The next time a cow jumps over a fence, chases the dog or refuses to go down a chute, take a close look at its eyes.
Researchers at the University of Guelph have determined that cattle with a larger proportion of white in their eyes are more likely to be excitable.
The scientists discovered this from a study in which they put beef cattle into a squeeze chute that restrained the animals’ heads. After reviewing video of 140 animals, mostly Angus crosses, the researchers found that those with more white in their eyes reacted more violently than those with darker eyes.
Read Also
Sheep sector navigates changes in traceability
The sheep sector is developing advanced traceability systems and addressing ongoing challenges in accessing veterinary drugs and treatments.
“The cows with a large proportion of white in their eyes would respond by jumping and thrashing around. And the cows with a smaller proportion of white in their eyes would just stand there,” said Sarah Core, a master’s student who worked on the study, which was recently published on-line in the Journal of Animal Science.
“Cows whose eyes were about 50 percent white were very anxious. The more passive cows had about 20 percent visible white in their eyes.”
Core said a similar study in the United Kingdom looked at eye whites and emotional responses in cattle.
“So (our study) is a bit different,” she said. “Temperament is a little bit more measurable than emotion.”
The study has attracted media attention, Core said, particularly the Toronto Star and a farm newspaper in Arkansas.
While the research does have novelty appeal, it also may provide a simple way to select for cattle that are easy to manage.
“Calm cattle that are easy to handle are highly desirable,” said Steve Miller, a professor in animal and poultry science at Guelph, who also worked on the study.
“But an objective measure that can be quantified and measured routinely in cattle breeding operations is not common. The use of eye white percentage is showing very good promise of helping us select for calmer, more productive cattle.”
To ensure that they were on the right track, the scientists also studied how cattle from the same group of 140 animals reacted to being separated from the herd.
Animals with more white in their eyes tended to panic and dart back to the herd, while the cattle with darker eyes remained still.
Core said there is no proof of a connection between eye whites and temperament in other animals, such as humans, but added there definitely is a cultural connection.
“I’ve given quite a few presentations on this topic, and one of the slides I put up is the classic old movie, where the eyes are popping out in fear,” she said.
“It’s one of those things that people just recognize.”
