Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
08:19
Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
Published on: January 15, 2016
9.3K
Locomotion behavior changes in peripartum beef cows and heifers
Natalie B Duncan1, Allison M Meyer1
1Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
Journal of Animal Science
|November 27, 2018
Summary
Locomotor activity monitors accurately detect prepartum behavioral changes in beef cows. Increased lying bouts in the final day before calving may be the most reliable indicator for predicting parturition.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Reproductive Biology
- Behavioral Ecology
Background:
- Monitoring beef cow behavior prepartum is crucial for timely calving assistance and herd management.
- Understanding changes in locomotor activity can provide insights into the physiological and behavioral shifts preceding parturition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine changes in locomotor activity of beef females during the 72 hours prepartum.
- To evaluate the reliability of different activity parameters (motion index, standing/lying time, step count, lying bouts) in detecting calving.
- To assess the influence of calving season and parity on prepartum behavior.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments involving multiparous and primiparous beef cows (spring and fall calving) were conducted.
- IceQube activity monitors were used to record locomotor activity for 72 hours prepartum.
- Data were analyzed using mixed models, examining activity by day, 6-hour periods, and hourly intervals during the final 6 hours prepartum.
Main Results:
- Locomotor activity (motion index, standing time, step count, lying bouts) significantly increased on the day before calving compared to earlier days.
- Activity levels were highest in the 6 hours preceding parturition.
- The number of lying bouts more than doubled from two days to one day prepartum, suggesting it's a reliable indicator.
- Calving season and parity had minimal effects on overall prepartum behavioral patterns.
Conclusions:
- Electronic locomotor activity monitors effectively detect periparturient behavioral changes in beef cattle.
- Changes in lying bouts appear to be the most reliable parameter for detecting impending calving.
- Further research is needed to validate these monitors for remote, early sensing of parturition in beef cattle.
Related Concept Videos
00:54What is Behavior?
10.3K
Behaviors are actions that an organism engages in—they can be related to finding food, reproducing, defending against threats, and many other possible actions. Behaviors include activities related to the environment around the animal—such as migration—as well as social interactions within a species or population. Many behaviors involve motor output—that is, muscle movements—while others involve less visible actions, such as learning.
10.3K
01:28Behaviorism
4.8K
The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
4.8K
01:21Plastic Behavior
577
A material's elastic behavior is characterized by the disappearance of stress once the load is removed, allowing the material to return to its original state. However, when stress surpasses the yield point, yielding commences, marking the onset of plastic deformation or permanent set. This change from elastic to plastic behavior is influenced by the peak stress value and the duration before the load is removed. An intriguing observation occurs when a specimen is loaded, unloaded, and...
577
01:09Electron Behavior
12.6K
Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles attracted to and orbit around the positively-charged nucleus of an atom. They reside in spaces associated with energy levels called shells and are further organized into subshells and orbitals within each shell.
Electrons Orbit the Nucleus
Electrons are found in specific locations outside of the nucleus. The shell in which an electron resides indicates the general energy level of the electron: those closer to the nucleus have less energy,...
Electrons Orbit the Nucleus
Electrons are found in specific locations outside of the nucleus. The shell in which an electron resides indicates the general energy level of the electron: those closer to the nucleus have less energy,...
12.6K
00:54Electron Behavior
108.6K
Overview
Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that are attracted to an orbit around the positively-charged nucleus of an atom. They reside in locations that are associated with energy levels called shells and are further organized into sub-shells and orbitals within each shell.
Electrons Orbit the Nucleus
Electrons are found in specific locations outside of the nucleus. The shell in which an electron resides indicates the general energy level of the electron: those closer to the...
Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that are attracted to an orbit around the positively-charged nucleus of an atom. They reside in locations that are associated with energy levels called shells and are further organized into sub-shells and orbitals within each shell.
Electrons Orbit the Nucleus
Electrons are found in specific locations outside of the nucleus. The shell in which an electron resides indicates the general energy level of the electron: those closer to the...
108.6K
01:22Behavior Therapy
705
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
705