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The human–animal relationship is an important issue when assessing animal welfare on farms, but generally accepted and used methods for its practical assessment on dairy farms have been lacking until now. The aim of this study was to validate different farm test of cows reactions towards humans concerning the ability to reflect the quality of the human–animal relationship and investigate the relative importance of other factors influencing the relationship. On 35 dairy farms with loose housing, avoidance distance of cows in the stable, avoidance reactions in the feeding rack and approach behaviour towards an unfamiliar person as well as approach to a novel object were tested. The behaviour of stockpeople towards cows, their management of cows, social interactions of the herd and animal, herd and housing variables were recorded. Avoidance distances in the stable were highly correlated with intensity/quality and continuity of contact (herd median of avoidance distance, ADME: r s =−0.66; percentage of cows with avoidance distance 0, AD0: r s =0.55; both P r s =−0.66; AD0: r s =0.59; both P P |
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