The study reported in this research communication aimed to assess the influence of maternal contact on calves' activity, fearfulness, and social competence. Calves were either dam-reared for their first 14 d of age (Maternal Contact, n = 12) or were separated from their dams within 12 h after birth (Motherless, n = 12). Calves of both treatments and the dams of Maternal Contact calves were group-housed and suckling was prevented with udder nets. The general activity (lying, locomotion, swapping between lying and standing) was measured using pedometers in eight Maternal Contact and eight Motherless calves within a 24-d period. Since general activity might be affected by calves' age or the separation of Maternal Contact calves from the dams the 24-d period was additionally divided into two groups (period A: 3rd–13th day of age, period B: 14th–27th day of age). Emotionality and social competence were assessed in the open field, novel object, and confrontation test with an unknown cow at 14, 21, and 28 d of age, respectively. Mann–Whitney-U-tests were performed for statistical analysis. Locomotion was greater in Motherless calves than Maternal Contact calves during the 24-d period (A + B combined, P < 0.001) and period B (14th to 27th day of age, P < 0.001). There was no treatment difference in duration of lying or in the amount of swapping in any of the periods. After a Bonferroni correction, which we used due to the exploratory character of the study, there were no treatment differences in behaviours indicating emotionality. Compared to Motherless calves, Maternal Contact calves showed increased vigilance (P < 0.01) during the confrontation test. The results of this study indicate that mother-reared calves likely searched less for social contact and developed greater social skills than calves that were separated from their mothers soon after birth.

中文翻译：

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母体接触对奶牛犊的活动、情绪和社交能力的影响

本研究通讯中报告的研究旨在评估母体接触对小牛活动、恐惧和社会能力的影响。犊牛在第一个 14 日龄时采用水坝饲养方式（母体接触，n= 12) 或在出生后 12 小时内与大坝分离 (Motherless,n= 12)。两种处理的小牛和母体接触小牛的母牛被分组饲养，并用吸乳网防止哺乳。在 24 天期间，使用计步器测量了 8 只母体接触和 8 只母牛犊的一般活动（躺着、运动、在躺着和站立之间交换）。由于一般活动可能会受到犊牛年龄或母性接触犊牛与水坝分离的影响，因此 24 天期间另外分为两组（A 期：第 3-13 天，B 期：第 14-27 天）年龄）。情绪和社交能力分别在 14、21 和 28 日龄时在开放领域、新事物和与未知母牛的对抗测试中进行评估。曼-惠特尼-ü-进行了统计分析测试。在 24 天期间（A + B 结合，磷< 0.001) 和 B 期（第 14 至 27 天，磷< 0.001)。在任何时期中，撒谎持续时间或交换量没有治疗差异。由于研究的探索性特征，我们使用 Bonferroni 校正后，表明情绪化的行为没有治疗差异。与没有母亲的小牛相比，母性接触的小牛表现出更高的警惕性（磷< 0.01) 在对抗测试期间。这项研究的结果表明，与出生后不久就与母亲分开的小牛相比，由母亲抚养的小牛可能较少寻求社交接触，并发展出更高的社交技能。