Effect of cow-calf contact on cow motivation to reunite with their calf.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Wenker ML
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7455555 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Effect of cow-calf contact on cow motivation to reunite with their calf.
Wenker Margret L ML Bokkers Eddie A M EAM Lecorps Benjamin B von Keyserlingk Marina A G MAG van Reenen Cornelis G CG Verwer Cynthia M CM Weary Daniel M DM
Scientific reports 20200828 1
Early cow-calf separation prevents much of cows' natural maternal behaviour. Early separation is thought to prevent the development of a cow-calf bond. To assess this bond, we measured motivation of dairy cows to reunite with their calf. To vary the degree of bonding, some cows were allowed continued contact with their calf and others were separated from their calf soon after birth, following standard practice on most farms. Among cows allowed continued contact, some were able to suckle their ca ...[more]
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