Allosuckling in cattle: Gain or compensation?

Víchová, Jitka; Bartoš, Luděk

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2005.02.015

Cited by 43 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Naso-anal contact contributes to motheroffspring bonding (Cowan 1974;Nowak et al 2000), which is essential for the survival of the calf independently from the environmental conditions. In addition, non-filial suckling, which could jeopardize individual reproductive success and increase maternal costs, occurs in many ungulate species under both wild and farm conditions (Packer et al 1992;Ekvall 1998;Pélabon et al 1998;Víchová and Bartoš 2005;Drábková et al 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suckling behavior of eland antelopes (Taurotragus spp.) under semi-captive and farm conditions

Hejcmanová

Vymyslická

Koláčková

et al. 2010

J Ethol

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Mother-offspring interactions soon after parturition play a key role in the survival of mammals. We investigated the suckling behavior of semi-captive Western Derby eland (Taurotragus derbianus derbianus) in a 60-ha enclosure covered by dense savanna vegetation in Senegal and farmed Common eland (T. oryx) on an open 2-ha pasture in the Czech Republic. We hypothesized that the basic pattern of suckling bout duration and mother-offspring interactions would be similar between species, but would vary in response to the environmental conditions and breeding system. During three calving periods, we observed the suckling of 27 and 23 calves of Derby and Common elands, respectively, between the ages of 1-5 months, and the interactions between mother and calf before and during suckling. Suckling bout duration increased with the age of the calves for both elands. However, in Derby elands we recorded longer suckling bouts in male than female calves and shorter suckling bouts in primiparous mothers than multiparous ones; no differences were found in farmed Common elands. The animals' active approach to mother-offspring contact, for example naso-anal contact, and initiation and termination of suckling, resulted in longer suckling bouts in Derby elands. The results suggest that Derby elands that range over a large enclosure with dense vegetation cover adjust their maternal behavior in compliance with potential predator risk, facing a trade-off between nursing and vigilant behavior in the wild. The suckling behavior of farmed elands, on the other hand, reflects the conditions of captivity without predators and with the small available area enabling permanent visual contact of animals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suckling behavior of eland antelopes (Taurotragus spp.) under semi-captive and farm conditions

Hejcmanová

Vymyslická

Koláčková

et al. 2010

J Ethol

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“…These recent additions include llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Vicugna pacos), two domestic South American camelids (Brown 2000), fallow deer (Ekvall 1998), river buffalo (Bubalis bubalis, Murphey et al 1995) and wild mouflon (Ovis musimon, Reále et al 1999). Nine of these reports involved studies conducted on wild subjects and eight were on captive subjects; four other studies included observations both in the wild and in captivity (Murphey et al 1995;Pelabon et al 1998;Landete-Castillejos et al 2000;Bartoš et al 2001;Víchová and Bartoš 2005). Allosuckling by captive guanacos has been recorded to range from 4.1 to 40% of suckling bouts , supporting the possibility that this behavior may take place with varying frequency within the same species and under varying environmental conditions (Hass 1990;Ekvall 1998;Pelabon et al, 1998).…”

mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…While this behavior would seem easy to explain, and is generally regarded as potentially beneficial to the allosuckler, evidence indicates that allosuckling is either not beneficial or that it is a compensation mechanism for undernourished offspring (Landete-Castillejos et al 2000;Bartoš et al 2001;Víchová and Bartoš 2005). In addition, allosucklers may risk injuries that result from aggressive responses by nonmaternal females and experience a high risk of pathogen transmission through milk (Roulin and Heeb 1999).…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

A case of allosuckling in wild guanacos (Lama guanicoe)

Zapata

Gaete

Correa

et al. 2008

J Ethol

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Although allosuckling, the lactation of non-filial offspring, can be a costly behavior, it has been reported in several species across a wide range of mammalian orders. Monotocous species such as ungulates exhibit this behavior less frequently than polytocous species, and most cases have been reported among captive specimens. A case of allosuckling of a free-ranging guanaco (Lama guanicoe) calf is reported. Allosuckling observed in this species may represent opportunistic behavior by the calf, supporting the ''milk theft'' hypothesis.

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“…A test of this hypothesis requires data that were not available in this study. Infants may suck non-mother females to compensate for some nutritional deficiency such as low weight at birth or insufficient supply of maternal milk [Víchová and Bartoš, 2005]. One of the predictions of this hypothesis is that infants that have temporarily or permanently lost their mother will request, and probably receive, more allonursing than other infants in the group.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Allonursing in Tufted Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus nigritus): Milk or Pacifier?

Baldovino¹,

Bitetti²

2007

IJFP

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Allonursing, the behaviour of females nursing offspring that are not their own, is relatively frequent in capuchin monkeys. Using focal-animal sampling and ad libitum observations we describe the pattern of allonursing in a wild group of tufted capuchins, Cebus nigritus (4 cohorts, 22 infants), at Iguazú National Park, north-eastern Argentina, and test several hypotheses on the adaptive value of allonursing. During 2,351 contact hours with the group (including 4,207 focal-animal samples totalizing 329 h focused on infants) we observed 39 allonursing bouts. Infants were not allonursed more frequently by close kin than by more distant allomothers. Offspring of dominant females were allonursed more frequently than those of low-ranking females. Nursing bouts were longer than allonursing bouts. Our results suggest that allonursing in tufted capuchins has a social function and is not mainly aimed at providing milk to infants.

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Allosuckling in cattle: Gain or compensation?

Cited by 43 publications

References 26 publications

Suckling behavior of eland antelopes (Taurotragus spp.) under semi-captive and farm conditions

Suckling behavior of eland antelopes (Taurotragus spp.) under semi-captive and farm conditions

A case of allosuckling in wild guanacos (Lama guanicoe)

Allonursing in Tufted Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus nigritus): Milk or Pacifier?

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