Choregraphed interactions with cows to rethinking livestock subjectivity and Human-animal collaborations | La danse pour révéler et interroger nos liens aux animaux d’élevage
2024
Fernanda de Torres, Maria | Farruggia, Anne | Daranlot, Loona | Mouret, Sébastien | Roux, Pierre | Prieur, Michel | Cassen, Sebastien | Innovation et Développement dans l'Agriculture et l'Alimentation (UMR Innovation) ; Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut Agro Montpellier ; Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro) | Domaine expérimental de Saint-Laurent-de-la-Prée (DSLP) ; Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE) | Cie O'Tresses | Chrystal production | INRAE | European Federation of Animal Science. University of Sassari. University of Pisa.
International audience
Show more [+] Less [-]English. Livestock are more than just sources of food and opportunities for circularity; they are sensitive beings with which humans build relationship through labour. This study aims to rethinking the collaborative relationships between humans and animals in livestock farming. To achieve this, scientists and artists collaborated on a project involving choreographed interactions with cows. Dancing moments took place in the fields and in the barn in an experimental farm of INRAE, a member of the Global Farm Platform. Researchers and animal handlers observed the interactions then shared their perceptions and feelings with the dancer. We shed light together on the role of emotions, bodies, subtle knowledge, but also observation-contemplation in farming practices. Doing this, we highlighted the invisible working relationships between animals handler and animals. Furthermore, animal handlers emphasized the importance of observation and spending time with the animals, a practice once disregarded as unproductive, in order to understand the herd, their behaviour and their becoming. The invitation to dance with the cows provided us with an insight into the farmers' mindset, their labour, and their connection with their animals. The collection of various elements throughout the process, including testimonies, videos, and photos, resulted in the production of a sociological and anthropological analysis, as well as a documentary intended for both scientists and the general public.
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Bibliographic information
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