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Visual discrimination learning and spatial acuity in sheep

Visual acuity is an important component of environmental recognition in sheep, yet knowledge about it is limited in this or other herbivorous species. We tested the ability of British Friesland × Texel female lambs to discriminate black and white square-wave gratings, presented vertically or horizon...

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Main Authors: Sugnaseelan, Sumita, Prescott, Neville B., Broom, Donald M., Wathes, Christopher M., Phillips, Clive J. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2013
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29299/1/Visual%20discrimination%20learning%20and%20spatial%20acuity%20in%20sheep.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29299/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159113001202
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spelling my.upm.eprints.292992016-07-13T04:53:18Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29299/ Visual discrimination learning and spatial acuity in sheep Sugnaseelan, Sumita Prescott, Neville B. Broom, Donald M. Wathes, Christopher M. Phillips, Clive J. C. Visual acuity is an important component of environmental recognition in sheep, yet knowledge about it is limited in this or other herbivorous species. We tested the ability of British Friesland × Texel female lambs to discriminate black and white square-wave gratings, presented vertically or horizontally, from a grey stimulus. Animal and environmental conditions were optimised for detection of visual acuity. Sheep could rapidly learn to discriminate some gratings from a grey stimulus. There was no difference in the ability of sheep to discriminate vertical or horizontal stimuli from a grey stimulus. Visual acuity, determined at between 11.7 and 14.0 cycles/degree, was greater than that previously predicted from anatomical measurements (7–10 cycles/degree), and considerably greater than that measured for sheep by the Landoldt C ring technique (2.6–5.7 cycles/degree). It was also greater than that measured previously in most research using ungulates and other herbivores, with a variety of techniques. It is concluded that sheep visual acuity is potentially greater than hitherto realised, but that standardisation of techniques is required to make accurate comparisons with data gathered previously. Additionally, the ability to gauge an animal's awareness and its response(s) to various visual optotypes in its macro-environment will enable us to design livestock housing, handling and transport facilities that promote animal welfare. Elsevier 2013-07 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29299/1/Visual%20discrimination%20learning%20and%20spatial%20acuity%20in%20sheep.pdf Sugnaseelan, Sumita and Prescott, Neville B. and Broom, Donald M. and Wathes, Christopher M. and Phillips, Clive J. C. (2013) Visual discrimination learning and spatial acuity in sheep. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 147 (1-2). pp. 104-111. ISSN 0168-1591; ESSN: 1872-9045 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159113001202 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.04.012
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
building UPM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Putra Malaysia
content_source UPM Institutional Repository
url_provider http://psasir.upm.edu.my/
language English
description Visual acuity is an important component of environmental recognition in sheep, yet knowledge about it is limited in this or other herbivorous species. We tested the ability of British Friesland × Texel female lambs to discriminate black and white square-wave gratings, presented vertically or horizontally, from a grey stimulus. Animal and environmental conditions were optimised for detection of visual acuity. Sheep could rapidly learn to discriminate some gratings from a grey stimulus. There was no difference in the ability of sheep to discriminate vertical or horizontal stimuli from a grey stimulus. Visual acuity, determined at between 11.7 and 14.0 cycles/degree, was greater than that previously predicted from anatomical measurements (7–10 cycles/degree), and considerably greater than that measured for sheep by the Landoldt C ring technique (2.6–5.7 cycles/degree). It was also greater than that measured previously in most research using ungulates and other herbivores, with a variety of techniques. It is concluded that sheep visual acuity is potentially greater than hitherto realised, but that standardisation of techniques is required to make accurate comparisons with data gathered previously. Additionally, the ability to gauge an animal's awareness and its response(s) to various visual optotypes in its macro-environment will enable us to design livestock housing, handling and transport facilities that promote animal welfare.
format Article
author Sugnaseelan, Sumita
Prescott, Neville B.
Broom, Donald M.
Wathes, Christopher M.
Phillips, Clive J. C.
spellingShingle Sugnaseelan, Sumita
Prescott, Neville B.
Broom, Donald M.
Wathes, Christopher M.
Phillips, Clive J. C.
Visual discrimination learning and spatial acuity in sheep
author_facet Sugnaseelan, Sumita
Prescott, Neville B.
Broom, Donald M.
Wathes, Christopher M.
Phillips, Clive J. C.
author_sort Sugnaseelan, Sumita
title Visual discrimination learning and spatial acuity in sheep
title_short Visual discrimination learning and spatial acuity in sheep
title_full Visual discrimination learning and spatial acuity in sheep
title_fullStr Visual discrimination learning and spatial acuity in sheep
title_full_unstemmed Visual discrimination learning and spatial acuity in sheep
title_sort visual discrimination learning and spatial acuity in sheep
publisher Elsevier
publishDate 2013
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29299/1/Visual%20discrimination%20learning%20and%20spatial%20acuity%20in%20sheep.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29299/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159113001202
_version_ 1643829719036067840
score 13.211869

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