2011 Volume 82 Issue 4 Pages 391-395
Salivary amylase activity (SAA) of 123 individuals from 36 families who participated in an animal-assisted feeding using sheep as models were measured in order to evaluate the effect of other domestic animal-assisted feeding on the physical status of the participants. For all the participants, SAA measured after participation did not significantly differ from that measured before participation. However, in the case of sons and daughters who are currently feeding animals, the SAA measured after participation was lesser than that measured before participation. In the case of mothers who had fed animals in the past but currently do not feed animals, the SAA measured after participation was greater than that measured before participation. The results indicate that age and gender affected the physical status of the individuals who participated in the animal-assisted event using sheep. The results also indicate that an experience in animal feeding influences the physical status of the participants.
