The experiment used tri-axial accelerometers to record changes in suckling behaviour in beef calves with advancing age and also investigated the correlations between suckling behaviour, production variables and postpartum anestrous period (PPAP) of cows. Data were collected from 20 Bos taurus calves reared under pastoral conditions of northern Australia over two periods: when calves were on average1 and 4 months old. Calves suckled less frequently per 24 h at 4 months (8.2 ± 0.66 times) than at 1 month of age (9.8 ± 0.46 times, P < 0.05); however, calves had significantly longer suckling durations per bout at 4 months (9.3 ± 0.35 min) than 1 month of age (8.3 ± 0.31 min, P < 0.05). The suckling behaviour of calves had no effect on their average daily weight gain (ADWG) (P> 0.05). However, the ADWG of cows were negatively associated with suckling duration per bout (rho=-0.54, P < 0.05). Cow’s PPAP was shorter when they had greater body condition score (BCS) (at 4 months of calf’s age rho=-0.49, P < 0.05), greater loin eye muscle area (LEMA) (at 1 month of calf’s age rho=-0.58, P < 0.05; at 4 months of calf’s age rho = 0.57, P < 0.05) and greater fat depth over rib (at 1month of calf’s age rho=-0.45, P < 0.05). Dams with greater fat depth over their ribs at 1 month of their calves’ age nursed their calves less frequently when they were 4 months old (rho=-0.52, P < 0.05). It is concluded that calf suckling behaviour changes with age, specifically bout length increases and suckling frequency decreases. Additionally, the calves of dams in greater body condition suckle less frequently, suggesting the dams may have greater overall reproduction efficiency.

该实验使用三轴加速度计记录了随着年龄的增长，犊牛犊牛的哺乳行为的变化，并研究了母牛的哺乳行为，生产变量与产后动情期（PPAP）之间的相关性。数据收集自20头金牛座小牛在澳大利亚北部的牧养条件下饲养了两个时期：小牛平均处于1个月和4个月大。小牛在4个月时每24小时吸奶一次（8.2±0.66次）的频率比1个月大时（9.8±0.46倍，P <0.05）少；但是，犊牛在4个月（9.3±0.35分钟）时每回合的哺乳时间比1个月大（8.3±0.31分钟，P <0.05）长。犊牛的哺乳行为对其平均日增重（ADWG）没有影响（P> 0.05）。然而，奶牛的ADWG与每回合的哺乳时间呈负相关（rho = -0.54，P <0.05）。当母牛的身体状况得分（BCS）更高时（小牛年龄4个月，rho = -0.49，P <0.05），腰肉眼肌面积（LEMA）更大（小牛年龄1个月，rho = -0.58），则PPAP较短。 ，P <0.05; 犊牛年龄的4个月rho = 0.57，P <0.05），肋骨上的脂肪深度更大（犊牛年龄的1个月rho = -0.45，P <0.05）。在犊牛年龄的1个月时，肋骨上脂肪深度较大的水坝在4个月大时，其犊牛的护理频率较低（rho = -0.52，P <0.05）。结论是小腿的哺乳行为会随着年龄的增长而变化，特别是回合长度增加而哺乳频率降低。另外，身体状况较好的水坝的小牛吮吸频率较低，表明水坝的总体繁殖效率更高。结论是小腿的哺乳行为会随着年龄的增长而变化，特别是回合长度增加而哺乳频率降低。另外，身体状况较好的水坝的小牛吮吸频率较低，表明水坝的总体繁殖效率更高。结论是小腿的哺乳行为会随着年龄的增长而变化，特别是回合长度增加而哺乳频率降低。另外，身体状况较好的水坝的小牛吮吸频率较低，表明水坝的总体繁殖效率更高。