Rewilded Highland Cattle in conservation grazing may not groom more when horseflies are present and temperature is higher DOI Creative Commons
Jinhwi Kim, Pius Korner, Valentin Amrhein

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 3, 2025

Abstract Grooming behavior in domestic cattle serves various functions, including hygiene maintenance, social bonding, and stress alleviation. We examined the grooming patterns of rewilded Highland cattle, to describe their behavioral adaptations responses environmental factors a conservation grazing system. observed 21 French nature reserve from November 2020 September 2021 using mixed focal scan sampling methods, recording total 1225 bouts. primarily consisted self-grooming (83%), followed by tree-grooming (16%), social-grooming (1%). The average duration per bout was 48.2 seconds 15-minute interval, indicating stable consistent pattern across all cattle. used linear generalized effect models assess effects such as presence horseflies, Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), habitat type. Our results showed that influenced group, while stressors had only minor on frequency. This limited response may be attributed relatively low density horseflies our study area opportunity adaptive behaviors, wallowing, manage heat ectoparasites. By examining under near-natural conditions, this provides baseline for understanding also serving potential reference identifying changes informing future management practices.

Language: Английский

Rewilded Highland Cattle in conservation grazing may not groom more when horseflies are present and temperature is higher DOI Creative Commons
Jinhwi Kim, Pius Korner, Valentin Amrhein

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 3, 2025

Abstract Grooming behavior in domestic cattle serves various functions, including hygiene maintenance, social bonding, and stress alleviation. We examined the grooming patterns of rewilded Highland cattle, to describe their behavioral adaptations responses environmental factors a conservation grazing system. observed 21 French nature reserve from November 2020 September 2021 using mixed focal scan sampling methods, recording total 1225 bouts. primarily consisted self-grooming (83%), followed by tree-grooming (16%), social-grooming (1%). The average duration per bout was 48.2 seconds 15-minute interval, indicating stable consistent pattern across all cattle. used linear generalized effect models assess effects such as presence horseflies, Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), habitat type. Our results showed that influenced group, while stressors had only minor on frequency. This limited response may be attributed relatively low density horseflies our study area opportunity adaptive behaviors, wallowing, manage heat ectoparasites. By examining under near-natural conditions, this provides baseline for understanding also serving potential reference identifying changes informing future management practices.

Language: Английский

Citations

0