Mothers and others. Allosuckling behaviour in a herd of domestic cattle.

The aim of the study was to test a hypothesis of the compensatory function of the allosuckling as a sign of a high level of social relationship in a group of cattle (Bos taurus). If compensatory function of the behaviour was valid, then calves should compensate their growth (expressed by lower birth body mass) and/or maternal insufficiencies (an increased frequency of rejection of the calf's suckling attempts by its mother) through allosuckling; nursing of non-filial calves should not effect negatively the dam's maternal care provided to her filial calf (expressed by regular growth rate of the filial calf); and allosuckling calf should not be prevented to allosuck by at least some of the cows, nor the allosuckling should be based on a tactics not to be identified by the dam when attempting to get non-maternal milk. (An alternative hypothesis predicts that allosuckling should be a misdirected maternal behaviour arising from various reasons). The low age of a cow, the main factor involved in allonursing behaviour, fits well to altruistic conditions in terms of learning and helping behaviour. It could also well be an evidence of misdirected behaviour of young inexperienced cows. In spite of this, our results supported the hypothesis, that allosuckling could be an accepted mechanism evolving as an altruistic approach by the females. This enables the allosuckling calves to compensate their growth and/or nutritional deficiency.Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi