Inter- and Cross-sucking in Simmental and Holstein-Friesian Calves with Special Interpretation of Farm and Gender Basis

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Authors

Keywords:

behavior, calf, stereotypical, sucking

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between gender and breed factors on inter and cross sucking calves with abnormal behavior. Present field study was enrolled among 4 different farms located in Aydin Municipality, in the Aegean Region of Turkey. A total of 456 calves, with abnormal behavior characteristics, from those 4 farms, were enrolled, involving neonatal calves. The data collected during half an hour observation session were as follows: a) total suckling period and b) suckling bout attempts. Cross-sucking was frequently detected near the feeder in all 4 farms. Heavier calves were sucked more often. The milk bottle were also sucked often, but never longer than 10 seconds. Calves were frequently active in cross-sucking and it was observed that the cross-sucking calves went into the milk feeder more often for a shorter duration. Simmental calves with cross-suckling per observation time were significantly higher than that of the Holstein (p˂0.001). Number of Simmental calves was higher for cross- and inter-sucking behavior. Given the individual interpretation of 4 different farms involved in this study, cross-sucking attempts regarding gender indicated significancy for farms I (p˂0.05) and IV (p˂0.001). The present study supports a potential preliminary finding for calves with stereotypical behaviors for further studies in Turkey.

Author Biographies

Deniz Alıç Ural, Assoc. Prof. Dr.

Department of Farm Animal, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Aydın Adnan Menderes, Işıklı, Aydın, Turkey

Kerem Ural, Prof. Dr.

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Aydin Adnan Menderes, Işıklı, Aydın, Turkey

Hasan Erdogan, Assoc. Prof. Dr.

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Aydin Adnan Menderes, Işıklı, Aydın, Turkey

Mehmet Gültekin, Assoc. Prof. Dr.

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Aydin Adnan Menderes, Işıklı, Aydın, Turkey

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Published

2021-12-14

How to Cite

Alıç Ural, D., Ural, K., Erdogan, H., & Gültekin, M. (2021). Inter- and Cross-sucking in Simmental and Holstein-Friesian Calves with Special Interpretation of Farm and Gender Basis. International Journal of Veterinary and Animal Research (IJVAR), 4(3), 83–86. Retrieved from https://ijvar.org/index.php/ijvar/article/view/517

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Research Articles