Effects of music on the spatial cognitive performance, growth performance and stress response of sheep.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of two music types on spatial cognitive ability, growth performance, and psychological cortisol response of sheep.

Methods: The "Y-spatial and Reversal Test", as the internationally recognized behavioral test for spatial cognitive function of large animals, was applied in this study to evaluate the effects of music on spatial cognitive performance of sheep. The average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake, ratio of feed to gain (F/G), and the cortisol release in saliva and plasma were analyzed to evaluate the effect of music on growth performance and stress response of sheep.

Results: The music of "Annie's Wonderland" (55 dB) could make sheep establish the correct spatial reversal recognition more quickly, while the music of "Days of Youth Waltz" (55 dB) made sheep more restless and affected their performance in left-right spatial reversal recognition. The ADG of sheep in the "Annie's Wonderland" (55 dB) group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and the F/G of the "Annie's Wonderland" group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.05). While the ADG in the "Days of Youth Waltz" (55 dB) group were significantly lower and the F/G was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). The salivary cortisol secretions of sheep in the "Annie's Wonderland" (55 dB) group were significantly lower on Day 7, Day 14 and Day 21 than that of the control group (p<0.05) and the plasma cortisol concentration at the peak (20 min after adrenocorticotropic hormone injection) was also significantly lower than the control group.

Conclusion: The music of "Annie's Wonderland" (55 dB) could improve the spatial cognitive fuction, increase the ADG and lower the cortisol secretion in sheep, while the music of "Youth Waltz" (55 dB) is not recommended since it may negatively impact animal welfare.