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Weaning in calves: Its effects on social organization

1989; Elsevier BV; Volume: 24; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0168-1591(89)90124-x

1872-9045

Isabelle Veissier, Pierre Le Neindre,

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Two experiments were undertaken in order to determine the effects of late weaning on the social behaviour of calves. Control heifers that were still suckled were compared to heifers that were weaned and kept either alone (Experiment 1) or with other familiar cows (Experiment 2) and to heifers whose dams had cloth on the udders to prevent suckling (Experiment 1). Spatial repartition and social encounters were recorded at pasture from dawn to dusk. Weaned heifers gathered more and engaged in more social encounters between them than controls. These alterations were more striking when the heifers were kept alone after weaning and less striking when only suckling was prevented. Moreover, preventing suckling did not alter dam-young relationships (Experiment 1). Nevertheless, when the dams were returned to their young after a total 3-week separation, their attachment to their young seemed to have declined, whereas that of the calves to their dams had not (Experiment 2). It is concluded that the calf remains attached to its dam even after weaning and that the absence of this preferential social partner makes the young animal strengthen its bonds with other partners.