farm animal intelligence

As the Compassion in World Farming conference approaches, we see another terrific article from the UK on animal intelligence. The Sunday, March 6, Observer, carried an article, by Mark Townsend, headed "If it's woolly thinking you're after, forget it: With an ability to recognise humans, and a keen sense of self, sheep are brainier than we thought." (Page 10.) The article looks at intelligence in various species.

Townsend tells us that sheep "can react to facial expressions and, like humans, prefer a smile to a grimace... possess a sharp sense of individuality... can recognise the faces of at least 10 people and 50 other sheep for at least two years....and mourn absent individuals."

We read:
"Scientists claim such findings are increasingly challenging the belief that farmyard animals have no 'sense of self', a notion that could have profound implications for the way Britain's creatures are farmed."

We read that chickens "can master complex tricks that would make most dog owners proud...and...can feel emotions usually associated with humans, such as jealousy, love and loss...are willing to delay gratification if they think a larger portion will be offered in due course....boast a greater sense of spatial awareness than young children..." and "learn tricks such as opening doors and navigating mazes with a speed usually the preserve of dogs and horses."

"Pigs were similarly found to have a cerebral capacity beyond the popular preconception of a farm animal...deliberately misleading other pigs if it would result in more food for themselves."

For those who doubted it, we are told that chickens feel pain:
"The results that may most perturb animal welfare groups are those that suggest chickens can feel pain. Tests found that those known to be experiencing some form of discomfort or lameness chose food laced with morphine when given the choice. By contrast, chickens who were fully fit chose feed that was not spiked with an analgesic."

And we read that the cow has been "shown to be an astute animal capable of solving riddles with an intellect more traditionally associated with an ape. Studies at Oxford University found that Betty, a Caledonian heifer, instinctively bent a piece of wire, using a gap in her food tray to create a hook that allowed her to scrape food from the bottom of a jar."

Rodents were not excluded: "They will also hear how wood mice build their own signposts, using sticks and stones to mark sites where food is abundant or marking short-cuts back to their burrow."

Townsend writes:
"The conference comes as the food industry is being forced to address mounting consumer concern over the structure of Britain's food industry and factory farming."

It is terrific article, well worth reading, which appears on the website under the heading "Sheep might be dumb ... but they're not stupid Studies show that farmyard animals have a range of emotions and a sharp intelligence" at http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1431443,00.html

With letters to the editor, we can keep the discussion of these issues alive in the Observer. The observer takes letters at:
letters [at] observer.co.uk

Always include your full name, address, and daytime phone number when sending a letter to the editor. Shorter letters are more likely to be published.

Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. If you forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts, please do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this tag line.)