Cows are smarter when raised in pairs
EurekAlert
February 26, 2014
Cows learn better when housed together, which may help them adjust faster to complex new feeding and milking technologies on the modern farm, a new University of British Columbia study finds.
The research, published today in PLOS ONE, shows dairy calves become better at learning when a "buddy system" is in place. The study also provides the first evidence that the standard practice of individually housing calves is associated with certain learning difficulties.
"Pairing calves seems to change the way these animals are able to process information," said Dan Weary, corresponding author and a professor in UBC's Animal Welfare Program. "We recommend that farmers use some form of social housing for their calves during the milk feeding period."
As farms become increasingly complex, with cattle interacting with robotic milkers, automated feeding systems and other technologies, slow adaptation can be frustrating for cows and farmers alike.
"Trouble adjusting to changes in routine and environment can cause problems for farmers and animals," Weary says, adding that the switch from an individual pen to a paired one is often as simple as removing a partition.
Full text:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-02/uobc-cas022514.php
19Likes
plan to fail !!!
So long, Tom 
I know that when I'm dealing with just her it's a heck of a lot easier than having to wrangle around those two steers !!!
That just makes me so sad. What is *wrong* with people ? Poor animals. We owe them so much more than we are willing to give.
