The relationship between farmers' attitude and behaviour towards calves, and productivity of veal units

Although veal production is highly standardised, there still remains variab ility in productivity between farms, which might be due to the farmers' beh aviour towards their animals, which in turn depends on their. attitude towa rds animals. Fifty farms affiliated with the same veal company were studied . The Farmers' behaviour with the calves was observed during one morning me al. The farmers were then asked to fill in questionnaires designed to measu re their attitude towards calves, and to obtain information about their bac kground (e.g. age, gender, level of education). The productivity results (d aily weight gain, feed conversion, and mortality rates) were obtained from the veal company. The frequency of gentle contacts was positively correlate d with the description the farmers made of their behaviour with the calves and their beliefs about the sensitivity of calves. Female fanners showed a more positive behaviour towards the calves, had more positive beliefs about the importance of contacts with calves, and made a more positive descripti on of their own behaviour. Positive behaviour was associated with better pr oductivity. Furthermore, bigger units had lower mortality rates. It is conc luded that for veal farmers, a positive attitude towards calves, a positive behaviour towards them, and good production results are linked.