Goats can locate food by following human voice, study finds
7 reported2 unconfirmed
Researchers have discovered that goats are able to follow the direction of a human voice to find food, according to a study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. The study, led by Prof Simon Townsend and Dr Stuart Watson of the University of Zürich, tested 29 goats in 12 trials each. When a hidden researcher spoke excitedly toward a baited bucket, goats moved toward it 60% of the time on average. When the researcher was silent or faced away, goats performed no better than chance. The team said the results suggest goats can follow an unseen human’s voice without training. The study notes that similar vocal cue-following has not been found in chimpanzees but has been shown in dogs, raising a possible link to domestication. The researchers said the findings may help understand cognitive changes that make species more compatible with human living.
What’s reported
Researchers from the University of Zürich conducted the study.
The study was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
29 goats each underwent 12 trials.
Goats moved toward the treat-filled bucket 60% of the time when the researcher made excited sounds in its direction.
Goats succeeded at chance level when the researcher was silent (47%) or faced away (49%).
The ability to follow vocal cues has not been found in chimpanzees but has been shown in dogs.
Previous research found goats can follow pointing gestures, distinguish emotion in human voices, and prefer positive human facial expressions.
Open questions
Whether the ability is innate or linked to domestication.
Whether goats pay attention to the direction of each other’s vocalisations.
Key figures
Prof Simon Townsend, senior author, University of Zürich
Dr Stuart Watson, first author, University of Zürich
Sources: The Guardian
