>>Should you encounter a herd of cows munching on a field of grass, you might very well hear them emit some emphatic “moos.” It’s hard for humans to decipher these cow calls, but a new study shows that our bovine buddies communicate using unique voices, which remain consistent across a range of emotional circumstances.

Using acoustic analyses programs, the researchers determined that the cows maintained individual vocal cues, whether they were communicating arousal, excitement or distress. It is “highly likely,” the study authors write, that cows are able to recognize other members of their herd through these calls. Listening back to her recordings, even Green could pick up on differences in the vocalizations.

In total, Green and her colleagues recorded 333 high-frequency vocalizations from 13 heifers

The researchers’ findings align with previous observations indicating that cows are profoundly social creatures, which live in herds with observable hierarchies, experience long-term effects when they are separated from their mothers at an early age, and even learn better when they have their buddies around. It makes sense, in other words, that the animals would use vocal cues to aid in recognition of other herd members.

The study also adds to our understanding of the richness of cows’ social and emotional lives, an important finding at a time when cow welfare is severely compromised by mass farming practices. Farmers could use cow vocalizations to detect the wellbeing of distinct cattle, the study authors say—but treating cows as individual creatures with unique needs is often not a priority of industry farms.<<

Just don’t leave you gun unattended.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cows-communicate-unique-moos-1-180973971/

PermeateFree said:

>>Should you encounter a herd of cows munching on a field of grass, you might very well hear them emit some emphatic “moos.” It’s hard for humans to decipher these cow calls, but a new study shows that our bovine buddies communicate using unique voices, which remain consistent across a range of emotional circumstances.

Using acoustic analyses programs, the researchers determined that the cows maintained individual vocal cues, whether they were communicating arousal, excitement or distress. It is “highly likely,” the study authors write, that cows are able to recognize other members of their herd through these calls. Listening back to her recordings, even Green could pick up on differences in the vocalizations.

In total, Green and her colleagues recorded 333 high-frequency vocalizations from 13 heifers

The researchers’ findings align with previous observations indicating that cows are profoundly social creatures, which live in herds with observable hierarchies, experience long-term effects when they are separated from their mothers at an early age, and even learn better when they have their buddies around. It makes sense, in other words, that the animals would use vocal cues to aid in recognition of other herd members.

The study also adds to our understanding of the richness of cows’ social and emotional lives, an important finding at a time when cow welfare is severely compromised by mass farming practices. Farmers could use cow vocalizations to detect the wellbeing of distinct cattle, the study authors say—but treating cows as individual creatures with unique needs is often not a priority of industry farms.<<

Just don’t leave you gun unattended.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cows-communicate-unique-moos-1-180973971/

Brett used to moo at coos.

His favourites were cow calling calf and calf calling cow.
Distressed calf was another.

We were once in the NSw Snowy high country and he called in a herd of cows that were scattered over many acres. We were sitting in the car totally surrounded within a few minutes.

Another time in the north of Tassie we were staying at a farm with lots of young replacement heifers not long off their mums. He had them running from one end of the field to the other looking for their mother. It was a hoot but also a bit distressing…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0ddKW2gU7Y

Its a moo point.

PermeateFree said:

>>Should you encounter a herd of cows munching on a field of grass, you might very well hear them emit some emphatic “moos.” It’s hard for humans to decipher these cow calls, but a new study shows that our bovine buddies communicate using unique voices, which remain consistent across a range of emotional circumstances.

Using acoustic analyses programs, the researchers determined that the cows maintained individual vocal cues, whether they were communicating arousal, excitement or distress. It is “highly likely,” the study authors write, that cows are able to recognize other members of their herd through these calls. Listening back to her recordings, even Green could pick up on differences in the vocalizations.

In total, Green and her colleagues recorded 333 high-frequency vocalizations from 13 heifers

The researchers’ findings align with previous observations indicating that cows are profoundly social creatures, which live in herds with observable hierarchies, experience long-term effects when they are separated from their mothers at an early age, and even learn better when they have their buddies around. It makes sense, in other words, that the animals would use vocal cues to aid in recognition of other herd members.

The study also adds to our understanding of the richness of cows’ social and emotional lives, an important finding at a time when cow welfare is severely compromised by mass farming practices. Farmers could use cow vocalizations to detect the wellbeing of distinct cattle, the study authors say—but treating cows as individual creatures with unique needs is often not a priority of industry farms.<<

Just don’t leave you gun unattended.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cows-communicate-unique-moos-1-180973971/

I wish I’d thought of doing a study like this. Why bother studying dolphin communications when you can study cows. Seriously, cows are easier to study.

It’d be fascinating to learn how much information can be carried in a cow’s moo, starting with a zipf plot. Imagine if a single moo could contain information like “look over at bella, she’s just stepped in a poo, the silly cow” or “I’m having a party tonight, bring a dish”.

Cripes, the researcher looks young, I must be getting old.

PermeateFree said:

It makes sense, in other words, that the animals would use vocal cues

no way, f’real ¿¡

>The study also adds to our understanding of the richness of cows’ social and emotional lives

there was a time, a way, perhaps being rediscovered, when familiarization with animals, and the nurturing seeds of domestication was not so alien, however the humans multiplied on no small scale, mass produced all sorts to feed themselves, to feed themselves plenty, abundance to feed the large brains and surplus to divert the otherwise agricultural ways into higher culture, higher endeavors, and the past came to resemble a fart in a supermarket aisle. Food arrived in packaging, you got it from a shop. Money helped, it has magical conversion qualities, you can turn your compartmentalized efforts elsewhere into just about anything, indifference even, you don’t need grow or kill anything.

from the enhanced dyspsychologic anomalies were happened upon, even simple things like a cow moo were discovered to have nuances

transition said:

>, and the past came to resemble a fart in a supermarket aisle.

Nice one :)