Moo swings? Cows go through disruptive puberty too - study

[Judi Lynn]

Scientists say animals can become more or less bold and adventurous as they grow up

Ian Sample
@iansample
Tue 11 Feb 2020 19.01 EST

Humans are not alone in enduring the rollercoaster ride of puberty as powerful hormones flood the body and cause mood swings from one day to the next. Scientists have found that dairy cows pass through a similar phase of emotional confusion that disturbs their otherwise rather stable personalities.

The findings emerged from extensive observations of Holstein dairy cattle as they matured from calves to adulthood. “Our study identified a period of inconsistency in personality traits over puberty,” said Nina Von Keyserlingk, a professor of animal welfare at the University of British Columbia in Canada.

Some animals became more shy during puberty and others became more bold. Some became less interested in nosing up to new people or objects while others became more so.

The work sheds light on an under-studied realm of bovine life. Previous attempts to ascertain cattle personalities at different ages have found that they are reasonably stable in youth and in adulthood. Puberty, however, was something of a mystery.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/feb/12/moo-swings-cows-go-through-disruptive-puberty-too-study

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I could have told them that! Just raise a few calves.

[Javaman]

2. when I saw the headline, I thought it was about david nunes. LOL nt

[cstanleytech]

3. Nunes has a few more years to go before his balls drops but when they do make no mistake he will be

hard pressed to find them still.