance pasture’ (ADP) HAR grazing dairy cows. We assessed following criteria both ADP and ADF: inter-observer reliability, test–retest stability over season. also selectivity by convergent with ADF. Two persons (randomly alternating between experimenter carrying out observer watching test) estimated ADF twice on 48 During season, one person measured two days apart reliability 7 times (at 5-week intervals) For these tests, approached cow from front, his hand held approximately 45°, experimenter's moment cow's first avoidance movement. season were analyzed individual level using (e.g. Spearman’s rank correlation (RS), Kendall’s coefficient concordance (KW)), agreement parameters smallest detectable change (SDC)). A linear mixed model used investigate ADP. Inter-observer high (i.e. satisfactory) (RS>0.7). SDC around 55 cm whereas it 127 Test–retest (RS=0.7) moderate (RS=0.5). Stability (0.5<KW<0.6). found significant In conclusion, acceptable not stable short-term or long-term time related cannot be entirely stage. Further studies are warranted address factors that make variable through construct process.