Some cows are optimists, others more cynical

Recognizing personality differences key to ensure animals are treated well: study

Some cows put the “moo” in moody. But others are just natural cynics, says a new study.

In a paper published Jan. 23 in Scientific Reports, a team of researchers from UBC’s animal welfare program found that some calves, just like humans, are more optimistic or pessimistic than others.

Recognizing these personality differences is important to ensure animals are treated well, said professor Marina von Keyserlingk, who led the research team and is a co-author of the study along with Daniel Weary. PhD candidate Benjamin Lecorps was lead author on the study.

“I’m an animal welfare scientist and so the types of research that we do is to try to make better lives for animals,” said von Keyserlingk.

“We tend to look at groups,” she said, “and then we deal in the average of the group.

“So I’ve been really interested from the perspective of the individual animal because the group still may be OK as a whole, but it’s the individual that suffers.”

In the study, 22 calves were placed in a small pen with five holes in the wall, arranged in a horizontal line.

The hole at one end contained milk from a bottle, while the hole at the opposite end contained an empty bottle that only delivered a puff of air in the calves’ faces.

Once the calves were trained to expect reward at one end of the pen and disappointment at the other, researchers placed a bottle of milk at one of the three holes in between, predicting that the more optimistic calves would approach the bottle even if it were positioned near the hole that only delivered disappointment, whereas more pessimistic calves would avoid the hole.

While the calves overall varied in their choices, individual calves remained consistent, even making similar choices three weeks apart.

The researchers were able to conclude that pessimism was a consistent individual trait and not just the result of temporary moods or emotions.

Von Keyserlingk, who grew up on a farm and owns pets, said she expected the calves to be different, and was excited to discover just how clear and varied those differences were.

“We also saw that spectrum, which you see in people,” said von Keyserlingk.

“You have people, that their personalities are more optimistic. They view the cup as half-full.

“And then you have other people who, their personalities, they tend to be more pessimistic. And we saw that same thing in these calves.”

Von Keyserlingk, the lead author of a 2017 study that found cows have an innate need to graze outdoors, said this new research could allow farmers to tailor a cow’s environments to the specific needs of the animal.

“You may have an overly optimistic calf, and an overly optimistic calf would expect to receive rewards because that’s in their personality is that they’re hopeful that they’re going to get some sort of reward,” she said.

“What would happen in the long run if they never got the reward? Would they become more frustrated?

“On the flip side, you have a calf that’s very pessimistic, very fearful,and you put them in an environment that is continually changing for whatever reason. It may actually make their lives pretty miserable.”

Von Keyserlingk said that the purpose of this study is to “increase the chances that they would have a better life,” but she acknowledged that farmers could shrug at the results.

“The onus is back on us, then, to come up with ways of being able to deal with the individuals in practical ways that work for the farmer.”