Document type : Podcast of La Terre au carré (54 min)
Authors: Mathieu Vidard, Pauline Garcia, Alain Boissy
Preview: The study of farm animals by ethologists has made it possible to showcase the richness of cow behaviour. Did you know that cows have their own leaders?
Ethologists and behaviourists have taken an interest in domestic cattle because, like most ruminants, this species is a social one. Knowing the factors that determine or influence an individual cow's social position is central to the analysis of how the group functions. It can also enable interventions, whether under experimental conditions or as part of the management of cattle by farmers, to modify or mitigate the possible negative consequences of a cow's position in the hierarchy.
