Fostering and Adoption in Beef Cattle

Although there are a number of observational and anecdotal studies on how and when the dam recognizes her calf, there is very little experimental work. There have been studies on maternal behaviour and recognition of the young in sheep (e.g. Alexander & Shillito 1977) and goats (e.g. Hersher et al. 1963). Cowley & Darby 1970 have worked on fostering in cattle.