Two studies were conducted to examine spatial memory of cattle. In Study 1, six heifers were trained and observed in a radial- and parallel-arm maze at two levels of complexity. Grain was placed at the end of each arm, and heifers were released individually and allowed to choose arms freely until all grain was consumed. Incorrect choices occurred when heifers entered a previously entered arm. At the 4-arm level, the mean number of correct choices in the first four entrances was 3.83 and 3.60 for the radial and parallel mazes, respectively. At the 8-arm level, the number of correct choices in the first eight entrances was 7.78 and 7.36, respectively. Heifers were slightly more efficient (P < 0.05) in the radial maze in which directional and distal cues were more pronounced. In Study 2, two sets of monozygous twin steers were trained in a radial-arm maze using similar procedures as Study 1. The mean number of correct choices in the first eight entrances was 7.68. A variable delay interval was then imposed between Choices 4 and 5. Steers rarely made errors after delay intervals from 5 min to 4 h. Performance appeared to decline (P < 0.1) after an 8-h delay interval. Accuracy declined dramatically (P < 0.001) after a 12-h delay interval. The mean number of correct choices in the first eight entrances was 7.63, 7.29 and 5.80 for delay intervals of 4, 8 and 12 h, respectively. Cattle appear to have the ability to associate several locations with food resources and to remember the locations for periods of up to 8 h.