Allogrooming in cattle: Relationships between social preferences,feeding displacements and social dominance |
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| Authors: | David Val-Laillet Vanessa Guesdon Marina AG von Keyserlingk Anne Marie de Passillé Jeffrey Rushen |
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| Institution: | 1. Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, 6947 #7 Highway P.O. Box 1000, Agassiz, BC, Canada V0M 1A0;2. Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4;1. Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Unidad de Investigaciones Zootécnicas, Maracaibo, Venezuela;2. University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA;3. University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation Clinic for Cattle, Hannover, Germany;2. Departamento de Producción Animal y Pasturas, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Av. E. Garzón 780, 12900, Montevideo, Uruguay;3. Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Lasplaces 1550, 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay;2. Department of Large Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 8, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark;1. Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada e Bem-Estar Animal, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88.034-000, Brazil;2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agroecossistemas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, 88.034-000, Brazil;2. Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108;1. Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada, Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil;2. Câmara de Agroecologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor Litoral, Matinhos, PR, Brazil;3. Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile |
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| Abstract: | The aim of this study was to describe the allogrooming behaviour of group-housed lactating cows (Bos taurus) as it relates to social dominance, friendship, parity and level of feeding competition. We measured the socio-negative (displacements at the feeder and in the lying stalls) and socio-positive interactions (allogrooming and preferential spatial associations) in six groups of eight dairy cows. This experimental model has been shown to be useful in investigating the effects of high social pressure in groups of cattle. The level of social competition was manipulated by halving the access to the feeder. Allogrooming was observed mostly at the feeder after fresh feed delivery and during the night between 12 and 2 a.m. Dominance rank had no effect on the expression of allogrooming. When competition between animals increased, allogrooming declined, especially in low-ranking, primiparous animals. In addition to its role in coat hygiene and potential role in reducing tension between animals competing for feed, we conclude that allogrooming may be a behaviour reflecting friendship in cows, because it is correlated to preferential associations between partners at the feeder. We suggest that primiparous cows are more susceptible to suffer from a lack of hygiene or socio-positive relationships when submitted to high competitive pressure, especially when they are mixed with more experienced animals that could have better coping strategies in a high competition situation. |
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