Vocal Communication and the Importance of Mother-Offspring Relations in Cattle

Abstract

As Marino and Allen (2017) comprehensively highlight, cattle are not just simple herd animals, but instead show evidence for complex cognitive and social behaviors, as well as rich emotional lives. Nevertheless, these aspects of the lives of cattle, which are potentially important for improving their welfare, remain relatively understudied. Vocal communication in cattle also plays a central role in individual recognition and the coordination of social behaviors, and it is particularly relevant for the bond between mothers and their offspring. The importance of mother-offspring recognition, and motheroffspring bonds in early life, are crucial to the development of appropriate behavioral repertoires as calves mature into adult cattle.