Volume: 2, 2023
2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A008
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.A008
Published online: 19 April 2023
ICDSUPL, 2, A008 (2023)
Human-oriented sheep follow human in a spatial problem-solving task
Kamila Janicka1*, Wiktoria Janicka2, Jacek Sokołowski1
1 Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
2 Department of Horse Breeding and Use, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: kamila.janicka@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
Positive human-animal interactions can lead to development of heterospecific affinity that can have a calming and rewarding impact on sheep. For social species, social learning is crucial for exchanging information on foraging, predator avoidance strategies, mating decisions, or problem solving. Some animals, refer to humans when faced with an unsolvable problem and can use human pointing gestures to gather information about their environment. We tested the effect of rearing under intensive human-contact conditions on sheep’ s ability to solve a spatial problem task through individual and heterospecific social learning. Fifteen adult ewes kept as companion animals were exposed to a v-shaped detour task. Prior to the experiment, they were divided into two groups differing in the level of sociability to a human. Then, sheep classified as human-oriented (more sociable) and flock-oriented (less sociable) were subjected to two configurations of a spatial task separated by a break of two weeks and compromising 16 trials each (four trials for four consecutive day): inward + human demonstrator, and inward without a demonstrator. Ewes adapted well to the experimental setting and successfully completed the vast majority of spatial task’ trials, which suggests that sheep kept under intensive human-contact conditions were able to solve a spatial problem task through individual and social learning from humans. Due to reduced level of fear and a sort of affinity to a caretaker, they were able to focus on the task and to efficiently pass the following trials. However, more sociable individuals outperformed flock-oriented animals in all two test configurations. Moreover, only human-oriented sheep were able to perceive and use social cues from a human demonstrator. Our finding indicates the importance of long-term positive human-animal interactions and affinity to humans on cognitive functions and ability of sheep to socially learn from humans. This knowledge should be regarded in sheep management.
How to cite
K. Janicka, W. Janicka, J. Sokołowski, 2023. Human-oriented sheep follow human in a spatial problem-solving task. In: 2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.A008