Function of tongue-playing of cattle in association with other behavioral and physiological characteristics.
To study the function of tongue-playing of cattle, this study observed 71 Japanese Black x Holstein steers after feeding in 2 repetitive experiments. The number of steers who performed tongue-playing did not differ among the 3 levels of environmentally enriched pens. Most (90.6%) performances of tongue-playing terminated within 20 min. Frequency of tongue-playing positively correlated with the frequency of resting (r = 0.25, p < .05). Frequency of eating was lower in tongue-playing steers (n = 40) than in non-tongue-playing steers (n = 31; p < .05). Frequencies of self-grooming (p < .05), ruminating (p < .05), and lying ruminating (p < .01) were higher in tongue-playing steers. Plasma dopamine concentration was lower in tongue-playing steers (p < .05). In conclusion, tongue-playing that lasts only for a short time after feeding was induced by behavioral features of steers who rest more and eat hay less at the same time as they perform grooming and ruminating.
Ishiwata
Toshie
T
School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara-shi, Japan.
Uetake
Katsuji
K
Eguchi
Yusuke
Y
Tanaka
Toshio
T
D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D012417:Rumen / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology*