The Effect of Maternal Behavior around Calving on Reproduction and Wellbeing of Zebu Type Cows and Calves

SIMPLE SUMMARY: After a brief introduction establishing the importance of parturition and the establishment of the mother-young bond, this review summarizes knowledge on the maternal behavior of Zebu type cows, including maternal and young behavioral patterns, the protective behavior of the mother and how maternal behavior might be influenced by experience and weather conditions. In addition, the effect of some nutrition, heat stress, calf presence around parturition and its effects on cattle reproductive performance, welfare issues on reproductive behavior and calf performance are reviewed. Finally, some conclusions and practical implications are established. ABSTRACT: The behaviors associated with domestic cattle such as maternal care are quite similar to those behaviors observed in wild ungulates. These behaviors allow the cow to bond with her calf, protect and provide it with nourishment and ultimately reduce the bond at weaning. Although maternal behavior is an important factor influencing the survival and early development of the newborn calf, Zebu type cows around calving have not been studied extensively. Herein, we consider the four main aspects of maternal behavior in cattle and particularly Bos indicus cows and calves. Firstly, we provide a brief description of the behavior of cows around parturition and the behavior of the first stages of the calves’ lives. In the second part, the protective behavior of the mother is analyzed. Subsequently, examples of animal welfare implications followed by an analysis of some factors that affect calf survival, including mother experience and weather conditions, are discussed, and in the last part, reproduction along with some peculiarities of reproductive behavior, and the wellbeing of mother and calves are examined. We concluded that knowledge of maternal behavior of Zebu type cows around calving and interactions with calves might contribute to an enhanced reproductive efficiency of the mother and the welfare of the calf.