Preliminary study on suckling
behaviour in water-buffalo
L. Carlos Pinheiro Machado,
Fo. and Abdon L. Schmitt, Fo.
UFSC, Florianopolis,
Brazil
Management procedures
usually adopted for cattle have been applied to water-buffalo (w-b) as
the Brazilian population of w-b has increased. The purpose of this
study was to provide some preliminary information on suckling behaviour
in w-b calves, important for early survival and growth. During June,
September and October 1990, a herd of 28 w-b cows with their respective
calves and one bull were observed on a commercial farm on the southeast
coast of Brazil. The herd was kept on pasture, rotating between 1
ha paddocks every 3 days. All observations were made by direct visual
observation with binoculars. In June 1990 (stage 1), a sample of
twelve calves were classified in three groups by age -
2 months (2M),
3 months (3M), and 4 months (4M). They were observed for frequency
of suckling and grazing time for 72 h, in six 12-h sessions, alternating
periods from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., with 2 days
of rest between each session. Every suckling event was registered,
and grazing was recorded by scans at 10 min intervals. Results were
analyzed by the method of Least Square. In September - October 1990
(stage 2), 24 suckling events of calves aged 4-6 months were observed during
the daytime periods. Times of each nursing event (cow-calf interactions
related with a
given suckling event),
and suckling event (calf sucking the teat in its mouth), were recorded,
and the calf's suckling position and occurrence of multiple sucklings were
registered. In stage 1, the average number of suckling events per
24 hours, for 2M, 3M and 4M calves, respectively, were 3.6a, 3.0ab, and
2.2b (Duncan test, P<0.05). Percent of grazing time per 24 hours
did not differ significantly with age (18%, 22%, and 23%, respectively).
In stage 2, the average nursing event time was 19.0 (+5.8) min and the
average suckling event time was 12.3 (+2.6) min. Calves suckled from
behind the cow in 75.1% of events, from either side of the cow in 8.3%
of events and from the side, moving to the back in 16.6% of events.
Multiple suckling occurred in 12.5 %, and allogrooming (dam to calf) in
60%, of events. Results and comparison with cattle are summarized
in Table 1. Differences between species exist, and the direct application
of cattle management procedures to w-b calves may not be appropriate.
Table 1: Differences in
suckling behaviour of water buffalo calves (this study) and published results
for cattle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
References
(1) Somerville & Lowman,
1979. Appl. Anim. Etho. 5:369-373.
(2) Reinhardt & Reinhardt,
1981. J. Agric. Sci. Camb. 96:309-312.
(3) Day et al., 1987. J.
Anim. Sci. 65:1207-1212.
(4) Lidfords & Jensen,
1988. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 20:237-247.
(5) Lewandrowski & Hurnik,
1983. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 63:849-853.