Natural sucking performance and age of weaning in zebu cattle (Bos indicus) (1981)

Reinhardt, V., Reinhardt, A.

Abstract

The total sucking time and the number of bouts varied significantly in inverse relation to age of the calf, but the duration of a sucking bout was constant at 8 min and independent of age. There was an average of 4.8 sucking bouts within 24 h giving a total duration of 38 min. Sucking behaviour did not exhibit sex-specific differences. The average age of natural weaning was 10 months but there was a marked sex difference. Female calves [n=14] were prevented by their mothers from sucking after an average of 8.8 months but male calves [n=14] continued to be suckled for a further 2.5 months and were weaned at an average age of 11.3 months.