PSXIV-25 - Investigating the relationship between maternal protectiveness and temperament in beef cattle

Abstract: Observations were made on 73 dams on two ranches in Colorado and one in Wyoming during the spring 2022 calving season to investigate the relationship between temperament and calf protection. The objective was to compare temperament scores to the distances of protective behavior performed by the dam as the observer moved closer to the pair. The protective actions of the cow were: Approach (alerted by raising her head to observer's presence), Protective (moved between observer and calf), Vocalization (called to calf), and Closest (closest distance the observer reached before the pair moved away). Temperament scores included chute score, exit score, exit velocity, and blood lactate. One hundred percent of the dams alerted to the observer's presence, twenty-five percent (n=18) moved between the observer and the calf, and sixty-three percent (n=46) vocalized to their calf. Thirty-five (47.9%) dams allowed the observer to touch the calf, categorized as Touch, while the other thirty-eight (52.1%) walked away from the observer before contact with the calf, categorized as No Touch. In a linear model using Touch/No Touch as the predictor and the continuous variables of Approach, Protect, Vocalize, Closest, exit velocity, and blood lactate; only closest (P< 0.001) and exit velocity (P=0.011) had significant differences (P< 0.05) between the means. Dams that allowed the observer to touch the calf, on average, exited the chute with greater velocity (P=0.01). Blood lactate and exit velocity were predictors in a mixed model with Ranch as a random factor with Touch/No Touch as the outcome; no significant difference was found (P >0.05). The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed individually on Approach, Protection, Vocalization, and Closest with predictor values of Ranch, date of birth (DOB), and hair whorl. A significant difference (P=0.04) appeared between the medians of Closest when grouped by hair whorl; dams with abnormal hair whorls moved away from the observer at a greater distance. When divided by Ranch, there were differences (P< 0.001) in the average chute score. This study suggests that dams with a faster exit velocity are approachable in the field. Exit velocity is not a good indicator of how close an observer can get to a calf in the field. Attraction to novelty could play a larger role than previously thought in temperament. No impactful relationships were observed between a dam’s temperament and her maternal protectiveness. Ranchers can continue selecting for docile temperament without fear of decreasing maternal protection.