ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR & WELFARE

Maternal behaviour in mammals

Lecture 5 (9/10)

Cluj Napoca, 8th of December, 2021

Definition of maternal behavior

• The behavior exhibited by mothers towards their young to :

- Aid survival;
- Ensure growth and development (physical+mentally);
- Provide feeding, protection, warming, etc.
- Innate (+learned in primates) + Genetic + Hormonal
• Paternal behavior exhibited mostly in birds and few mammals
(mostly primates)
Clasification of maternal behavior – Criterias

1. Number of youngs/ birth - Polytocus vs Monotocus;

2. Nature of youngs – Precocial vs. Atracial;
3. Dam following – Follower vs Hider vs Intermediate
4. Parturition stage – Pre- vs Parturient vs. Post-
Polytocus animals - Atracial youngs

• Immature, imobile (crawl) and helpless at birth;

• Sealed eye and ears (2-3 weeks of age);
• Cannot regulate defecation/ body temperature;
• No teeth / hairless;
• Completely dependent on mother for feeding, warmth,
protection, defecation;
Monotocus animals - Precocial youngs

• Relatively mature at birth – can move and stand;

• Open eyes and ears;
• Can regulate defecation/ body temperature;
• With teeth & hair;
• Partially dependent on mother for feeding &protection;
Following Dam Criteria

• Followers – horse/ cattle/ sheep/ pigs – young will stay most

of the time close to the mothers
Following Dam Criteria

• Hiders – Goats / antilopes kid stay hidden for many hours

while mother feed. This will last the first 4-5 days of life
Following Dam Criteria

• Intermediate – or clinging species - Primates

Parturition stage criteria – PRE Parturition behavior
• Restlessness
- Pawing the ground – ewe/ sow
- Getting up and laying down
- Rolling – mare / queen
- Rubbing to fixed objects
• Signes of pain/ looking at flank
• Vocalization increased
• Isolation from the herd
• Cessation of rumination
• Early maternal interest
PRE Parturition visible signs examples - Mare

• Udder distended

• Abdominal oedema
PRE Parturition visible signs examples - Mare

• Pelvic ligaments relaxed

• Teat waxing

• Milk release
Parturition behavior

• 1st - Preliminary stage – Labour

• 2nd - Fetus expulsion
• 3rd – Placenta expulsion
• 4th – Refractory - rest
Parturition
behavior
Parturition behavior – Stage 1 - Labour signs

• Contraction of abdominal muscles + pain

• Alternatively standing and laying down
• Appereance of the chorio-allantoic sac
• Rupture of liquid sac
• Plus – urination and defecation
Parturition behavior – Stage 1 & 2
Parturition behavior – Stage 3 & 4
• Expulsion of placenta
POST - Parturition behavior
• Mother behavior
• Young behavior
• Mother – young bond
• Recognition
Behavior of the mother
• Standing immediatly after birth
• Maternal imprinting and recognition
• Grooming / licking of the new born
• Placento - phagia
Behavior of the mother – Grooming/licking functions
• Dryness of the young body
• Removal of fetal fluid from nostril and mouth to stimulate respiratory
centres
• Stimulates the blood and lymph circulation
• Help to stand and increase muscular tone
• Facilitate urination/ defecation
• Labeling/ recognition and maternal philial bond
Behavior of the mother – Grooming/licking functions
Behavior of the mother – Placento-phagia
• Contain hormones: estrogens/ progesterone/ prolactine
• Defence against predators
• Hygienic measure agains microbes
• Increased imunity of mother
• Nutrient recycling – protein and minerals
Progesterone and parturition
Pathways to parturition
Fetal stress

Fetal cortisol

Placental hormones Estrogens PG2Alpha Relaxin

Genital tract secretion Myometrial stimulation Luteolysis Pelvic canal stretching

Lubrication Pressure

Cervical stimulation

Oxitocin

Muscular pressure
Behavior of the newly born
• Standing behavior
• Udder / teat searching behavior
• Suckling behavior
• Distress calling
• Rooting (mostly in pigs)
Standing behavior
• Coordination of limbs
• Elevation
• Ambulation
• Exploration
Udder / teat searching/seeking behavior
• Mothers help:
- Rotating the body
- Abduction hit legs
- Moving to bring uder closer to young
- Licking perineal region to stimmulate suckling
Suckling behavior
• What to look for?
- Posture at suckling – normal/abnormal
- Mechanics of suckling
- Non-nutritional suckling
Assignment for next seminar
Prepare in pairs/groups a brief presentation – 5 min on the Parturition
specific behavior as follows:
Mara/ Carina – dogs – pre-parturition
Julio / Dan – sheep – Post- parturition
Carla/ Irina – dairy cattle – post- parturition
Davia/Daniel – pigs – pre-parturition