French researchers from the National Centre for Scientific Research at the University of Tours have discovered in their latest study that cows can recognize humans not only by their appearance but also by their voices. The findings of this research have been published in the journal PLOS One.
The study examined the behavior of 32 Holstein cows, which are among the most widespread dairy breeds globally. The animals were shown video recordings of familiar and unfamiliar men, first without sound and then with accompanying voices.
During the initial phase of the experiment, the subjects spent more time observing unfamiliar faces. The researchers interpret this as evidence of their ability to distinguish between individuals, recognizing a familiar person more quickly.
The second phase involved watching videos paired with audio recordings. The men were instructed to say the same phrase, while experimenters monitored the duration of the animals’ gazes at the screen and recorded changes in their heart rates using instruments.
It was found that the cows sustained their attention longer on videos where the voice matched the face of a familiar person. This indicates that they were integrating both visual and auditory cues, identifying a specific individual based on multiple characteristics.
The study’s authors acknowledge that interaction via screen is not the same as live communication, and thus further verification is needed. However, the work conducted so far suggests that cows possess social capabilities that experts have previously underestimated.
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