Scientists have found that cows moo to communicate with other cows and also the meaning of individual moos.
Researchers at the Queen Mary University of London and University of Nottingham suggest that they have spent about 10 months studying the communication between calves and cows. It took the researchers about a year to analyze the recordings. The researchers revealed that they carefully examined the acoustic indicators of identity and age.
The study was able to identify two diverse maternal 'calls.' The cows use low frequency voice to communicate with their young ones when near. When cows and their calves were separate and not in visual contact, the calls were at higher frequency and much louder.
The researchers also claim that calves called their mothers when hungry and wanted to suckle. The study found that the calls of cows are individualized, similar to humans who have individualized voice. The scientists also suggest that it is possible to recognize each calf and cow with the help of their calls.
The study suggests that they observed free-range cattle of two herds on a Radcliffe-on-Trent farm. High sensitive digital recorders were used to record the sounds made by the cows.
"The research shows for the first time that mother-offspring cattle 'calls' are individualised - each calf and cow have a characteristic and exclusive call of their own. Acoustic analysis also reveals that certain information is conveyed within the calf calls - age, but not gender," says Dr. Monica Padilla de la Torre at the University of Nottingham's School of Life Sciences, who also led the research.
Dr. Alan McElligott of Queen Mary University of London, who is the co-author of the study, suggests that this is the first research that includes recording sounds of complex cattle calls with the help of advanced technology. He added that the study results may provide exceptional foundation for future investigation of vocal indicators of cattle welfare.
If scientists are able to understand various cattle calls then it may help in the welfare of animal care strategies.
The study has been published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
