A study finds goats can recognize and prefer happy human faces

Thekabarnews.com—Researchers at Queen Mary University of London discovered that goats can distinguish between various human facial expressions. In addition, goats prefer the happy ones. The Royal Society Open Science published the results. These findings go against what most people think about how smart animals are when it comes to feelings.

The scientists showed 20 pairs of goats pictures of people they had never seen before. Some of the faces were angry, and some were happy. The test took place at a sanctuary in Kent, England. The goats always went up to the pictures of joyful people and played with them. Many of them sniffed the happy faces and stayed close to them for a long time, unlike the angry ones.

This discovery is important because it goes against what most people think. People tend to think that only horses and dogs can comprehend human emotions. This research demonstrates that specific farm animals, such as goats, can perceive human emotions.

When the researchers put the pictures on the right side of the testing area, the goats seemed to like happy faces better. In fact, researchers believe this indicates that goats may utilize the left hemisphere of their brains to process positive emotions. Other species have also observed this phenomenon.

The results have a big impact on how to run a farm and take care of animals. If goats can read and respond to how people feel, then how farmers and caretakers treat them could directly affect their health.

Experts say that understanding how animals act and feel can help people handle them better. It can also lower their stress levels and make their homes and workplaces healthier. The study also adds to the growing body of scientific evidence that pets have more complicated feelings than we used to think.

Researchers want to show that goats actively prefer happy human faces. They hope this will get people and farm animals to be nicer to each other.