The eyes have it: Cows’ dominance is shown through sight

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by Rick Grant, President, Miner Institute



In an Australian study,  researchers assessed which eye – left or right – predominates when cows encounter other cows or human beings. In dairy cattle the right brain is connected to the left eye and coordinates fight and flight behavior. In contrast, the left brain is connected with the right eye and controls responses to food, recalled cues, and what to do under normal conditions.


Subordinate cows are much more likely to use their left eye when interacting with other cows. So given previously published research on subordinate cows, it may be fair to say that a view from the left will reflect a more nervous cow with perhaps lower productivity and less efficient digestive efficiency. Research has shown that subordinate cows will sacrifice feed quality to avoid close contact with dominant cows at the feed bunk. In fact, there is a positive correlation between body condition score and use of the right eye – characteristic of dominant cows – reflecting the fact that dominant cows typically have priority access to feed. Familiar clothing worn by a herdsperson leads the cow to view them predominantly with their right eye – in other words, without fear. Cows that mostly used their left eye in cow-to-cow and cow-to-human interactions have a more restless disposition and heightened flight or fight response. Dominant cows use their right eye more when encountering other cows indicating that they are less fearful.

 

So, we see the dominant eye that cows use to look at other cows and humans provides valuable information on their temperament. Time will tell whether this information may be usefully incorporated into herd management tools. In the meantime, watch your cows and see whether cows that view the world from their left eye take a back seat to those that look at you squarely with their right!

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Source:  Dairy Herd Management

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