Are Individuals Who Engage in Cruelty to Dairy Cattle More Likely to Exhibit Human-Directed Aggression?

Abstract

Animal cruelty can take many forms such as neglect, intentional abuse, animal sexual assault, or animal hoarding. It falls on the spectrum of antisocial behaviours such as serial murder, rape, intimate partner violence. While previous research has explored the association between animal cruelty and various forms of human-directed violence, little attention has been paid to the relationship between animal cruelty in dairy settings and human-directed aggression among dairy operators. The present study examined whether dairy operators working in environments characterised by animal cruelty exhibit higher levels of aggression towards humans than individuals not engaged in dairy operations. The sample for the study comprised 45 dairy operators and 45 individuals residing in the same geographical region with no involvement in dairy activities in Karnal, Haryana. Karnal was selected as a study location given its substantial dairy activity, while the dairy participants were recruited from the area surrounding Pingli Road, which includes a dairy colony with a concentration of dairy operations. Data was collected using the Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire and an Animal Cruelty Checklist drawn from the conceptualization of animal cruelty as per Sections 11(1) and 12 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
It was hypothesised that individuals working in dairy farming operations would report significantly higher levels of human-directed aggression than individuals not involved in dairy farming operations. The findings indicated that individuals engaged in dairy operations have a higher propensity for human-directed aggression than those not involved in dairy operations. Furthermore, all dairy sites showed signs of animal cruelty according to the Animal Cruelty Checklist, highlighting an association between animal cruelty and elevated aggression among the operators involved in dairy operations. The study has implications for animal and societal welfare.