Use of a maze test to assess spatial learning and memory in cattle: Can cattle traverse a complex maze?

Maze tests were conducted to assess spatial learning and memory in Japanese Black cows (Bos taurus). The test arena (14 × 14 m) was designed so that it could contain no maze or one of four different mazes of increasing complexity (L1-L4 mazes), with a food reward at the opposite end of the release point to entice test cows. Cows were individually released into the arena and tested for 5 min to measure the time to reach the food reward (completion time) and the time spent eating the reward (eating time). Experiment 1 subjected 15 cows initially to the no-maze situation, then to the L4 maze, and finally to the no-maze situation again. None of the cows were able to traverse the L4 maze although 10 cows retained the motivation to reach the reward, showing significant (P < 0.01) differences in completion time between the no-maze and the L4 maze situations. Experiment 2 tested another 14 cows in the no-maze situation and found 8 cows highly motivated for the reward. Experiment 3 subjected 10 cows which showed strong motivation for the reward in Experiments 1 and 2, initially to the no-maze situation, then to the L1, L2, L3 and L4 mazes, and to the no-maze situation again. Five cows were able to complete the L4 maze whereas all cows retained the motivation for the reward, showing a significant (P < 0.01) difference in completion time between the no-maze and the L4 maze situations. There was a strong negative correlation between the completion time and eating time throughout the three experiments (P < 0.001). The results show Japanese Black cows are able to learn to traverse a complex maze when they are provided with step-by-step learning opportunities, although this ability is limited to about 20% of animals. Once learned, they can retain the memory of the maze configuration for up to 6 weeks. Further studies are needed to determine the limitations of the memory.