|
Cows
Apr 19, 2020 2:32:31 GMT -7
Adele likes this
Post by Jane on Apr 19, 2020 2:32:31 GMT -7
I was watching a programme last night about cows. Some cows in a dairy herd were tested to see if they could learn to ring a bell and get food as a reward (this was via a lever which they pushed with their noses) rather like other animals such as rats can. To start with the food was in a small trough just below the lever. A person was standing right next to the cow and putting the food in the trough when the cow rang the bell.
The next stage involved no food being visible in order to see if they had made the connection between ringing the bell and getting food. The person was hiding behind a screen ready to put the food in. Two of the three cows never made the connection and when they were brought out to the bell and there was no food visible they didn't ring the bell. The third cow was brought out and she rang the bell, getting a reward of food each time and she just kept on ringing the bell until the food ran out. Interestingly the third cow was the one they thought would be the most likely to make the connection as the owner of the herd thought she was the most intelligent.
Jane
|
|
|
Cows
Apr 19, 2020 8:13:14 GMT -7
Post by Haz on Apr 19, 2020 8:13:14 GMT -7
I assume that all living creatures have different levels of intelligence with some of the same species being more intelligent than others. It doesn't surprise me that it is so with cows.
Haz
|
|
|
Cows
Apr 19, 2020 16:05:27 GMT -7
Post by Adele on Apr 19, 2020 16:05:27 GMT -7
|
|
|
Cows
Apr 21, 2020 5:55:01 GMT -7
Adele likes this
Post by Jane on Apr 21, 2020 5:55:01 GMT -7
I wonder if it is different intelligence or just different preferences that led to some cows never using the showers and another using it 7 hours a day.
The owner in the bell ringing study knew all the cows very well, they all had different personalities and were really friendly and gentle but there was one she didn't like and who didn't like her either.
Jane
|
|
|
Cows
Apr 28, 2020 18:15:50 GMT -7
Post by Adele on Apr 28, 2020 18:15:50 GMT -7
I think it is a mixture of desires and that some things like that just click with certain cows. A lot of European dairy farms use the automatic milkers. They give cows a treat for going into the milker. They have to teach the cows how to use it. But there are a handful of cows within each dairy that never learn and they have to milk them manually.
I imagine that some really love the idea of a shower and are more curious and figure out how to use it, and others don't care much and don't have much curiosity.
|
|