Abstract
For gregarious species such as domestic cattle, the social environment is a very important determinant of their welfare and fitness. Understanding the complexity of cows' relationships can assist the development of management practices that are more integrated with the cows' social behavioral processes. The two aims of this study were: (1) to determine the dynamics of affiliative relationships, as indicated by allogrooming, by means of stochastic actor-oriented modeling, in dairy cows during early lactation; (2) to explore the underlying processes and the individual attributes, such as age, social rank and reproductive state, that could shape network pattern changes in grooming contacts between individual. We observed the allogrooming behavior of a dynamic group of 38 dairy cows for 4 h per day for 30 days. Using stochastic actor-oriented models, we modeled the dynamics of weekly contacts and studied how structural processes (e.g., reciprocity, transitivity, or popularity) and individual attributes (i.e., age, social rank, and reproductive state) influence network changes. We found that cows tended to groom individuals that had previously groomed them, implying a possible cooperation. Cows that groomed more actively did not appear to have a preference for specific individuals in the herd, and in return, tended to be groomed by fewer cows over time. Older individuals groomed more cows than younger ones, indicating that allogrooming could be related to seniority. Cows groomed mainly individuals of similar age, suggesting that familiarity and growing up together enhanced social grooming. Over time, cows with higher social rank were groomed by fewer cows and individuals recently reintroduced to the group groomed more herdmates. The study of social network dynamics can be used to better understand the complexity and non-linearity of cow relationships. Our findings, along with further research, can complement and strengthen the design of improved management practices that are more in line with the natural social behavior of cows.
Highlights
Dairy cows are herding animals that thrive in socially stable groups
Using stochastic actor-oriented models, we modeled the dynamics of weekly contacts and studied how structural processes and individual attributes influence network changes
This study explored the dynamics of the social grooming network in a group of dairy cows in early postpartum using stochastic actor-oriented models
Summary
Dairy cows are herding animals that thrive in socially stable groups. Living in a herd serves as protection against predators [1] and entails competition for resources and the need for a social organization and group stability. Cows are moved to different pens or paddocks for breeding, treatment, and other management practices Depending on their physiological and production state, each cow is relocated to a new area where she is housed with different herd mates and subject to the appropriate management routines [6]. One of the most critical management practice in terms of cow welfare is the transition period, which is generally 3 weeks pre- until 3 weeks post-calving. During this relatively short period, cows are frequently regrouped, and exposed to several stressors like calving, separation from the calf, diet changes and the onset of lactation. A better understanding of the ability of dairy cows to adapt to a changing social environment is needed [5, 12]
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