Dairy Buffalo Behavior: Calving, Imprinting and Allosuckling

Abstract

Maternal behavior, in water buffalo and other ruminants, is a set of patterns of a determined species, including calving, imprinting, and suckling. This behavior is mainly triggered by hormone concentration changes and their interactions with their respective receptors in the brain, particularly oxytocin. These chemical signals also influence mother–young bonding, a critical process for neonatal survival that develops during the first postpartum hours. Currently, dairy buffalo behavior during parturition has rarely been studied. For this reason, this review aims to analyze the existing scientific evidence regarding maternal behavior in water buffalo during calving. It will address the mechanisms of imprinting, maternal care, and allosuckling strategies that may influence the survival and health of calves.

The effect of birth weight and time of day on the thermal response of newborn water buffalo calves

“…Immediately after the first intake of colostrum and formation of the mother-calf bond (observed as licking and ingestion of amniotic fluids and placental membranes by the dams) (7), the calves were weighed using a 100-kg Outmate Digital Crane Scale R (Data Weighing Systems, USA) with a readout accuracy of 0.…”

“…Another factor linked to birth weight that can be altered is the newborn's vitality and ability to reach the mother's udder (43). Ingesting colostrum helps maintain metabolic resources that aid thermoregulation (7). When this behavior is limited, the ability of young animals to acquire more nutrients is reduced (1).…”

“…However, to achieve efficient thermoregulation, animals require energy reserves or energy production that depend on the characteristics of individuals at birth (3) and the modulations of this parameter are closely related to stability of cellular, muscular, nervous endocrine, renal, cardiovascular and respiratory functions (4), and ensured by mechanisms of thermolysis and thermogenesis (5). Not only dams' weight at parturition (6), but also birthweight is a risk factor related to neonatal mortality, especially in neonates (7) born with weights below the average range (38.2 ± 0.2 kg in buffalo calves) (8), as this exposes them to hypothermia due to a high specific surface area and reduced thermogenic capacity (9,10). In addition, birth weight is associated with the capacity for adequate growth and development of buffaloes throughout their productive life (11).…”

The Role of Oxytocin in Domestic Animal’s Maternal Care: Parturition, Bonding, and Lactation

“…It has a structural similarity to vasopressin (AVP), with a minimum difference of two amino acids, which explains why they share physiological effects [ 25 ]. One of the main functions of OXT as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator is during parturition, lactation, and maternal behavior, due to its uterotonic effect [ 22 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…However, it is unclear whether this behavior is only induced by the action of OXT or is coordinated by the effect of hormonal peaks present before parturition that could sensitize OXTR. In the same way, OXT actively participates in lactation because it facilitates milk ejection and can even help induce the care of offspring from other mothers [ 22 , 23 ].…”