Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
PulseExploreClubsResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeClubsExplore
May 13, 2026AnimalsOpen Access

Influence of Farmer–Sheep Interactions in the Home Flock on Behaviour and Cortisol in a Communal Grazing Flock of Polish Mountain Sheep

View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Authors

PNPaulina NazarAJAndrzej JunkuszewKJKamila Janicka

Discussion

Loading...

Member takes

Overview

Observational study shows human contact influences cortisol and behaviour in communal grazing of Polish Mountain sheep.

Key Points

  • The research aims to investigate the impact of farmer-sheep interactions on sheep behaviour and cortisol levels.
  • Evaluated 191 Polish Mountain sheep from five farms
  • Classified farms based on farmer contact characteristics
  • Assessed sheep behaviour during milking using a five-point scale
  • Measured cortisol levels in serum from ten sheep per farm
  • Analyzed behavioural scores with a cumulative link mixed model
  • Mean behavioural scores ranged from 2.18 to 4.38
  • Mean cortisol concentrations ranged from 2.49 to 4.86
  • Sheep with more favourable human contact showed calmer behaviour during milking
  • Lower cortisol concentrations were linked to better human-sheep interaction

Cite This Study

Nazar et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a03cbe01c527af8f1ecfa3chttps://doi.org/10.3390/ani16101447
View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Social Behaviour in Lambs (Ovis aries) Reared under an Intensive System during the Prepuberty Period2024 · 6 citations
  2. 2Effect of Repeated Regrouping on Productivity and Physiological Parameters of Dairy Cows2025
  3. 3Physiological Effect of Gentle Stroking in Lambs2024 · 3 citations
  4. 4Interrelationships Between Behavioural and Physiological Responses and Milk Production in Dairy Cows2026
  5. 5Stress related to wild canid predators near dairy sheep farms associated with increased somatic cell counts in bulk-tank milk2024 · 1 citations