Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia 2357 Main Mall, V6T 1Z4, Vancouver, Canada.
Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University 58 Sipu Road, B2N 5E3, Bible Hill, N.S., Canada.
Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 22;10(1):6847. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-63848-1.
Cognitive challenges may provide a form of enrichment to improve the welfare of captive animals. Primates, dolphins, and goats will voluntarily participate in learning tasks suggesting that these are rewarding, but little work has been conducted on livestock species. We investigated the motivation of 10 pairs of Holstein heifers to experience learning opportunities using a yoked design. All heifers were trained to perform an operant response (nose touch) on a variable interval schedule. Learning heifers then performed this response to access a discrimination learning task in which colour and texture of feed-bin lids signified a preferred reward (grain) vs. a non-preferred reward (straw). Control heifers received the same feed without a choice of bins or association of feed with lid type. Learning heifers approached the target to begin sessions faster (p = 0.024) and tended to perform more operant responses (p = 0.08), indicating stronger motivation. Treatments did not differ in the frequency with which heifers participated in voluntary training sessions. We conclude that heifers are motivated to participate in learning tasks, but that aspects of the experience other than discrimination learning were also rewarding. Cognitive challenges and other opportunities to exert control over the environment may improve animal welfare.
认知挑战可能为改善圈养动物福利提供一种丰富形式。灵长类动物、海豚和山羊会自愿参与学习任务，这表明它们是有回报的，但对家畜物种的研究很少。我们使用配对设计来研究 10 对荷斯坦奶牛的体验学习机会的动机。所有奶牛都经过训练，通过可变间隔计划进行操作性反应（鼻子触摸）。然后，学习奶牛执行此响应以访问区分学习任务，其中饲料箱盖的颜色和质地表示首选奖励（谷物）与非首选奖励（稻草）。对照奶牛获得相同的饲料，但没有选择饲料箱或饲料与箱盖类型的关联。学习奶牛更快地接近目标开始课程（p = 0.024），并且倾向于执行更多的操作性反应（p = 0.08），这表明它们的动机更强。治疗方法在奶牛参与自愿训练课程的频率上没有差异。我们得出结论，奶牛有参与学习任务的动力，但体验中的其他方面，而不仅仅是区分学习，也是有回报的。认知挑战和其他控制环境的机会可能会改善动物福利。
