Abstract
The neonate’s development and survival is dependent upon being vigorous at birth and
receiving appropriate maternal care. However, difficulty at delivery can result in less vigorous
offspring and maternal care can be altered, probably as a consequence of exhaustion,
pain and human intervention. The first 3 h after expulsion of the calf were observed continuously
from videos following twelve natural calvings and sixteen calvings assisted by
farm staff (including four malpresentations) from Holstein cows. Calvings were balanced
within groups for parity of the dam, genetic group, sex and birth weight of the calf, calving
pen and calving season. Assisted calves were less vigorous with higher latencies to attempt
to stand, achieve standing, walk and reach the udder than unassisted calves (P < 0.05). Furthermore,
assisted calves also tended to be less likely to stand and walk within the first 3 h
after birth (P < 0.1), spent more time lying on their flank (P = 0.019) and had more frequent
bouts of this behaviour (P = 0.033). Assisted dams did not take longer to lick the calf and
performed as much licking as unassisted dams (P > 0.05), indicating no delayed onset or
impaired expression of maternal behaviour in dams given assistance at delivery. Study of
potential pain-related behaviours revealed that assisted dams spent less time self-grooming
(P = 0.033) than dams delivering naturally, which could suggest greater pain. However, there
were no significant differences in any of the other pain-related behaviours. Our results suggest
that, although maternal behaviour was unaffected by a difficult delivery, dairy calves
born following difficult calvings have lower vigour in the first 3 h after birth than unassisted
calves. This might have longer-term effects on the health and survival of the calves.
© 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 257 - 64 |
Number of pages | 192 |
Journal | Preventive Veterinary Medicine |
Volume | 103 |
Publication status | First published - 2012 |
Keywords
- Calving ease
- Dairy calves
- Dystocia
- Maternal behaviour
- Pain
- Vigour