Suckling behavior of calves in seasonally calving pasture-based dairy systems, and possible environmental and management factors affecting suckling behaviors

Cuttance, EL; Mason, W.A.; McDermott, JJ; Laven, Richard

doi:10.3168/jds.2021-21324

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Our analysis showed that every hour longer that a calf remained at pasture postbirth was associated with a 1.30 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.44) g/L increase in STP. This is consistent with the data of suckling behavior reported in Cuttance et al (2022), which showed that the longer calves are able to stay with the dam, the more likely they are to suckle their dam and the more likely they are to have multiple suckling events. This is also likely a function of IgG absorption increasing over time (Hancock, 1985;Burton et al, 1989).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…These variables and categorization of them are defined in Cuttance et al (2022). Again, logistic regression models were used to assess each of the risk factors, separately.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Full details of the method are presented in Cuttance et al (2022). Briefly, observations were carried out by trained technicians (observers) working in pairs or triplets (depending on the farm), on 4-to 5-h shifts at a time over a 24-h period.…”

Section: Farm Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One member of the pair or triplet of observers was responsible for recording information while the other member or members of the pair or triplet carried out observations. The observations collected are presented in Cuttance et al (2022). Calves were excluded from any further observations if they were born dead or died before the farmer collected the calves, or if the cow or calf was removed from the paddock (out of the sight of the observation team) before general calf pick-up (e.g., to assist calving, seek treatment).…”

Section: Farm Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, it is clear that suckling behavior is variable and not all calves will suckle if left with their dams. Cuttance et al (2022) summarized the previous studies in this topic. These studies observed between 20 and 161 cow and calf pairs and reported a range of suckling percentages from 50% calves suckling within 6 h (Selman et al, 1970c; 10 cows and 10 heifers observed) to 87.5% of calves suckling within 6 h in cows housed in stalls (Illmann and Špinka, 1993;32 cattle observed).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The transfer of passive immunity in calves born at pasture

Mason¹,

Cuttance²,

Laven

2022

Journal of Dairy Science

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Calf and dam separation is an area of growing public interest, and timely separation is also a practical challenge for pastoral farmers to achieve for all calves. Very few studies have investigated the success of leaving calves with their dams in pastoral conditions, so this observational study assessed serum total protein (STP) in calves born at pasture and left to suckle from their dams for up to 24 h. It also investigated failure of transfer of passive immunity (FPT) once calves had been provided colostrum from the farmer and some factors that may contribute to the risk of FPT. Over 2 years, 8 farms (4 in the North Island, 4 in South Island of New Zealand) were involved in an observational study where cows and calves were observed for 24 h a day for 2 wk per farm. Observers recorded the time from birth to first suckling, number of suckling events, time of calf removal from the dam, and ambient temperature. Calves were blood sampled on arrival at housing, before receiving colostrum from the farmer (d 1), and again 2 d later (d 3) to test for STP concentration. On d 1, 689 calves had blood samples collected, at a median of 11.5 (interquartile range 5.6 to 19.2) hours postbirth. Of these, 283 calves [41.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 37.4 to 44.9%] had STP >52 g/L (proportion by farm ranged from 10 to 78%). On d 3, 680 blood samples were collected, of which 16.0% (95% CI 13.5 to 19.0) had FPT (STP ≤52 g/L) with proportion by farm ranging from 2.5 to 31.6%. The FPT risk at d 3 in calves that did not suckle before housing was 2.91 (95% CI 2.04 to 4.13) times the risk in calves that suckled. For every hour longer postbirth that it took for a calf to have its first suckling event, odds of FPT at d 3 increased by 1.21 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.36) times, and compared with calves that only suckled once, calves that suckled 2, 3-5, or >5 times had 0.42 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.99), 0.35 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.76), and 0.10 (95% CI 0.005 to 0.47) times the odds of FPT, respectively. For every 1-percentage-point increase in the Brix % of the colostrum, the odds of FPT decreased by 33% (95% CI 24 to 42). Calves that suckled in the paddock and were fed colostrum with ≥22% Brix had the highest STP, and lowest odds of FPT, of any suckling/Brix % combination. There was a trend for STP to be greater in calves that suckled in the paddock and fed <22% Brix compared with calves that did not suckle in the paddock and fed ≥22% Brix. However, the calves in the former group also tended to have a greater risk of FPT at d 3, and a greater STP variability. There were very large between-farm variabilities for rates of suckling, colostrum feeding, and FPT risk that urgently require further investigation for calves born at pasture.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…These variables and categorization of them are defined in Cuttance et al (2022). Again, logistic regression models were used to assess each of the risk factors, separately.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Farm Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Farm Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The transfer of passive immunity in calves born at pasture

Mason¹,

Cuttance²,

Laven

2022

Journal of Dairy Science

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Mother-offspring bonding revisited: A blueprint for the future of beef cattle farming

Sanz,

Blanco-Penedo,

Quintans

et al. 2024

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Effect of suckler cow breed type and parity on the development of the cow-calf bond post-partum and calf passive immunity

Brereton,

McGee,

Beltman

et al. 2024

Ir Vet J

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Background Development of the cow-calf bond post-partum and passive immunity of calves from spring-calving beef × beef (B×B) and beef × dairy (B×D) cow genotypes was determined using primiparous and multiparous (Experiment 1), and primiparous and second-parity (Experiment 2) animals. In Experiment 1, calves either suckled colostrum naturally (‘natural-suckling’) (n = 126), or were fed colostrum, using an oesophageal-tube (‘artificially-fed’) (n = 26), from their dam within 1-h post-partum. In Experiment 2, all calves (n = 60) were artificially-fed colostrum from their dam. Prior to colostrum suckling/feeding, colostrum was sampled for IgG analysis. The cow-calf bond was assessed using CCTV recordings during the first 4-h post-partum. Calves were blood sampled at 48-h post-partum to determine IgG and total protein (TP) concentrations, and zinc sulphate turbidity (ZST) units. Results There was no difference (P > 0.05) in cow licking behaviours and calf standing and suckling behaviours between the genotypes, except in Experiment 2 where B×D calves had more attempts to suckle before suckling occurred (P ≤ 0.05) compared to B×B calves. In Experiment 1, multiparous cows licked their calves sooner (P ≤ 0.05) and for longer (P < 0.01), and their calves had fewer attempts to stand (P < 0.001), stood for longer (P = 0.05), and had fewer attempts to suckle before suckling occurred (P < 0.001) than primiparous cows; there was no parity effect on cow-calf behaviour in Experiment 2. Colostrum IgG concentrations and measures of calf passive immunity did not differ (P > 0.05) between the genotypes in either Experiment. In Experiment 1, colostrum IgG concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in multiparous compared to primiparous cows and their calves had superior (P ≤ 0.05) passive immunity; no effect of parity was found in Experiment 2. Passive immunity did not differ (P > 0.05) between suckled and artificially-fed calves in Experiment 1. Conclusions Cow genotype had little effect on cow-calf behaviours, but under ‘natural-suckling’ conditions primiparous cows expressed maternal inexperience and their calves were less vigorous than multiparous cows. Colostrum IgG concentration and calf passive immunity measures were unaffected by genotype, but under ‘natural-suckling’ conditions calves from primiparous cows had lower passive immunity.

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Suckling behavior of calves in seasonally calving pasture-based dairy systems, and possible environmental and management factors affecting suckling behaviors

Cited by 6 publications

References 37 publications

The transfer of passive immunity in calves born at pasture

The transfer of passive immunity in calves born at pasture

Mother-offspring bonding revisited: A blueprint for the future of beef cattle farming

Effect of suckler cow breed type and parity on the development of the cow-calf bond post-partum and calf passive immunity

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