COMPARATIVE FORAGING STRATEGIES OF SHEEP AND GOATS IN A T-MAZE APPARATUS

The foraging behavior of eight sheep and 11 goats was studied using a T-maze. In the first experiment, animals were given two free choices i n the maze. In each case, the selection of either arm would result in their obtaining high quality food-a situation classified as a 'win'. A nimals of both species tended to return to the originally chosen arm o n the second choice, an apparent win-stay strategy. This expression of a win-stay strategy could be attributed to the fact that the animals simply showed a strong lateral preference (handedness), A losing possi bility was added in Experiment 2 by introducing low quality food into one arm of the maze, Goats responded by increasing the frequency of sh ifting on the second free choice, particularly when the first choice w as a losing one. Sheep did not respond to this possibility with a meas urable change in behavior. Results suggest that foraging behavior may be more strongly influenced by negative or losing experiences than by winning ones, and that effects of losing need to be better incorporate d into foraging theory.