ANIMAL WELFARE (Maternal Behaviour)

Question 1

Maternal behaviour:

Answer 1

-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)

Question 2

Paternal behaviour:

Answer 2

-rare in mammals
-in monogamous biparental species: male can do everything that the mother does, except lactate

Question 3

Elements of maternal behaviour at different stages:

Answer 3

1. Before birth (birth location, increased activity, separation from herd)
2. At birth (grooming/bond, hiding newborn, nursing)
3. After birth (strength maternal bond, communication: vocalizations, lactation)

Question 4

Function/purpose of preparturient behaviour:

Answer 4

-birth site selection and preparation
>protect neonates from harsh environment
>protect and hide young from predators
>isolate young from conspecifics to improve parental bond

Question 5

Preparation and species examples (preparturient)

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Effort levels for the nest:

Answer 6

-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

Question 7

Birth:

Answer 7

-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)

Question 8

Birth time of day for different species:

Answer 8

-cows, pigs, sheep: random
-llamas: daytime before noon
-horses: over 80% at night

Question 9

Why need to have maternal recognition?

Answer 9

-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

Question 10

Requirements for maternal recognition:

Answer 10

1. Distinctive information
2. Memory
   *inappropriate maternal behaviours often caused by an improper offspring recognition

Question 11

Distinctive information (maternal recognition):

Answer 11

-capacity to distinguish some unique features from the newborn
Ex. spatial, sensorial, phenotypical (ex. monkeys, chimps)

Question 12

Memory:

Answer 12

-capacity to compare sensory information against some memory or template that indicates recognition

Question 13

Causal factors:

Answer 13

-interpretations of external changes and internal states of the body that serves as inputs to the decision-making centre

Question 14

External factors:

Answer 14

-environmental factors
-surroundings

Question 15

Internal factors:

Answer 15

-previous experience
-hormones
-genetics

Question 16

Experience effects:

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Perinatal stress:

Answer 17

-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)

Question 18

Perinatal stress can lead to:

Answer 18

-increased response to pain and stress
-altered immune function
-reduced growth rate
-aggressive behaviour
-poor maternal behaviour

Question 19

Oxytocin:

Answer 19

-peak at birth
-uterine contractions
-milk let down

Question 20

Hormonal factors before birth:

Answer 20

-pregnant females find smell of amniotic fluids repulsive and will avoid newborn calves

Question 21

Hormonal factors after birth:

Answer 21

-they are attracted to fluids and their newborn calves and will lick them vigorously

Question 22

Factors interfering maternal behaviour:

Answer 22

1. Wrong hormonal profile
2. Interference from other females, predators, or humans
3. Birthing fatigue and weak offspring
4. Body condition score (thinner cows=poorer mothers)

Question 23

Wrong hormone profile:

Answer 23

-lack of cervical stimulation (C-section)
-drugs or hormones that interfere with oxytocin release (from C-section, stress hormones)

Question 24

Intervention strategies:

Answer 24

1. Leave females undisturbed during parturition, minimize assistance
2. Taste of birth fluids
3. Milk letdown
4. Reduce initial rejection and gain acceptance over time

Question 25

Taste of birth fluids:

Answer 25

-smear onto nose and tongue
-encourage female to lick young
-transfer characteristics of dam’s offspring to alien young (Ex. odor transfer, skin graft)

Question 26

Reduce the initial rejection and gain acceptance over time

Answer 26

*calf is rejected, but force the mother to spend time with it
-physical restraint
-tranquilizers