Study Finds Goats Can Follow Human Voices to Locate Food

Researchers have found that goats can use the direction of a human voice to locate food, a behaviour previously observed in dogs and young children.

The study, published in the journal *Royal Society Open Science*, was carried out by scientists from the University of Zürich using 29 goats in a series of tests.

The researchers discovered that the animals were more successful in finding food when an unseen person spoke in the direction of the treat-filled container.

According to the team, the findings suggest goats can naturally respond to human vocal cues without special training.

Scientists say the results could improve understanding of animal behaviour and provide insights into the effects of domestication on communication between humans and animals.

Previous studies have also shown that goats can follow human gestures and respond to emotions expressed in human voices and facial expressions.

Researchers say further studies involving wild goats could help determine whether the ability is linked to domestication or is an innate trait.