Validation of behavioural tests for personality assessment in tie-stall dairy cows
- 1McGill University
Abstract
The study of animal personality has gained increasing attention in recent years, as researchers recognize that non-human animals exhibit stable individual differences in behaviour. In dairy cattle, understanding personality traits holds potential for improving animal welfare, enhancing management practices, and supporting productivity outcomes. However, validating the behavioural tests used to assess these traits remains a significant challenge. The present study aimed to evaluate the consistency and validity of five commonly used behavioural tests in dairy cows: the Human Approach Test (HAT), Sudden Test (SUD), Novel Object Test (NOT), Open Field Test (OFT), and Novel Surface Test (NST). These tests were chosen for their potential to assess personality dimensions that parallel components of human personality, particularly Openness, Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Agreeableness. Repeated assessments were conducted across three time periods to evaluate both intra-test (temporal) and inter-test (contextual) consistency. Results revealed that only the SUD exhibited significant behavioural consistency across all periods, suggesting its potential as a reliable tool for personality assessment. Additionally, a moderate correlation between the HAT and SUD was observed, indicating that these tests may capture overlapping personality traits. In contrast, the remaining tests (NOT, OFT, NST) lacked consistent behavioural patterns over time and across contexts, raising questions about their reliability and the complexity of trait expression. These findings highlight the challenges of identifying stable personality traits in cattle and emphasize the need for more rigorous validation of behavioural tests. This research contributes to the growing field of animal personality by providing insights into trait stability, the limitations of current testing methods, and the potential application of personality assessment in future livestock management practices.
Related
- Under pressure: personality, behavioural and physiological responses to handling in captive Addax nasomaculatus antelopes
- The role of animal personality in behavioural welfare diagnostics: a case study in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)
- A mechanistic, mortality-referenced biological age from routine blood tests: construction and temporal validation of IQN-BIOAGE-01
- Temperament assessment of black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinos using keeper temperament surveys and novel object tests
- Adaptation and validation of the Advanced Practice Nursing Competency Assessment Instrument
BibTeX
@misc{xu2026validation,
title = {{Validation of behavioural tests for personality assessment in tie-stall dairy cows}},
author = {X. Xu and M. Cellier and N. Aigueperse and A. B. Diallo and E. Vasseur},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.25.754475},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.754475v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Validation of behavioural tests for personality assessment in tie-stall dairy cows
AU - X. Xu
AU - M. Cellier
AU - N. Aigueperse
AU - A. B. Diallo
AU - E. Vasseur
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.25.754475
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.754475v1
AB - The study of animal personality has gained increasing attention in recent years, as researchers recognize that non-human animals exhibit stable individual differences in behaviour. In dairy cattle, understanding personality traits holds potential for improving animal welfare, enhancing management practices, and supporting productivity outcomes. However, validating the behavioural tests used to assess these traits remains a significant challenge. The present study aimed to evaluate the consistency and validity of five commonly used behavioural tests in dairy cows: the Human Approach Test (HAT), Sudden Test (SUD), Novel Object Test (NOT), Open Field Test (OFT), and Novel Surface Test (NST). These tests were chosen for their potential to assess personality dimensions that parallel components of human personality, particularly Openness, Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Agreeableness. Repeated assessments were conducted across three time periods to evaluate both intra-test (temporal) and inter-test (contextual) consistency. Results revealed that only the SUD exhibited significant behavioural consistency across all periods, suggesting its potential as a reliable tool for personality assessment. Additionally, a moderate correlation between the HAT and SUD was observed, indicating that these tests may capture overlapping personality traits. In contrast, the remaining tests (NOT, OFT, NST) lacked consistent behavioural patterns over time and across contexts, raising questions about their reliability and the complexity of trait expression. These findings highlight the challenges of identifying stable personality traits in cattle and emphasize the need for more rigorous validation of behavioural tests. This research contributes to the growing field of animal personality by providing insights into trait stability, the limitations of current testing methods, and the potential application of personality assessment in future livestock management practices.
ER -