Behaviour of Zebu and crossbed cows in restricted suckling groups

The aim of this study was to investigate whether Zebu (Bos indicus) and crossbred (Bos indicusxBos taurus) cows differ in maternal related behaviour during restricted group suckling. The behaviours of 20 Zebu and 16 crossbred cows were recorded during two 30min sessions each day after milking when their calves were present for suckling, for a time period of 2 weeks per month for 6 months postpartum. The main activity in both breeds during the 0.5h observation sessions was suckling. However, the two breeds differed significantly in several behavioural aspects. The Zebu cows had longer total duration of suckling than the crossbred cows, per 30min session, 11.8 and 9.4min, respectively. The separate suckling bouts were longer in the Zebu cows (2.8min in Zebu and 2.3min in crossbred) and this breed also had more suckling bouts than the crossbred per session, 3.8 and 3.2, respectively. Zebu cows stayed in close contact with their calves for longer time and directed more agonistic actions against alien calves and cows than the crossbred cows.