Behavioral Responses of Holstein Cows to Mats Composed of Interlaced Colors

The objective of the present study was to understand how chromatic stimuli can modulate the locomotor and exploratory responses of experienced animals, considering the dichromatic vision of cattle and its impact on welfare. The research was conducted at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southern Minas Gerais, Muzambinho Campus, Brazil. Six lactating Holstein cows were used, tested individually and in groups, in familiar (FA) and unfamiliar (UA) locations. The mats, made of nonwoven fabric, featured interlaced stripes of lilac and red, lilac and black, and lilac and yellow. The observed behavioral responses included crossing, reluctant crossing, exploration, retreat, and attempts to jump, analyzed using the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis and Nemenyi tests. In general, adult cows showed confidence when crossing the obstacles, maintaining a high likelihood of crossing the areas regardless of color or environment. However, a differentiated behavior was observed in response to the lilac–yellow mat, which resulted in a higher probability of reluctant crossings when the cows were in groups (74.33% in FA and 59.99% in UA), whereas individual assessments showed a predominance of non-reluctant crossings. This collective hesitation suggests that the contrast between yellow, which is easily perceived by cattle, and lilac, which has low distinction, creates a depth illusion that modulates spatial perception, particularly under social influence. It is concluded that although adult cows exhibit greater familiarity and lower sensitivity to visual stimuli, the lilac–yellow pattern remains capable of altering behavior, reinforcing that even experienced animals respond to visual contrasts and group dynamics in management situations.