Suckling activity and calf growth in a group of crossbred cows each rearing two foster calves
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| Category | Journal Articles |
|---|---|
| Abstract |
Each of 3 Limousin X (Holstein-Friesian (HF) X Aberdeen-Angus) and 6 Limousin X (HF X Hereford) cows was presented with 2 alien calves within 5 min of parturition. Each cow's own calf was removed, and later fostered to another cow. Foster trios were observed periodically until introduction to the foster herd. The foster herd was observed continuously on days 71, 77 and 175 after the av. fostering date. Calf growth rates were recorded from birth to day 77 and from day 77 to day 175. All cows were observed to allow their foster calves to nurse at the time the trio was introduced to the herd, suggesting that successful maternal-offspring bonding between calves and dam had occurred. Behavioural data taken on days 71 and 77 were similar, and were pooled. The percentage of cross-suckling (the number of times the calf was nursed by an alien cow as a percentage of total sucklings) was higher on days 72 and 77 than on day 175. Calf growth rates were highly variable to day 77 (CV = 39.8), and were less variable between days 77 and 175 (CV = 23.9). The correlation between the percentage of cross-suckling and calf growth rate to day 77 was -0.73. The decrease in the percentage of cross-suckling from day 77 to day 175 (48 |
| Date | 1982 |
| Publication Title | Applied Animal Ethology |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 131-140 |
| Language | English |
| Author Address | Department of Animal Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA. |
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