Incidence and pattern of abnormal intersucking behaviour in dairy cattle.

摘要

Observation of abnormal inter-sucking behaviour was recorded in 326 Karan Swiss, 470 Karan Fries and 108 Sahiwal cattle kept in loose pens and paddocks. Calves up to 6 months of age were fed whole milk. Inter-sucking behaviour was recorded in termsof time (s/h), frequency (number/h) and duration (s/frequency). Inter-sucking of pen-mates body parts, such as ears, teats, navel, tail and mouth was 57.14% in calves up to 3 months old and increased to 67.97% in calves that were 3-6 months of age. Inter-sucking behaviour decreased subsequently with increase in age, being 26.66% in male calves at 6-12 months and 13.33% at >12 months of age. It was 25.00% in female calves, 6.54% in heifers, 2.35% in pregnant cows and 1.10% in lactating cows in the form of self- or cross-teat sucking. However, 17.60% of all cattle showed inter-sucking behaviour regardless of sex or breed differences. The occurrence of inter-sucking was significantly greater after milk feeding in the morning and evening in calves up to 6months of age. The time and frequency of this behaviour were greater (P<0.01) in young calves up to 6 months of age than in the other age groups. Frequency of this behaviour was significantly lower in female calves than in male calves of the same age group, with increased space density. There was not much difference in behavioural pattern with respect to sex and breeds. It was concluded that abnormal inter-sucking behaviour was a common problem in group-penned weaned calves, and that it terminated as prepuce sucking in bulls and self- or cross-teat/milk sucking in heifers and cows.