The study, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the German Research Foundation, observed that goats liked to earn a reward by putting in some effort, even if they could get the same reward with no effort at all.
Two breeding lines – dairy goats and dwarf goats – were offered a choice of two types of reward (a piece of uncooked pasta). One could be reached without any effort, while the other had to be earned by opening a door with their muzzles.
Nina Keil and Katrina Rosenberger, from Agroscope,External link the Swiss centre of excellence for agricultural research, found that of the 57 goats that took part, 53 chose to slide open the door to obtain their reward at least one time in ten, even though the same reward could also be obtained without any effort.
However, the dairy goats seemed to be more motivated to open the door than the dwarf goats, who were more cautious at first.
The researchers had expected the dwarf goats to show interest because they had done so in a similar experiment in Germany, they said in a SNSF statement on FridayExternal link.
“However, the dairy goats came as a surprise. Since they are bred for a high milk yield, we had expected them to conserve their energy and be less motivated to make an effort to get a reward, particularly if they could get the same reward without having to make that effort,” Rosenberger said.
The results are based on the principle of “contra-freeloading”. “The term describes the behaviour of animals that prefer to make an effort to fulfil their desire for a particular resource rather than have it placed in front of them,” Keil explained.
Need for control
This has been observed in domesticated animals and in wild animals in a zoo environment, for example, but it is not known if this takes place in the wild.
“We assume that the animals display this behaviour because solving a task gives them control over their environment and triggers positive emotions,” Keil said. “They apparently derive a certain satisfaction that makes the additional effort worthwhile.”
Domestic goats’ living conditions should make allowance for this, Keil said. The researchers are aiming to expand their experiment over a longer period and under real-life conditions on a farm.
If the results support the introduction of these kinds of measures at farms, they should be easy to integrate into farmers’ everyday routines, the SNSF statement concluded.
Popular Stories
More
Alpine Environment
My grandmother has lived in the same Swiss village for 100 years
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
Swiss government criticised for delay in insect protection
This content was published on
Five years after the House of Representative's Environment Committee voted in favour of better protection for insects, Swiss NGO Birdlife criticises the government's hesitant action.
Marcel Hug and Elena Kratter to carry Swiss flag at Paralympics
This content was published on
Swiss athletes Marcel Hug and Elena Kratter will carry the Swiss flag at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics in Paris on Wednesday.
Digitalisation increases uncertainty for Swiss creatives
This content was published on
Digitalization could further worsen the legal and social situation of creative artists. According to a new report, social security, copyright and privacy protection are lagging behind developments.
Albane Valenzuela first Swiss golfer to play in Solheim or Ryder Cups
This content was published on
Albane Valenzuela will be the first Swiss golfer to play in either the Solheim or Ryder Cup, the biennial tournaments between Europe and the United States.
Not one Swiss canton on track for Paris climate agreement
This content was published on
Despite some progress, not one of Switzerland's 26 cantons is yet on a trajectory compatible with the Paris climate agreement, which would limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Switzerland should cooperate more on armaments, say studies
This content was published on
Switzerland should focus on international cooperation to strengthen its position, say studies by the University of St Gallen and the federal technology institute ETH Zurich.
Fight against skills shortage is insufficient, says Swiss audit office
This content was published on
The government has been providing the economy with financial support for years to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers. The Swiss Federal Audit Office concludes that these measures have only had a limited effect.
Swiss publisher Tamedia makes massive job cuts and closes printing plants
This content was published on
The TX Group has announced the reduction of around 200 full-time positions in the printing plants of its subsidiary Tamedia.
Does saving bee colonies mean breaking with tradition?
This content was published on
Experts have presented new ideas to help save the bees, but they may struggle to gain acceptance among traditional beekeepers.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.