Abstract
Simple SummaryThe present paper reviews the importance of bonding for the survival and well-being in the cow–calf relationship. The review focuses on buffaloes and information from other species is used for comparison or to find more general patterns in the absence of specific sources. Differences between several farm species are also described, focusing on the role played by the sensory stimuli during the sensitive period after birth. How bonding can be classified according to the predominant senses used by different species, the importance of learning (i.e., imprinting) in the development of mother–young relationship, and the neurobiological mechanisms involved are also delineated. Finally, some examples of the main factors that can affect the mother–young relationship in the field are given. By understanding the imprinting at brain level, as well as the relationship with behavior, we gain a deeper insight into the critical role that experience, and environmental factors play in shaping the development of the mother–offspring bond.In buffaloes and other mammalian farm species, the mother provides food and protection to the young, but she is also the main source of behavioral and social learning for the offspring. It is important that mother and young establish a bond based on a learning mechanism defined as “imprinting” early after parturition during the sensitive period, on which the welfare and survival of the offspring will depend. This review aims to summarize and discuss current knowledge regarding the imprinting process, the neurobiological pathways that are triggered during this sensitive period, and the development of the cow–calf bond. Touch, hearing, vision, and smell seem to be the predominant senses involved during imprinting in buffaloes and other mammalian farm species. In buffalo, bonding is very particular due to the expression of specific behaviors, such as allo-suckling and communal rearing. In general, imprinting and the subsequent bond may be affected by the lack of experience of the mothers or dystocic parturitions, which occur most frequently with male calves and in primiparous dams. The main problems in the development of this process include lack of seeking a protected and isolated place to give birth; moving from the birth-site after parturition; insufficient postpartum care; aversion or aggressiveness towards the newborn, or abandonment of the newborn. The process can develop differently according to the species. However, the correct development of the cow–calf relationship represents, regardless of the species, a key factor for their fitness.
Highlights
In most mammals, care for the young depends primarily on the mother [1]
Due to the lack of studies relating imprinted bonding to the corresponding underlying neurological pathways [22], the objective of this review is to summarize and discuss current knowledge on the imprinting process, focusing on buffaloes, and identify welfare-related problems triggered during this sensitive period
Most newborns have developed vision, hearing, smelling and even touching, in such a way that perhaps imprinting is triggered by the dominant sense of the species at that time [5,6]
Summary
Care for the young depends primarily on the mother [1]. She is the most important social contact for the newborn during the first months of life because, in addition to feeding and care, she provides the offspring with the acquisition of important information in relation to the physical and social environment [2,3]. The quality of the contact with the mothers can affect the intensity of their future gregariousness as adults and the quality of their relationship with conspecifics [17,18] Farm animals, such as ewes, goats, cows, and buffaloes, tend to isolate themselves from the herd a few hours before giving birth, facilitating the early relationship with their young [19] and avoiding interferences from other adult females during the sensitive period. They found that calves that took more time to stand took more time to make the first suckling attempt, results that could be related to the calf’s vitality During this period, the offspring can perceive olfactory, acoustic, visual, and tactile signals from their mothers and the environment [35,36], and develop a lasting mother–young relationship supported by the learning capacity of the newborns [37]. The lack of studies in this species does not allow us to determine with greater certainty the causes, costs, and benefits of allo-suckling
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