Many cognitive studies use paradigms based on active decision-making, that require that animals are motivated to participate and interested in the reward (e.g. Rivas-Blanco et al., 2023). By contrast, looking time paradigms, in which the visual attention of an animal to a stimulus is measured, requires little training and little action from the subject, and can be used without reinforcement (e.g. Wilson et al., 2023). 

In this methodological paper, Jana Deutsch and her collaborators investigated the possibility of using a looking time paradigm to study perception and cognition in goats. The advantage of such a paradigm would be that it requires little training and can be used with no reinforcement. Goats were observed in front of two video screens presenting pictures of goats (familiar or not), of humans (familiar or not), or remaining white. The authors hypothesised that goats would pay more attention to pictures than to a white screen, would pay more attention to goats than to humans, and would discriminate familiar vs. unfamiliar beings. The goats had received previous positive contacts with the familiar humans. The goats were extensively habituated to the experimental set-up so that stress did not interfere in responses to testing. The stimuli were presented on the screens in a pseudorandomized and counterbalanced order.

As hypothesised, goats looked longer at screen with pictures, and longer when the picture was that of another goat (familiar or not) than of a human being. Goats however did not seem to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar being, or were equally motivated by the two types of beings. Ear postures were also recorded but did not show a relation with looking time and were not related to the type of picture shown on screens. Therefore, the authors argue that looking time but not ear posture is considered appropriate to test discrimination abilities or preferences in goats. More studies are needed to check if goats can differentiate familiar vs. unfamiliar beings.

The experimental design is sound. The statistical analyses are rigorous and very relevant.  The paper is clearly written.

I recommend the manuscript for publication for its originality and its quality; In addition, the paper bring findings – that looking time is an adequate paradigm in goats to analyse how they pay attention to stimuli – that have potential impacts on further studies in animal cognition.

References

Deutsch, J., Lebing, S., Eggert, A., Nawroth, C. (2024). Goats who stare at video screens – assessing behavioural responses of goats towards images of familiar and unfamiliar con- and heterospecifics. OSF, ver.4 peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community In Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/d4nzk

Rivas-Blanco, D., Monteiro, T., Virányi, Z., Range, F. (2024). Going back to “basics”: Harlow’s learning set task with wolves and dogs. Learning & Behavior. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-024-00631-6 

Wilson, V. A. D., Bethell, E. J., Nawroth, C. (2023). The use of gaze to study cognition: limitations, solutions, and applications to animal welfare. Frontiers in Psychology, 14:1147278. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1147278 

The reduction of antibiotic use in livestock production, for the different species, has become a critical focus in national action plans across many countries, underscoring the urgent need to tackle this issue to preserve public health and combat antibiotic resistance (Xu et al., 2022; Jacobsen et al., 2023; Bava et al., 2024). Among these efforts, Vietnam's ambitious 2017 livestock plan is notable for its comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at controlling antibiotic use. This framework includes a phased ban on prophylactic antibiotics in animal feed and requires mandatory prescriptions for antibiotic access.

Despite these promising regulations, their actual implementation poses significant challenges, with limited data available on their practical application. A recent study led by Batie and collaborators attempts to fill this knowledge gap by examining how these regulations are understood, accepted, and applied by stakeholders in the veterinary drug value chain in both northern and southern Vietnam (Batie et al., 2024).

The study employed an interesting iterative stakeholder mapping and analysis approach, organizing a focus group in Hanoi with 12 participants and conducting 39 in-depth semi-structured interviews with a diverse range of stakeholders. These included government authorities, national research bodies, international partners, and private sector representatives. The qualitative analysis aimed to map the veterinary drug value chain, assess stakeholders' technical and social capital regarding regulations, and identify key factors influencing regulatory compliance.

This research convincingly unveiled a complex network of 30 stakeholder categories and identified ten crucial factors that affect the implementation of regulations. These factors include stakeholders’ perceptions and understanding of the regulations, the availability of technical guidance, economic conflicts of interest, management inconsistencies, and hurdles such as technical and financial constraints, informal distribution channels, international influence, and consumer demand for safety. Additionally, the collective drive to reduce antibiotic resistance emerged as an influential factor.

The comprehensive analysis reveals a pressing insight: although Vietnam's regulatory measures are essential for reducing antibiotic usage, their effectiveness is compromised by barriers such as inadequate local stakeholder involvement and various resource limitations. The study emphasizes the necessity for deeper engagement of local stakeholders in developing and refining these regulations. Furthermore, incorporating innovations from small producers into mainstream practices could be vital in overcoming current challenges.

Nonetheless, the study acknowledges several limitations. Most interviews were conducted online owing to the health crisis—a much-needed format for time and budget constraints, albeit with some drawbacks such as reduced direct observations and potential information loss (Namey et al., 2019). The sensitivity of the subject may have led participants to withhold their true opinions, although the researchers attempted to mitigate this bias by interviewing multiple respondents from each category and gathering diverse perspectives. Notably, the study struggled to engage informal stakeholders, which could have enriched the description of the informal value chain. Constraints of time and resources meant that only a single representative from some stakeholder categories was interviewed, suggesting that interviewing additional parties, such as another veterinary district station, might have clarified roles within the drug value chain. The stakeholder identification was initially influenced by the researchers’ familiarity with the Vietnamese context; however, the iterative process helped address this limitation by recruiting new participants based on existing participants' knowledge. Additionally, translation issues may have introduced misunderstandings, potentially leading to an incomplete representation of the veterinary drug value chain, which reflects the situation as of data collection in 2021.

For Vietnam to meet its policy objectives and contribute to the global endeavor against antibiotic resistance, it is crucial to reconcile stakeholder discrepancies and promote collaborative innovation. By fostering an inclusive environment for all parties, Vietnam can not only enhance regulatory adherence but also strengthen its commitment to sustainable and responsible livestock farming practices.

The study is thoughtfully designed and skillfully executed. Additionally, the authors have made further improvements based on feedback from the journal. Readers will find the article both informative and engaging, providing valuable insights. I highly recommend this original article on the regulatory framework for controlling antibiotic use in Vietnam's livestock production systems.

References

Batie, C., Duy, N. V., Khue, N. T. M., Peyre, M., Bordier, M., Dien, N. T., et al. (2024). Understanding the implementation of antimicrobial resistance policies in Vietnam: a multilayer analysis of the veterinary drug value chain. medRxiv, 2024.06.27.24309573, ver. 2 peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community in Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.06.27.24309573   

Bava, R., Castagna, F., Lupia, C., Poerio, G., Liguori, G., Lombardi, R., et al. (2024). Antimicrobial Resistance in Livestock: A Serious Threat to Public Health. Antibiotics 13, 551. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13060551

Jacobsen, A. B. J. E., Ogden, J., and Ekiri, A. B. (2023). Antimicrobial resistance interventions in the animal sector: scoping review. Front. Antibiot. 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/frabi.2023.1233698 

Namey, E., Guest, G., O’Regan, A., Godwin, C. L., Taylor, J., and Martinez, A. (2019). How Does Mode of Qualitative Data Collection Affect Data and Cost? Findings from a Quasi-experimental Study. Field Methods. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X19886839 

Xu, C., Kong, L., Gao, H., Cheng, X., and Wang, X. (2022). A Review of Current Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics in Food Animals. Front Microbiol 13, 822689. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.822689