Reproductive and Maternal Behavior of Livestock - Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals - page 165

and hormonal changes in the brain of the dam ( Nowak et al., 2000 ). Cattle
have been described as a “hider” species as there is a preference for secretion
of the young. This time of separation from the herd varies from a few hours to
up to several days after birth. During this time the mother grazes within hear-
ing distance and returns regularly to the calf ( Langbein and Raasch, 2000 ).
Older calves may be left under the watchful eye of a “nanny” cow under
extensive conditions, with this behavior being particularly observed in Bos
indicus breeds.
Large individual differences have been observed to occur in calving
behavior during the perinatal period ( Kunowska-Sl´sarz and R´ zanska,
2009 ). However, breed differences were also reported in a study by Le
Neindre (1989) in which maternal behavior exhibited by a beef breed
(Salers) was more intense than that shown by a dairy breed (Friesian). It has
also been observed that beef females tend to leave the herd at calving more
readily than dairy females ( Lidfors et al., 1994 ). Dairy cattle have been
selected for less intense maternal behavior than beef breeds, in which strong
maternal behavior is valued ( Le Neindre, 1989 ).
Recently, extensive beef systems in North America have been facing the
challenge of increased predation loss by wolves ( Bangs and Fritts, 1996;
Clark and Johnson, 2009 ), black vultures, and golden eagles ( Avery and
Cummings, 2004 ). Selection since the late 1990s towards calmer tempera-
ment cattle ( Hyde, 2010 ) may have reduced maternal protectiveness.
Ranchers have reported mothering problems and maternal neglect in very
calm females resulting in weak calves and calf starvation ( Sime and Bangs,
2010 ). Females of Bos indicus breeds are generally regarded as being
strongly protective mothers, an observation supported by Williams et al.
(1991) , who reported a direct positive additive genetic influence for weaning
rate of calves in Brahmans. In Red Angus cows, individual differences in
protectiveness towards the calf have been found ( Floercke et al., 2012 ). The
hair whorl pattern located high on the forehead may be used as an indicator
for selection towards more reactive cattle ( Grandin et al., 1995 ). Selection
for superior maternal ability in regions with high predation pressure could
have advantages for ranchers. Temperament score at calving, a supposed
indicator of maternal ability, was shown to differ among beef breeds in New
Zealand. Heritabilities for behavioral traits were generally low ( Morris et al.,
1994 ). However, a German study showed that Angus cows were more pro-
tective than Simmentals ( Hoppe et al., 2008 ) although maternal protective
behavior was not associated with weight gain of the offspring. From a pro-
duction standpoint, strong maternal protective behavior may have less impor-
tance in highly intensive systems with few predators, such as Germany, than
in more extensive areas in which predation is common. Last, an important
contributor to calf losses in Bos indicus (e.g., Guzerat) cattle is the develop-
ment of oversized or “boule” teats in dams which hinder suckling ( Frisch,
1982; Holroyd, 1987; Schmidek et al., 2008 ).