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Discrimination Learning in Dairy Calves

Department of Dairy Husbandry, University of Missouri, Columbia 65201

ABSTRACT

Twenty-four 3 to 6 month old Holstein-Friesian heifer calves were tested in a modified Y-maze to determine if they were capable of discrimination learning. The discriminations to be learned were brightness (black versus white) and size (large versus small). The calves were tested on one discrimination and upon reaching 90% correct responses were switched to the other. All calves learned the first discrimination in 2 to 5 days ( = 3,37) and the second in 1 to 4 days ( = 2.41). Since the difference in time required to learn the first and second discriminations was significant (P < 01), there was good evidence for transfer of learning. Analysis of variance showed that no particular discrimination or combination of discriminations was learned more rapidly than the other.