J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1981. 53:934-939.
© 1981 American Society of Animal Science
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Maternal Responses of Confined Beef Cattle to Single versus Twin Calves1

E. O. Price2, J. Thos3 and G. B. Anderson2

University of California, Davis 95616

Abstract

The maternal responses of 123 beef females that gave birth to either single or twin calves after embryo tranfer were studied for various periods during the first 18 days postpartum. Only one of 53 females bearing single calves and one of 70 females giving birth to live twins failed to care for their offspring. Twinning did not affect the probability that a mother would nurse her offspring during morning and evening observation periods. However, twins suckled longer (P<.02) than single calves, presumably because of a suboptimal milk supply. Twins received less (P<.01) grooming (licking) from their mothers than did single calves. Twins were more persistent in their attempts to suckle alien mothers, and mothers with twins were successfully suckled by alien calves more frequently than were mothers of single calves. Mothers with twins housed in a .06-ha enclosure were more likely to nurse their calves during morning and evening than were twin-bearing females housed in an enclosure 7.5 times larger. Size of the enclosure did not affect the probability that mothers with twins would groom their young or that mothers with singles would exhibit either nursing or grooming behavior. The maternal behavior of heifers and cows with twins was similar. Under intensive management, the maternal behavior of beef heifers and cows appears adequate to support a program of induced twinning.

Footnotes

1 The authors would like to acknowledge the technical assistance of D. Carter, J. Delsol, J. McColl, M. Reinecke and V. Smith in behavioral observations. Assistance in embryo transfer and animal care was provided by R. BonDurant, P. Cupps, S. Donahue, M. Horton, W. Neel, D. Peters, R. Scadden, M. Drost and M. Wheeler.

2 Dept. of Anim. Sci.

3 Departmento de Producciones y Economia, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.






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Copyright © 1981 by the American Society of Animal Science.