ANIMAL WELFARE (Maternal Behaviour) Flashcards
Maternal behaviour:
-all behaviours directed towards nurturing offspring, providing care, and maximize survival
-a form of altruism: time, energy and survival ->fitness of the species (ex. maximizes fitness of another animal which leads to overall fitness of the species)
Paternal behaviour:
-rare in mammals
-in monogamous biparental species: male can do everything that the mother does, except lactate
Elements of maternal behaviour at different stages:
- Before birth (birth location, increased activity, separation from herd)
- At birth (grooming/bond, hiding newborn, nursing)
- After birth (strength maternal bond, communication: vocalizations, lactation)
Function/purpose of preparturient behaviour:
-birth site selection and preparation
>protect neonates from harsh environment
>protect and hide young from predators
>isolate young from conspecifics to improve parental bond
Preparation and species examples (preparturient)
LESS EFFORT:
-bovine, equine: minimal/secluded area
MIDDLE EFFORT:
-feline, ovine: make a depression
MORE EFFORT:
-poultry, dogs, birds, rodents, swine: gather material for nest
Effort levels for the nest:
-less effort for animals where the young will be leaving right away
-those that can’t walk will make a nicer nest for their young
Birth:
-predicting time of parturition: not easy
-advantage for species NOT to advertise the time of parturition
-technology being developed and commercially available (ex. tail accelerometer)
Birth time of day for different species:
-cows, pigs, sheep: random
-llamas: daytime before noon
-horses: over 80% at night
Why need to have maternal recognition?
-provide adequate care and protection
-avoid spending resources in other mother’s young
*typically takes place before the time in which young conspecifics may mix
Ex. birds have more time to build up the recognition compared to cows
Requirements for maternal recognition:
- Distinctive information
- Memory
*inappropriate maternal behaviours often caused by an improper offspring recognition
Distinctive information (maternal recognition):
-capacity to distinguish some unique features from the newborn
Ex. spatial, sensorial, phenotypical (ex. monkeys, chimps)
Memory:
-capacity to compare sensory information against some memory or template that indicates recognition
Causal factors:
-interpretations of external changes and internal states of the body that serves as inputs to the decision-making centre
External factors:
-environmental factors
-surroundings
Internal factors:
-previous experience
-hormones
-genetics
Experience effects:
Inexperienced mothers are not as competent
-more fearful of offspring
-bonding and attachment slower
-more reliant on sensory cues from the calf
-more disturbed/distracted by the behaviour of others and the environment
Perinatal stress:
-the environment where the mother is in the weeks leading up to giving birth (prenatal and early neonatal environment)
-interferes with proper hormonal cascade and maternal bonding
-predisposes offspring to different gene expression (epigenetics)
Perinatal stress can lead to:
-increased response to pain and stress
-altered immune function
-reduced growth rate
-aggressive behaviour
-poor maternal behaviour
Oxytocin:
-peak at birth
-uterine contractions
-milk let down
Hormonal factors before birth:
-pregnant females find smell of amniotic fluids repulsive and will avoid newborn calves
Hormonal factors after birth:
-they are attracted to fluids and their newborn calves and will lick them vigorously
Factors interfering maternal behaviour:
- Wrong hormonal profile
- Interference from other females, predators, or humans
- Birthing fatigue and weak offspring
- Body condition score (thinner cows=poorer mothers)
Wrong hormone profile:
-lack of cervical stimulation (C-section)
-drugs or hormones that interfere with oxytocin release (from C-section, stress hormones)
Intervention strategies:
- Leave females undisturbed during parturition, minimize assistance
- Taste of birth fluids
- Milk letdown
- Reduce initial rejection and gain acceptance over time
Taste of birth fluids:
-smear onto nose and tongue
-encourage female to lick young
-transfer characteristics of dam’s offspring to alien young (Ex. odor transfer, skin graft)
Reduce the initial rejection and gain acceptance over time
*calf is rejected, but force the mother to spend time with it
-physical restraint
-tranquilizers
