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Observations on creche behaviour in suckler calves.
S Sato1, D G Wood-Gush, W G2
1The Faculty of Agriculture, Miyazaki University, Miyazaki 889-21 Japan.
Behavioural Processes
|June 14, 2014
Summary
Calf behavior shows social grouping in creches, with proximity influenced by age and sire breed. Females and Charolais-sired calves exhibited more sociable creche behavior.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Ethology
- Livestock Science
Background:
- Calf housing and social dynamics are crucial for welfare and development.
- Understanding creche behavior in young cattle provides insights into social bonding and environmental responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the creche behavior of young cattle (Hereford x Friesian and Friesian x Hereford) on hill pasture.
- To determine factors influencing creche formation, size, and composition.
Main Methods:
- Observational study over four months (June-September) on hill pasture.
- Utilized scan sampling and focal animal sampling techniques.
- Defined creche as calves lying within 20 meters of their nearest neighbor.
Main Results:
- Creche size varied with time of day and calf age, with larger creches in the morning.
- Calves showed preference for lying with familiar group members and same-breed crosses.
- Females and calves with Charolais sires displayed more sociable behavior.
Conclusions:
- Creche behavior is influenced by age, sire breed, sex, and previous social grouping.
- Environmental factors like weather can affect resting place selection.
- Social preferences within creches highlight the importance of early life social environment.
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