livestock-management
Livestock management encompasses the practices and techniques for raising domesticated animals within agricultural systems. It is integral to plant science because livestock management directly influences soil nutrient cycling, vegetation composition, and ecosystem health through grazing pressure, manure deposition, and land-use patterns. Effective integration of livestock management with plant research is essential for developing sustainable agricultural systems that support both crop and forage productivity.
PubMed · 2026-02-14
This study found no evidence that calves learn better relationships with humans by observing their foster cows being gently handled. The foster cows showed little enjoyment during interactions, preventing any positive relationship transmission to offspring.
No effect of observing gentle cow-handler interactions on calf avoidance distance at 3 weeks or 6 months of age
Foster cows displayed minimal behavioral signs of enjoyment (neck stretching, ear hanging) during handling sessions
Direct learning effects may have masked treatment differences; vertical social transmission of animal-human relationships did not occur