Document type : Article published in Réussir Bovins viande
Author: Sophie Bourgeois
Preview: Pauline Garcia, a breeder and animal behaviourist, advises readers to adapt their approaches to the social status of the animal. She reminds us that status is often linked to that of the animal's mother.
"Be careful not to put a label on an animal. Its status can change after a new grouping, or because of different events in the herd" explains Pauline Garcia. The arrival of a new animal also disturbs the status of all the animals in a batch. And if you separate two cows that are used to being together all the time, licking each other, resting side by side, and one of which is often used as a protection for the other - these bonds are very strong and long-lasting - the separation can be very destabilizing for them.
"When you break up the hierarchy, it's stressful. It is necessary to give the animals time to adapt to establish a new hierarchy," observes Pauline Garcia. This can take anything from ten minutes to an hour. On the other hand, in herds with a stable composition, there is very little competition between animals. "The hierarchy is particularly in evidence when access to water troughs, food, or shaded areas in the pasture is limited," notes the behaviourist.
A dominant cow can be aggressive with humans. She is used to having the upper hand physically so she is not afraid of conflict and will not give in. "She is also a calm cow, not stressed. When moving, she is in the middle: she often sends the leaders in front because she avoids the unexpected. When you work with a dominant cow, she has this attitude, so it's not personal if she's not very pleasant. Power struggles are not the answer, you have to be smarter. "We favour food rewards. If she gets upset, for example, in the restraint corridor, we wait until she becomes less worked up to give her a scratch or a food reward and she understands that she gets this by calming down", explains Pauline Garcia.
