. 2023 Mar 29;21(3):e07896. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7896

Table 18.

ABMs of handling stress in cow–calf contact systems

ABM	Comments
Injurious events during handling	Definition: Calf is falling, stumbling, bumping into equipment or another calf in reaction to handling (adapted from Welfare Quality®). Sensitivity: High. Specificity: Low. Not all calves experiencing handling stress may fall or bump into equipment.
Avoidance distance	Definition: % of animals that avoid touching attempt. Calf escape test (5‐point score, Welfare Quality® protocol; Bokkers et al., 2009; Leruste et al., 2012). Sensitivity: High. Specificity: High.

ABM

Comments

Injurious events during handling

Definition: Calf is falling, stumbling, bumping into equipment or another calf in reaction to handling (adapted from Welfare Quality®).

Sensitivity: High.

Specificity: Low. Not all calves experiencing handling stress may fall or bump into equipment.

Avoidance distance

Definition: % of animals that avoid touching attempt.

Calf escape test (5‐point score, Welfare Quality® protocol; Bokkers et al., 2009; Leruste et al., 2012).

Sensitivity: High.

Specificity: High.