The quality of human-animal interactions on farms is one of the most significant determinants of livestock welfare, with poor stockmanship causing chronic fear and stress.
The relationship between livestock and the humans who manage them is a fundamental welfare variable that receives insufficient policy attention. Fearful livestock are chronically stressed livestock, with measurable impacts on health, productivity, and behavior. Training stockpeople in low-stress handling techniques and positive human-animal relationship development is one of the most cost-effective welfare interventions available.