Department of Psychology

Audiogram of domestic cattle (Bos taurus)

 

Data from: Heffner, R., and Heffner, H. (1983) Hearing in large mammals: The horse (Equus caballus) and cattle (Bos taurus). Behavioral Neuroscience, 97, 299-309.

 

Absolute thresholds (in dB re 20 µN/m2) for two domestic cattle

(designated A and B)

 

Frequency

(in kHz)

Individual Thresholds

(in dB)

 

Average

A

B

.0167

>69

65

~70

.020

76

53

62

.0315

58

53

56

.062

41

45

43

.125

38

28

33

.250

24

21

23

.500

13

9

11

1

4

9

7

2

-2

0

-1

4

-7

-5

-6

8

-13

-10

-11

16

13

12

12.5

32

40

46

43

40

82

70

76

 

Lowest and highest frequencies audible at sound

pressure levels (SPL) ranging from 30 to 70 dB SPL

SPL

(in dB)

Lowest audible frequency (in kHz)

Highest audible frequency (in kHz)

70

.017

37

60

.023

35

50

.043

33

40

.076

30

30

.150

24

 

Additional Parameters:

Body weight = 450 kg

Functional interaural distance= 1281 µs

(Time required for sound to travel around the head from one auditory meatus to the other.)

 

Comments: Threshold values taken from original data.

Last Updated: 6/27/22