Quck answer
Some food animals are surprisingly intelligent, even more so than common household pets. Here are five examples:
1. Pigs: Pigs are highly social and have been shown to have good memories and problem-solving skills. They can even learn to play video games.
2. Chickens: Chickens have complex social hierarchies and can recognize up to 100 different faces of other chickens. They also have good memories and can perform simple arithmetic.
3. Cows: Cows have been shown to have strong emotional bonds and can become stressed when separated from their friends. They also have excellent spatial memory and can navigate complex mazes.
4. Octopuses: Although not typically thought of as food animals, some cultures do eat octopus. Octopuses are incredibly intelligent and can solve complex puzzles and use tools.
5. Sheep: Sheep have good memories and can recognize up to 50 different faces of other sheep. They also have a strong sense of empathy and can experience a range of emotions.
Animal Facts
“Don’t call me birdbrain!”
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As the test subject looked intently at the screen, it pecked out groups of shapes in the correct numerical order, beginning with one rectangle and continuing with the group of two rectangles, then three, and so on. Spectators were thrilled with evidence of the animal’s counting abilities. However, the subject was not a toddler learning numbers, nor was it a pet. It was a bird that is probably much more intelligent than your cat or guinea pig: a pigeon. (Of course, if you have a pet pigeon, you’re not surprised.) The pigeon is just one example of an animal that humans consume that could be smarter than your pet.
If that’s the case, you might wonder if we should avoid eating animals from this list because we would be wasting their intelligence. But when you consider that pigs are in the top 5 and think about bacon, you might change your mind.
5: Pigs
“Don’t even think about following me, man.”
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Pork chops, pulled pork, bacon, and many other pig-based foods are consumed, but we seldom consider pig brains. Why would we when we could be eating a ham sandwich? Pigs, on the other hand, are preoccupied with food and have demonstrated significant intelligence when it comes to obtaining more of it.
For example, domestic pigs can quickly learn how to use mirrors to locate food by looking at their reflected surroundings. Scientists have also discovered that pigs can learn to follow each other when they believe another pig knows where to find food. Furthermore, the leading pig will frequently attempt to deceive the follower pig so that it will not have to share the food [source: Angier].
Pigs not only exhibit their intelligence in the pursuit of food. They can be taught to do a variety of tricks, including jumping through hoops, opening and closing cages, playing video games with joysticks, and even herding groups of sheep, which are another intelligent animal that we consume as food.
4: Sheep
Sheep are clever creatures; they just need to be alone.
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While we typically consume the juvenile form of sheep, lamb, people also eat adult sheep, primarily in France, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, India, parts of China, Australia, and New Zealand [source: Apple]. When it appears on our dinner plate, we refer to it as mutton.
The tendency of sheep to follow their flock may give the impression that these animals are not very intelligent. However, science has demonstrated otherwise! Scientists have shown that sheep are at least as clever as rodents, monkeys, and, in some studies, even humans. They can recognize people, respond when called by name, and react to subtle changes in facial expressions. Most interestingly, they can create a mental map of their surroundings and show signs of being able to plan [source: Gray].
Sheep exhibit greater intelligence when they are alone than when they are in a flock. However, since it is rare to come across them alone, we seldom have the opportunity to observe their intelligence. Moving from land to sea, the octopus, believed to be the most intelligent invertebrate in the world, is increasingly being consumed in various countries. The octopus brain is highly intricate and bears similarities with mammalian brains, as it has folded lobes and comparable brainwave patterns. Octopuses are known to open jars, break out of cages, solve spatial problems, take things apart, navigate mazes, and play, which highlights their intelligence and ability to interact with the environment. Squids are high on the list of intelligent animals and are similar to octopuses in many ways, including their high brain-to-body-size ratio. Squid brains are composed of neurons, the same type of cells found in human brains. Squid have proven to be adept problem solvers, especially when it comes to evading predators. They also use their brains to learn through trial and error, much like humans. The chromatophores in their skin enable squid to alter their color to blend in with their surroundings. Lastly, though often seen as pests, pigeons are adept at mathematics, learning abstract rules about numbers, ranking shapes in ascending order, and distinguishing differences in the number of groups of objects.
Pigeons have demonstrated their ability to recognize individuals who have acted aggressively towards them in the past and avoid them in the future, as well as being able to identify themselves in recorded videos. Furthermore, despite being commonly viewed as uneducated pests, these birds have been found to distinguish between the paintings of Monet and Picasso in museums. This is quite impressive for a bird that is often served as food in restaurants.
For those interested in learning more, this article provides additional information about five different animals that are capable of feats of intelligence beyond what one might expect. The author notes that prior to researching this topic, they did not realize the extent of the intelligence of pigeons, and now have newfound respect for the birds. The article also includes a list of related articles and a section of sources for further reading.
FAQ
1. Which animals are considered smarter than pets?
There are several food animals that are considered to be smarter than pets. These include pigs, cows, chickens, goats, and even fish.
2. How are pigs smarter than pets?
Pigs are incredibly intelligent animals and have excellent long-term memories. They are also able to recognize their own names and can be trained to do tricks. Pigs are even capable of playing simple video games!
3. What makes cows intelligent?
Cows are highly social animals and have been known to form strong bonds with other cows. They are also able to recognize individual humans and have excellent memories. Additionally, cows are capable of problem-solving and have been observed using tools to obtain food.
4. Can chickens really be smart?
Yes, chickens are surprisingly intelligent! They have been shown to possess self-control, basic arithmetic skills, and even empathy. Chickens are also able to learn from each other and have been observed teaching their offspring how to obtain food.
5. How are goats smarter than we think?
Goats are highly adaptable and can learn to navigate complex environments. They are also able to recognize individual humans and have good memories. Goats have even been trained to pull carts and perform other tasks.
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