Tuesday, November 21, 2017
A SHEEP recognises former US president Barack Obama during a facial recognition experiment at
Cambridge University. Photo supplied
Mark Rieder
RESEARCH out of Britain suggests that sheep recognise human facial features and can distinguish the difference between people based solely on photographs.
But whether that ability is a sign of intelligence or not is debateable.
Waimana sheep farmer Craig Miller scoffed when asked if he thought sheep demonstrated intelligence in any of their mannerisms.
But Manawahe beef and lamb farmer Brent Mountfort said he believed there was some level of intelligence going on behind their eyes.
“You hear people say ‘oh, sheep are dumb’ and all that. But when they are under stress, like people they will tend to make rash decisions such as charge into a fence, jump where they shouldn’t or run off – or some will turn on you,” he said.
According to University of Maryland, sheep and goat specialist Susan Schoenian, sheep demonstrate intelligence in various ways. She cited a BBC news report from 2004 where sheep in Yorkshire taught themselves to roll across a three-metre wide cattle guard to gain access to a nearby garden. She said according to witnesses, the sheep would lay down on their sides or backs and roll until they were across.
She said sheep had also been taught how to navigate mazes but could only retain the knowledge for up to six weeks.
As far as recognition is concerned, Mr Mountfort said he had seen evidence of that in sheep but was unsure if it was from visual cues or simply by smell.
“They can recognise people, whether it’s recognition of faces or body or whatever. They are lot more comfortable around people they know,” he said.
“If a stranger comes along, they definitely get on edge.”
He said that each animal tended to demonstrate behaviour that supported his understanding that sheep, at least, had individual characteristics.
“They all have different personalities – there’s the stroppy one and the one who has you on,” he said.
“I think animals in general are a lot brighter than we arrogant humans admit.”
He said that in spite of some pitfalls, such as the ewe that could push open a gate and get into the pellet bin, farmers benefited from smart animals.
“Overall, I prefer they have a bit of intelligence – they go the right way when you want them to,” he said.
He said by accepting the possibility that the animals had intelligence, farmers would see animals in a different light. This resulted in an improved attitude towards them.
“If you treat them well and with respect, you’ll get the same in return. If you have a happy animal, you have a healthy animal,” he said.
The research, done by Cambridge University, had scientists teach sheep that when they approached a portrait of a specific person – in this case, Barack Obama – they were rewarded with food. They tested the sheep by showing them photographs of Mr Obama and another black person. Each sheep reacted to the Obama portrait.