Managing Poultry: Human–Bird Interactions and Their Implications

Abstract

Human–animal interactions are a common feature of modern intensive livestock systems and these interactions may have marked effects on animal productivity and welfare. Research, particularly in the dairy and pig industries, has shown that the interactions between stockpeople and their animals can limit the productivity and welfare of livestock (Hemsworth and Coleman, 1998). Many of these interactions are routinely and, at times, habitually used by stockpeople. While these interactions may appear harmless to the animals, this research has shown that the frequent use of some of these routine behaviours by stockpeople can result in farm animals becoming highly fearful of humans. It is these high fear levels, through stress, that appear to limit animal productivity and welfare (Hemsworth and Coleman, 1998).