Goats can perceive each other's emotions from their voices

[Judi Lynn]

New research shows that goats can hear subtle emotional changes in goats’ calls, furthering our understanding about how animals perceive the world.
4 MINUTE READ
BY NATASHA DALY

PUBLISHED JULY 15, 2019

HOW ANIMALS PERCEIVE the world around them is still a mystery to us in so many ways.

That’s true even for smart, social animals like goats, whose charisma has inspired a whole YouTube sub-genre: dozens of videos that highlight funny and cute goat moments and have racked up millions of views. Sanctuaries like Goats of Anarchy that care for neglected goats have hundreds of thousands of highly engaged followers on Instagram.

It can be tempting to anthropomorphize these expressive and gregarious animals. But in truth, we still know very little about what—and how—non-human animals think and feel. Little by little, however, our window into animal cognition may be opening.

A new study published in Frontiers in Zoology on July 10, 2019 has confirmed that goats can differentiate between other goats’ happiness or displeasure by listening to their voices. In other words, they can tell how one another is feeling. This finding carries potential implications for how goats in captivity—whether they’re kept for meat, milk, wool, or companionship—are treated.

More:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/07/goats-can-differentiate-emotion-in-goat-calls/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=Editorial::add=Animals_20190718::rid=00000000002015005599

[Bayard]

1. Believe it

We have 4 Nigerian/Pygmy crosses, all female. All different vocalizations. The funniest one yodels at feeding time, and sometimes sounds like Woody Woodpecker. The youngest still has a plaintive little bleat when she's in trouble, and all the others come running. As she's grown older, she's become quite the little smart alec, jumping over two gates to get into the watermelon patch. The other three stand there and call for her. We have to build taller gates. She will also jump on the mini-donkeys' backs to reach low-hanging tree limbs.

They are fun, and we enjoy having them.

[Duppers]

2. Would love to see pics, especially video of them! 😄

One day, when all your chores are done, just hang out in a lawn chair with a big glass of ice tea, your phone or camera in hand, and watch them. Pics, especially video, of your goaties' antics would be the biggest hit.

Kids! Goatta love 'em!

[Bayard]

4. I never have my phone when I need it

I might take your suggestion, once the heat index here is not 110.

[Duppers]

3. Smart little boogers.

Must be a universal thing with them. Just found this...

And how sweet are the donkies!!
💕

[Judi Lynn]

5. Wonderful! Could watch that little guy a long time. Wow. Thanks. n/t

[Duppers]

7. I thought it was sweet that the Donkey

Was still and so accommodating, as if he knew he was helping his goat friend.

[Judi Lynn]

8. I think you're right. He seemed to be completely aware of the goat's movements

and it did look as if he was "listening" through his back, and thinking about it, as if he knew the little goat was trying to do something specific up there.

Very decent, kind donkey, for sure.

[Judi Lynn]

6. They sound like such bright, interesting little critters. Lucky you, to have them in your life. n/t