The relationship between the cow and calf develops over time after birth. The behavioural mechanisms underlying its development are important and comparisons with other species may increase our understanding. In nature the cow will separate herself from the herd to give birth and then the cow–calf relationship will develop with the ability to recognise each other. While twinning levels are low in cows, they do rear their twin calves. If the calf is lost at or after birth the cow can be responsive towards other calves and in specific circumstances the cow can develop a maternal bond with an alien calf, i.e. foster. In this Research Reflection a distinction is made between the development of, on the one hand, maternal responsiveness (the tendency of the cow to care for a calf which occurs before birth) and, on the other hand, the development of the maternal–filial bond or relationship which is reciprocal, occurs after birth and is characterised by the ability to discriminate the mother's own calf from alien calves. These processes can overlap and the relationship between cow and calf in this ‘hider’ species is more plastic than in some other mammals. For example, a cow might form an attachment with an alien calf before she gives birth. After the cow has given birth the loss of her own calf may result in the state of maternal responsiveness being maintained, such that developing a maternal bond with one or several appropriate alien calves is possible. Viable fostering techniques are possible. If a maternal relationship to the mother's own calf has developed then fostering will be more difficult. If the cow's relationship with her own calf is not exclusive, and she is in a state of maternal responsiveness then fostering of calves of an appropriate age and status can be achieved.

中文翻译：

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牛-小牛关系：从母体对母体纽带的反应和养育的可能性

母牛和小牛之间的关系在出生后随着时间的推移而发展。其发展背后的行为机制很重要，与其他物种的比较可能会增加我们的理解。在自然界中，母牛会将自己从牛群中分离出来进行分娩，然后母牛与小牛之间的关系将随着相互识别的能力而发展。虽然奶牛的双胞胎水平较低，但它们确实饲养了双胞胎小牛。如果小牛在出生时或出生后丢失，母牛会对其他小牛做出反应，并且在特定情况下，母牛可以与外来小牛建立母性联系，即寄养。在本研究反思中，一方面对母体反应能力（母牛在出生前照顾小牛的倾向）和另一方面的发展进行了区分，母子关系的发展是互惠的，发生在出生后，其特点是能够区分母亲自己的小牛和外来小牛。这些过程可以重叠，并且这种“隐藏”物种中的牛和小牛之间的关系比其他一些哺乳动物更具可塑性。例如，一头母牛可能会在分娩前与一头外星小牛建立依恋关系。在母牛分娩后，失去自己的小牛可能会导致母体反应状态得以维持，这样就有可能与一只或几只合适的外来小牛建立母性联系。可行的培育技术是可能的。如果与母亲自己的小牛建立了母性关系，那么养育将更加困难。如果母牛与自己的小牛的关系不是排他性的，