A report on the UK Dairy
Industry
The Natural Life of Cattle
Fig. 3. Cows establish strong friendships when only a
few days old, making later separation stressful and confusing
Cattle are members of the Bovidae family, which also includes antelope, goats,
sheep, bison and buffalo (19). Modern domestic cattle (Bos taurus)
are descended from the much larger auroch (Bos taurus primigenius)
which once ranged from Britain to Africa, throughout the Middle East, across
India and central Asia (20). Domestication of the auroch began in Mesopotamia
around 6500 BC where they were used for meat, milk, hides and labour (20).
Selective breeding over the millennia caused dramatic physical changes
to domestic cattle, to the extent that they are now considered a separate
species (20). Wild aurochs became extinct in Britain in the Bronze Age,
with the last members of their species killed by hunters in Poland in 1627
(20).
The closest living relatives of modern domestic cattle are bantengs (Bos
javanicus) and gaur (Bos gaurus) who live in South East Asia
and have both suffered drastic population declines (19). These species
naturally form small herds, between 10-30 animals, although several herds
may get together during the breeding season. Most herds consist of only
one bull with several cows and their offspring. Young males that don’t
manage to take over the herd must head out on their own, sometimes joining
together in small ‘bachelor’ groups (19).
Populations of semi-wild cattle still survive in several countries, including
the white cattle which have roamed free in Chillingham Park in Northumberland
for at least the past 700 years (21). Studies of this herd, and other semi-wild
herds, have provided much insight on natural cattle behaviour.
Like the guar and banteng, semi-wild cattle form small groups, averaging
15-20 animals, with a strict social hierarchy – the highest ranking
individuals having priority to food, shelter and water, with offspring inheriting
their mother’s status (22). The social structure within herds is based
on matriarchal families, with mother cows and their daughters remaining grooming
and grazing partners for their whole lives (22). These matriarchal families
are interconnected by friendships between unrelated cows (22). Once the social
structure is established in a herd it remains stable for many years and any
disruption to the group, such as a new member or division of the herd, is
very stressful and confusing for them (22). According to Rosamund Young,
an expert on cattle behaviour, it is extremely common for calves to establish
lifelong friendships when only a few days old (23). These social bonds are
constantly reinforced through mutual grooming (23).
The birth of a calf is a very private moment for a cow and she will usually
take herself off from the rest of the herd to give birth, leaving her calf
hidden away in long grass for the first week or so (21, 22). The week-old
calf is then brought to the herd for an introduction ceremony. The ‘king’ bull
comes out to meet them and escorts them into the herd. The other cows then
inspect and sniff the calf, as if to decide whether he or she should be admitted
to the herd. Once this is 'agreed', the cows pay no further attention to
the new calf who remains with the herd (21).
Cows are very protective of their young and will attack, and even kill,
anything they see as a threat – including humans (24). In June 2005,
a 66 year-old woman was trampled to death as she walked her dog through a
field of cows with their calves in Warwickshire (24). Female calves will
naturally suckle until they are around nine months old and stay with their
mothers for the rest of their lives (22, 23). Males are weaned at around
12 months old and would then leave the herd and join a bachelor herd (22).
Both males and females can easily live to be 20 (21, 22, 23).
Cows are ruminants who digest their food in two steps, first by eating the
raw material and then regurgitating a semi-digested form known as cud which
they chew again (20). Their stomach is divided into four chambers with each
carrying out different functions. In the first chamber, called the rumen,
the food is mixed with fluid to form the cud. The regurgitated cud, after
having been slowly chewed, is swallowed again, and passes through the rumen
into the other stomach chambers for further digestion (20).
Fig. 4. Studies of free-ranging herds have shown that female calves
naturally wean at around nine months old while males continue to suckle
up to 12 months
Cattle have a wide field of vision but are poor judges of detail and distance
(20). Contrary to popular belief, cattle can also see colour although
they have a deficiency towards the red end of the spectrum (20). Due to their
poor depth perception, they are often reluctant to enter dark or shadowy
areas and frequently over-react to quite small things in their path,
such as changes in floor surface or shadows (23).
Cattle have excellent hearing and hear sounds at similar and higher frequencies
to humans, they dislike loud, sudden noises (19). They also have a very effective
sense of smell which they use to explore new objects or environments (19).
Terminology
Calf: a male or female up to 180 days old
Heifer: a young female over 180 days old before she has
her first calf
First-calf heifer: a female who is in her first lactation
Cow: a female in her second lactation
Bullock or steer: a castrated male more than 180 days old
Bull: an entire male more than 180 days old
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