Why can imprinting be more useful than trial-and-error learning for newborn geese and sheep?

For newborn geese and sheep, imprinting is significantly more useful than trial-and-error learning because it facilitates immediate, life-saving attachment to a parent.12

These species are precocial, meaning their young are born at an advanced stage of development and must be capable of following mobile parents shortly after birth. In environments where these animals live—such as large flocks for sheep—the ability to recognize and stay close to a mother is a matter of survival.1

Trial-and-error learning is inherently slow and involves the risk of making mistakes, which, in this context, could lead to a young animal lagging behind, becoming lost, or facing predation. Conversely, imprinting is a rapid, specialized form of learning that occurs during a sensitive period early in life. By allowing the newborn to quickly identify and form a bond with its mother, imprinting ensures the animal remains protected and nourished without the dangerous time delay or potential errors associated with slower learning processes.231