Scientists shed light on sheepish expressions

Sheep are able tell if their flockmates are happy or not just by looking at their faces.

Those are the conclusions drawn by researchers after a study by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).

The animal welfare research, which was carried out in association with the French National Institute for Agricultural Research, discovered that facial expressions are a key social signal that can affect cognitive processes in small ruminants, such as sheep, goats and deer.

Researchers found that sheep can distinguish between negative and neutral facial expressions – and even the posture of their ears – in their flockmates.

The findings of the experiment, led by Dr Lucille Bellegarde, have been published in the academic journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

Dr Bellegarde said: “This study showed for the first time that sheep are not only able to discriminate between facial expressions, but they are also able to perceive the valence – in other words, negative or neutral – of the expressions displayed.

“In terms of animal welfare, it is essential to be able to understand how emotions are perceived between animals reared in groups.

“Because this emotional perception is likely to affect their own emotional state, it might take just one happy – or unhappy – sheep to make an entire flock happy, or unhappy.”

Dr Lucille Bellegarde led the study into sheep facial expressions.