科研之友
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摘要
Cattle on extensive rangelands typically graze in smaller groups rather than as one large herd. The objective of this study was to examine the strength of social associations among cattle in different sized herds. Associations among individual pairs of cows (i.e., dyads) on rangelands were determined from 12 to 15 early-morning visual observations during the summer months from 1997 to 2001. Strength of associations was assessed at group (i.e., cows that were within 30 m of other cows) and pasture section (i.e., cows within the same general pasture area) spatial scales by determining Half-Weight Index (HWI) association values for all dyads with the association software program SOCPROG 2.4. Herds with 40 or less cows exhibited association patterns that were not different (P < 0.95) from what would be expected by chance suggesting that cattle in herd sizes of 40 or less did not exhibit preferential or avoidance associations. In contrast, cattle in larger herds (i.e., 53-240 cows) tended to form associations with other cows that were stronger or weaker than what would randomly be expected. Strengths of associations at the group scale in larger herds were typically low with most pairs of cattle only being observed together in the same group in less than 30% of the observation periods. At the pasture section scale, cattle appeared to have relatively strong associations, but it was unclear if this was an affinity to the same pasture area or a strong social bond with herd mates. Differences in association patterns at different herd sizes suggests that social behaviours observed in small herds may not fully reflect the natural associations that occur with larger herds of cattle on rangelands.
- 出版日期2016-5
