Competitive order as a measure of social dominance in dairy cattle

Three experiments were used to examine competitive orders as measures of the social hierarchy in dairy cattle. A least squares procedure, which regressed for numbers of observations, was used for obtaining dominance values, from observations of agonistic behaviour. Behavioural data were quantified by time-lapse photography at 1-min intervals. Dominance value was of little importance relative to production variables in describing the amount of time spent eating a limited amount of grain, concentrate, or hay. Likewise, production oriented variables were more important in describing time spent in free stalls or at the feed trough at five levels of competition. Individual feed intakes of group fed dairy cattle at two levels of competition were described predominantly by production variables. From these data, competitive orders are not measures of social dominance in dairy cattle. Dominance values did not describe a priority of access to feed or resting sites.