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Author |
Cameron, E.Z.; Stafford, K.J.; Linklater, W.L.; Veltman, C.J. |
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Title |
Suckling behaviour does not measure milk intake in horses, Equus caballus |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
1999 |
Publication  |
Animal Behaviour. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim. Behav. |
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Volume |
57 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
673-678 |
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Abstract |
Studies of parental investment in mammals have frequently used suckling behaviour to estimate energy transfer from mother to offspring, and consequently to measure maternal input. Such studies assume that the more an offspring sucks, the more milk it will receive. This assumption has been questioned, and a review of the literature found little support for it. To test if suckling behaviour provided an accurate index of milk or energy intake we used a radioactive isotope technique to label the milk of thoroughbred mares and to measure milk transfer to foals. We found no significant linear relationship between usual measures of suckling behaviour and milk or energy intake. No behaviours associated with suckling nor with characteristics of mares and foals improved the relationship; only the number of butts associated with each suck episode even approached significance. If we had used suckling behaviour to test theories on differential maternal investment our conclusions would have been in error. For example, female foals tended to suck for longer than males did but there was no difference in the amount of milk transferred. Consequently, we show that measures of suckling behaviour do not adequately predict milk intake in the domestic horse and we suggest that conclusions about differential maternal investment in mammals based on suckling behaviour are likely to be in error. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. |
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Ecology Group, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University |
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English |
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0003-3472 |
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PMID:10196058 |
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no |
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Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
418 |
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Author |
Cameron, E.Z.; Linklater, W.L.; Stafford, K.J.; Minot, E.O. |
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Title |
Maternal investment results in better foal condition through increased play behaviour in horses |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Animal Behaviour. |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim. Behav. |
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Volume |
76 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
1511-1518 |
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Keywords |
Equus caballus; feral horse; maternal investment; play |
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Abstract |
Play behaviour is widespread in mammals, but benefits to play have been difficult to demonstrate. Physical training is one of the many proposed hypotheses, suggesting that males and females should play differently, that increased maternal investment should lead to increases in play, and that increases in play should result in physical advantages. In a population of feral horses, Equus caballus, males and females did not differ in their play behaviour except that males initiated more of their play bouts than females. Maternal condition influenced play behaviour only in males, with sons of mothers in good condition playing more. However, when we controlled for maternal effects by comparing a son and a daughter of the same mother, daughters played more when their mother was in poor condition and sons played more when their mother was in good condition. Mothers of foals that played more lost more condition. Therefore, the difference in play behaviour could not be explained by offspring sex or maternal condition alone, but play behaviour mirrored variation in maternal investment. In addition, those individuals that played more survived better and had better body condition as yearlings despite weaning earlier. Since increased activity has been linked to enhanced musculoskeletal development in domestic horses, we suggest that play provides a link between increased maternal investment, increased body condition and future reproductive success in feral horses, and probably in other species. |
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0003-3472 |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4709 |
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