• aname@lemmy.one
      18·
      4 months ago

      They can if they have learned to but bulls rarely need that skill in the field.

      I’ve seen a puppy get stuck in a similar way in narrow space between wall and tv stand and it didn’t know how to back away until we pushed it.

      • Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee
        13·
        4 months ago

        Also it’s not just backwards, there is a turn - which requires spacial orientation & an abstract interpretation of that (very simple) space.

        This doesn’t mean he’s overall stupid, but those specific brain functions are just really really underdeveloped with cattle (yet I bet basically the same in structure as at least in all mammals, just rally small). And brain functions cost a lot of energy (which usually means survival), so it’s an advantage to under-level them as much as possible.

        Bovids are made to live in the open where walls aren’t a thing and their eyes have a wide field of vision so basically any object or obstacle is always fully in view, no need to imagine it’s 3D (or 2D) structure.

        Predators on the other hand usually have those just reversed. Imagine a jumping spider not being able to interpret a 3D environment in its brainhole. Or a bee unable to navigate (or convey and interpret navigational institutions).

        But brains (or any bunch of neurones it seems) are really adaptable - if that bull for some reason had to walk backwards an it’s life, this wouldn’t have been a problem.