Dynamics of social hierarchy in a dairy herd (1975)

Reinhardt, V., Reinhardt, A.

Abstract

Shifting in rank position is inherent in the dynamic interdependency between age, body wieght and social rank. Up to the age of about nine years animal gain in dominance, at which time they occupy the best social ranks of the herd. In general, after the age of about ten years animals show a progressive decline in dominance status. Social rank tension is highest between rank neighbors and lowest between rank partners widely separated in the social rank scale.