The Secret Lives of Goats

Goats Galore (May 2019)If you live in a drought-ridden,wildfire-prone area on the West Coast, you may see herds of goats chomping on dry grass and overgrown brush. This was initially surprising for many who live in urban areas, but it ' s become commonplace where I live. Announcements appear on local message boards, and families bring their children.Goats Goats Goats (June 2017)Goats are glamorous, and super popular on social media now (e.g.Instagram, moreInstagram, andTwitter). Over 41 million people have watchedGoats Yelling Like Humans - Super Cut Compilation on YouTube. We all know that goats have complex vocalizations, but very few of us know what they mean.For the health and well-being of livestock, it ' sadvantageous to understand the emotional states conveyed by vocalizations, postures, and other behaviors. A2015 study measured the acoustic features of different goat calls, along with their associated behavioral and physiological responses. Twenty-two adult goats were put in four situations:(1) control (neutral)(2) anticipation of a food reward (positive)(3) food-related frustration (negative)(4) social isolation (negative)Dr. Elodie Briefer and colleagues conducted the study at a goat sanctuary in Kent, UK (Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats). The caprine participants had lived at the sanctuary for at least two years and were fully habituated to humans. Heart rate and respiration were recorded as indicators of arousal, so this dimension of emotion could be considered sep...
Source: The Neurocritic - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Source Type: blogs