Grazing, social and comfort behaviour of Ankole and crossbred (Ankole × Holstein) heifers on pasture in south western Uganda

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cg.coverage.countryUganda
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2UG
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionEastern Africa
cg.creator.identifierMaria Wurzinger: 0000-0001-9391-014X
cg.creator.identifierAlly Okeyo Mwai: 0000-0003-2379-7801
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2007.08.006en
cg.issn0168-1591en
cg.issue3-4en
cg.journalApplied Animal Behaviour Scienceen
cg.subject.ilriFORAGESen
cg.subject.ilriFODDERen
cg.subject.ilriCATTLEen
cg.subject.ilriANIMAL FEEDINGen
cg.subject.ilriLIVESTOCKen
cg.subject.ilriBREEDSen
cg.volume112en
dc.contributor.authorHuber, R.en
dc.contributor.authorBaumung, R.en
dc.contributor.authorWurzinger, Mariaen
dc.contributor.authorSemambo, D.K.en
dc.contributor.authorOkeyo Mwai, Allyen
dc.contributor.authorWinckler, C.en
dc.date.accessioned2013-05-06T07:00:27Zen
dc.date.available2013-05-06T07:00:27Zen
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/28356
dc.titleGrazing, social and comfort behaviour of Ankole and crossbred (Ankole × Holstein) heifers on pasture in south western Ugandaen
dcterms.abstractThe aim of this study was to assess the grazing, social and comfort behaviour of the indigenous purebred Ankole cattle breed and crossbred (Holstein × Ankole) animals under typical management conditions in south western Uganda. Twelve focal animals in each of four groups (two groups per genotype) were observed regarding their grazing, social and comfort behaviour on pasture. No significant differences in grazing behaviour patterns (eating, walking, standing) were found between the genotypes. Resting occurred only very rarely in both genotypes. Walking distances of Ankole and Ankole × Holstein crosses were also similar. There was no difference in the occurrence of agonistic interactions between the two genotypes. However, Ankole cattle engaged in more non-agonistic social interactions than their crossbred counterparts. Individual distances were lower in Ankole heifers and more herd mates were found within a radius of 5 m around the Ankole animals. The most important comfort behaviour pattern in both genotypes was self-licking, which occurred to similar frequency in Ankole and crossbred heifer groups. Crossbred animals scratched themselves and rubbed on objects more often than Ankole heifers. Although Ankole cattle and their Holstein crosses did not differ in grazing, distances walked and agonistic behaviours, the significant differences between the two genotypes in herd cohesion and comfort behaviour may pose challenges on the management of crossbred animals under extensive open grazing conditions as present in south western Uganda. Thus, apart from (re)productive performance traits, behavioural traits of both genotypes may also be taken into account for breeding decisions and management under current production conditions.en
dcterms.accessRightsLimited Access
dcterms.bibliographicCitationApplied Animal Behaviour Science;112(3-4): 223-234en
dcterms.extentp. 223-234en
dcterms.issued2008-08
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCopyrighted; all rights reserved
dcterms.publisherElsevieren
dcterms.subjectcattleen
dcterms.subjectgrazingen
dcterms.subjectbehaviouren
dcterms.subjectfeeding habitsen
dcterms.subjectpasturesen
dcterms.subjectsocial behaviouren
dcterms.subjectcrossbredsen
dcterms.subjectheifersen
dcterms.subjecttropical zonesen
dcterms.subjectlivestock managementen
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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