Oddity learning by African dwarf goats ( Capra hircus )

Abstract

Seventeen African dwarf goats (adult females) were trained on oddity tasks using an automated learning device. One odd stimulus and three identical nonodd stimuli were presented on a screen divided into four sectors; the sector for the odd stimulus was varied pseudorandomly. Responses to the odd stimulus were deemed to be correct and were reinforced with food. In phase 1, the goats were trained on eight stimulus configurations. From trial to trial the odd discriminandum was either a + symbol or the letter S, and the nonodd discriminandum was the symbol not used as the odd one. In phase 2, the animals were similarly trained using an unfilled triangle or a filled (i.e., solid black) circle. In phase 3, three new discriminanda were used, an unfilled, small circle with radiating lines, an unfilled heart-shaped symbol, and an unfilled oval; which of the three discriminanda was odd and nonodd was varied from trial to trial. Following these training phases, a transfer test was given, which involved 24 new discriminanda sets. These were presented twice for a total of 48 transfer test trials. Results early in training showed approximately 25% correct, which might be expected by chance in a four-choice task. After 500-2,000 trials, results improved to approximately 40-44% correct. The best-performing subject reached 60-80% correct during training. On the transfer test, this subject had 47.9% correct and that significantly exceeded 25% expected by chance. This finding suggests that some exceptional individuals of African dwarf goats are capable of learning the oddity concept.

Relational learning in honeybees (Apis mellifera): Oddity and nonoddity discrimination

“…In fact, their performance in a single problem with only 15 trials is similar to that of vertebrate species trained in multiple-stimulus-set problems with considerably more trials in each problem (cf., Aust and Steurer (2013): pigeons; Koronakos and Arnold (1957): rats; Roitberg and Franz (2004): goats; Strong and Hedges (1966): cats, raccoons). Interestingly, even though monkeys achieve a higher level of performance in multiple-stimulus-set problems, it is not perfect, and questions have been raised about the sources of error and variability in their performance.…”

“…Ravens and gulls trained to peck the odd object out of six three-dimensional objects arranged horizontally on a tray were successful in transfer tests (Benjamini, 1983). Goats trained to choose the odd stimulus of four stimuli projected in equal sectors on a computer monitor learned a simplified traditional oddity problem, but only a single goat was able to successfully transfer to novel stimulus oddity problems (Roitberg and Franz, 2004). A sea lion was first trained to press the odd stimulus card of three stimulus cards in a series of simplified traditional oddity problems and then was successful in transfer problems with novel stimuli (Hille et al, 2006).…”

Concept learning and the use of three common psychophysical paradigms in the archerfish (Toxotes chatareus)

“…It has been primarily used as a test for visual discrimination in primates but has been shown to be solvable by other animals such as pigeons (Blough, 1986), cats (Boyd and Warren, 1957), and goats (Roitberg and Franz, 2004). It has never before been tested in fish.…”

The cognitive capabilities of farm animals: categorisation learning in dwarf goats (Capra hircus)

“…They can diVerentiate among real subjects and among photographs showing only the heads of cattle (Coulon et al 2009(Coulon et al , 2011Hagen and Broom 2003). Dwarf goats have been shown to be able to learn the oddity concept (Roitberg and Franz 2004).…”