Cattle can become startled by even the smallest object or sudden movement while being led to pasture, which may result in flight and potential injury or damage. To prevent this, the aim of our study was to train the lead cow in the herd to respond to the handler’s commands, as the other animals in the herd typically follow her. In our experiment, the lead cow grazing on a distant pasture was replaced by a cow named Nežka. Using the method of operant conditioning, Nežka was trained to perform four useful commands: “forward”, “back,” “stand” and “stay”. Positive reinforcement (pelleted feed and for outstanding performance, high-value rewards such as apples or carrots) was primarily used, while mild negative reinforcement (pressure on the chest) was applied at the beginning of the “back” command training. The learning process was divided into four steps, corresponding to four locations - the barn stall, enclosure, pasture, and path to the pasture. Nežka was gradually habituated to each location. She mastered all steps in 28 sessions, as planned, showing the best results with “stand” and “back”. Training was challenged by distractions (e.g. insects, moving vehicles and people), Nežka’s need for social contact with her herd-mates in the barn, and an unclearly defined path to the pasture. The type of reinforcement, timing of rewards, and habituation to new environments significantly influenced learning success. The results confirm that the use of positive reinforcement, and in some cases negative reinforcement, is an effective method for teaching useful commands to cattle.
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