That behaviour exhibited by mothers towards their young to aid their survival, growth and development, both physically and behaviorally. It is inherited behaviour Maternal behaviour in mammals (suckling animals) exhibited by mother toward their young, including feeding, protection, warming growth, development and survival. Parental behaviour exhibited by both male and female as in pigeons and other birds.

2. 2- Maternal Behaviour
‫المومـــــة‬ ‫سلوك‬

3. Definition (Concepts) of
maternal behaviour
 That behaviour exhibited by mothers towards
their young to aid their survival, growth and
development, both physically and
behaviorally. It is inherited behaviour
 Maternal behaviour in mammals (suckling
animals) exhibited by mother toward their
young, including feeding, protection,
warming growth, development and survival.

 Parental behaviour exhibited by both male
and female as in pigeons and other birds.

4. Classifications of Maternal
behaviour
 1-According to No.of youngs / birth

Polytocus Animals

Monotocus Animals
 2- According to Nature of youngs:

Precocial young

Altracial young

5. Classifications of Maternal
behaviour
 3- According to Following dams :

Follower Animals

Hider Animals

Intermediate Animals
 4- According to stage of parturition:

Pre-parturient behaviour

Parturient behaviour

Post-parturient behaviour

6. Polytoccus Animals
 Mother give birth to more than one or
two youngs e.g. dog, cat, rate, mice,
hamster.
 Characters of their young ( altracial young )
 1- immature young
 2-helpless at birth
 3-sealed eye and
 4- Sealed ears until 2-3 weeks

7. Characters of their young ( altracial young(
 5-imobile( crawl around the dam)
 6-cannot eliminate them selves
 7-cannot regulate their body temp.
 8-They have no teeth (smooth gum)
 9-hairless
 10-depend completely on their dam in
feeding, warmth, protection and
elimination.

8. Polytoccus Animal (rat & mice(
(altracial young(

9. Polytoccus Animal (cat(
(altracial young(

10. Monotoccus Animals
 Mother give birth to one or two young
 e.g. cattle, horses, sheep, goat, camel.
 Characters of their young (precocial young)
 relatively mature young
 opened eye
 opened ears

11. Characters of their young
(precocial young(
 4- can move, and stand
 5- can eliminate themselves
 6- can regulate their body temp.
 7- they have a teeth
 8- body covered with hair
 9- depend partially on their mother in
feeding and protection.

12. Monotoccus Animals
(precocial young(

13. 3-According to Following dams

Follower Animals

Hider Animals

Intermediate Animals

14. Follower Animals
 Young spent most of time within a very
short distance of the mother to be more
safe
 e.g. cattle, sheep, horses
 in horse the young follow their mother
until grow older

15. Follower Animals

16. Foal follows his Dam

17. Follower sheep (Protection(

18. Hider Animals
 The kid is hidden for as long as eight
hours while the mother feed. after 5
days the kid stay with mother when she
feed
 e.g. goat

19. A Kid hides while another suckles

20. Intermediate Animals
Called Clinging species
e.g. Chimpanzees

21. Intermediate Animals

22. A- Maternal behaviour in
Monotoccus Animals
 Pre-parturient behaviour
 Parturient behaviour
 Post-parturient behaviour

23. Pre-parturient behaviour
 Restlessness
 Signs of pain looking and kicking at the flank (Mare)
 In Ewe vicious, pawing to the ground
 Vocalization increased
 Isolation from the herd to avoid disturbance
 Early maternal interest( lamb and calf stealing)
 Getting up and lying down
 Rolling on the ground (Mare and cats)
 Rubbing to any fixed objects
 Cessation of rumination (Cow-ewe)

24. Lamb or calf stealing
 It is high maternity
 It occurs in group housing animals
 as the parturition approached the
pregnant female showing early
maternal interest to the young of other
females that give birth in vicinity she
may care it and this called lamb stealing

25. Pre-parturient behaviour in mare
 Mares isolate themselves from the herd
mates
 1 month prior:mammary gland begins to
enlarge and ventral edema
 2 days prior: udder distended, secretion
changes to colostrum
 24 hours prior: waxing of teats
 4 hours prior: drips milk

26. udder distended

27. ventral edema

28. Relaxation of pelvic ligaments

29. waxing of teats

30. drips milk

31. Parturient behaviour
 1st
stage ( preliminary stage)
 2nd
stage ( expulsion of the fetus)
 3rd
stage (after birth stage)

32. 1st
stage ( preliminary stage(
 Contraction of the abdominal muscle,
straining and pain
 Alternative standing and lying down
 Appearance of water sac
 It ends with rapture of the chorio-allantoic
membrane and straw colored fluid
 Accompanied by urination and defecation

33. Appearance of amniotic sac

34. Appearance of amniotic sac

35. 1st
stage of calving

36. Appearance of amniotic sac

37. 2nd
stage ( expulsion of the fetus(
• begin with the rapture of water sac and
end with the expulsion of the fetus

38. 2nd
stage of labour

39. 2nd
stage of labour
Head has passed through the vulva

40. 2nd
stage of labour

41. 2nd
stage of labour

42. 2nd
stage of labour

43. 2nd
stage of labour

44. Stages of parturition in Ewes

45. 3rd
stage (after birth stage(
• Expulsion of placenta take 30 min. to six
hours.
• Eating of placenta called
Placento-phagia.
• Eaten in cow and buffalo
• Mares doubtful
• Not occur in she camel

46. Expulsion of placenta

47. Post-parturient behaviour
 Mother (dam) behaviour
 Newly born behaviour
 Mother-infant bond
 Recognition

48. Behaviour of the dam
 Standing of dam immediately after
birth
 Maternal grooming of newly born
 Maternal imprinting and recognition
 Eating placenta (placento-phagia)

49. Maternal imprinting and
recognition
 Rapid, stable, irreversible learning
occur shortly after birth ( immediately)
within a period called
critical period or sensitive period .
 The young follow its mother and the
mother- young bond is formed through
labeling and recognition.

50. Maternal grooming of newly born
 immediately, begins by the head, body
then limbs and hind parts
 Functions of licking
 1-dryness of young body.
 2-removal of fetal fluid from nostril and
mouth to stimulate respiratory center
 3-stimulation of cut, blood, lymph
circulation.

51. Functions of licking (cont.(
 4- help to stand.
 5- facilitate urination and defecation.
 6- increase muscular tone.
 7- labeling of young and recognition.
 8- aid in the formation of maternal filial
bond.

52. Licking Behaviour
• Social Licking
1. Promotes maternal-
offspring bond and
social bond among
herd members
2. Directed mainly to
the head and neck
of the calf
• Maternal Licking
1. It is designed to
stimulate calves to
eliminate wastes
(Urination and/ or
defecation(
2. Directed mainly to
the perineum region
of the calf

53. Maternal licking by a cow

54. Maternal licking by a buffalo cow

55. Social Licking by cow

56. Wet calf stimulate licking in cow

57. Licking by Mare

58. •Foal has completely delivered but the
placenta is still attached

59. Eating placenta (placento-phagia(
Function of Placentophagia :
1-Contain hormones as estrogen, progesterone and
prolactine that important for milk yield
2-defence against predators by removing the odour
3-hygienic measures prevent micro-organism
4-affect on maternal immune response as it contain
factors prevent the formation of antibodies against
fetal antigen which might impair subsequent
pregnancies.
5-Recycling of nutrients (Protein and minerals(

60. Behaviour of the Newly born
 1- Standing behaviour
 2- Udder searching or Teat seeking
 Suckling behaviour

61. Standing behaviour
 1- coordinating recumbence behaviour
 2- elevation behaviour
 3- ambulation behaviour
 4- environmental exploration
 5- udder searching behaviour
 6- suckling behaviour

62. Coordinating recumbence
(attempt of young to stand(

63. Coordinating recumbence

64. elevation behaviour in buffalo
(upright equilibrium or 1st
standing(

65. elevation behaviour
(upright equilibrium(

66. ambulation behaviour
(attempt of young to walk(

67. Udder searching or Teat
seeking
 Newly born directed to the wrong parts
of the body in the 1st attempts of
suckling
 Guides of the calf to find teat may be
 1- the pendulus shape of the udder
 2- the movement of udder (udder tilting)
 3- temperature between thighs
(thigmotaxis)

68. Udder searching behaviour
 The mother also help the calf to find
teats by:
 1- rotating her body
 2- abduction the hind legs
 3- moving forward bringing the udder
closer to the calf
 4- licking the perineal region to stimulate
the calf to suckle

69. Udder searching in Mare

70. Udder searching in Mare

71. Suckling behaviour
 Posture of suckling
 Mechanism of suckling
 Rate and frequency of suckling
 Non-nutritional suckling
 Difference between sucking and
suckling behaviour

72. Posture of suckling
• Typical posture is the young stands
alongside the mother facing caudally
• There is often no teat preferences for front
or hind teats
• Abnormal posture may be
– 1- rear suckling
– 2- the calf stay in right angle with mother body
( perpendicular suckling)

73. Mechanism of suckling
 The calf grasp the teat with its mouth and
sucks vigrously
 It develops negative pressure by warping
thetongue around the teat
 It forms an air- tight compartment in oral
cavity which is necessary for milk flow
 - the calf butts the udder with its head in
buffalo
 - tail wagging and peaceful suckling

74. Peaceful suckling in cow

75. Peaceful suckling in cow

76. Peaceful suckling in Buffalo cow

77. Peaceful suckling in Mare

78. Peaceful suckling in she-donkey

79. Normal suckling behaviour in cow

80. Suckling behaviour in goats

81. Suckling behaviour in camels

82. Suckling behaviour in she-donkey

83. Suckling behaviour in Deer

84. B-Maternal behaviour
of Poly-toccus animals
 Pre-parturient behaviour
 Parturient behaviour
 Post-parturient behaviour

85. Pre-parturient behaviour
In dogs and cats
 - Licking of genital and abdominal areas 12-24 hours
before labour.
 - drop in body temp
 - squatting posture as in defecation
 Scratching of ground
 - nest building is not pronounced
 - bedding for kittening or whelping is provided by
owner
 While in dogs it scratch rugs or towels and blanket

86. Building the birth site in cats

87. Whelping site building in bitch

88. In rodents (Rat & mice) &
Rabbits
 self Licking of genital and abdominal areas
during the last week of pregnancy.
 Nest building rabbits (straw nest)
 Plucking Hair from body (neck, thigh,
abdomen and back) to build maternal nest
few days before part. to maternal nest
 - increase restless, vocalization.
 - increase respiratory rate.
 Loss Appetite

89. Nest building In rabbits

90. Parturient behaviour
 1st stage

-uterine contraction

-lying down during this stage

-straining

91. 2nd stage
 -abdominal contraction
 - the mother consume the fetal membrane
as the fetus passed and licking them.

92. 3rd stage
 - delivering of placenta and readily eaten by
mother

Functions of placentophagia
 -keep the nest clean and free from
 material which may attract bacteria.
 2-Some nutritive value to the mother protein
and water allow her
to stay in nest with her young.

93. Post-parturient behaviour
 Grooming of the young
 Nursing- sucking development
 Nipple exploratory movement
 Retrieving behaviour.
 Protection of young

94. Grooming of the young
 1st three weeks of life the dam licks
and grooming each new born .
 grooming directed to ano-genital region
to stimulate urination and defecation .
 Fecal material consumed by mother to
keep nest clean

95. Nursing- sucking
development
Mother young interaction occur in
3 stages

96. 1st stage
 from birth to 2.5 weeks (14 to 17 days)
 mothers play the major role in nursing,
licking ,nursing and suckling of young
 Mother initiates nursing by hovering
over the litter & arousing them to
nursing by licking them
 The young nuzzle into fur of mother,
find a teat & nurse

97. 2nd stage
 From 3 weeks –5 weeks of age
 open eye and ears
 can leave the nest, recognize and
interact with mother outside the nest
 young here initiate suckling
 While mother facilitate suckling by
exposure nipple

98. 3rd stage
 From 5 weeks – weaning
 young are able to take food from other
source
 nursing initiated and completed by
young

99. Nipple exploratory behaviour
 tactile cues (Texture of nipple )
 olfactory cues
 In dog, cat through saliva

100. Suckling behaviour in poly-toccus Animals
(Bitch(

101. Suckling behaviour in poly-toccus Animals
(Queen(

102. Suckling behaviour in poly-toccus Animals (Bitch(

103. Suckling behaviour in poly-toccus Animals
(Rat(

104. Retrieving behaviour
 Stimuli from young outside nest
 female grasping, each young with
incisors at mid dorsal region & transport
them back to the nest
 This occur at first week after birth.

105. Retrieving behaviour in rats

106. Retrieving behaviour in cats

107. Retrieving behaviour in big cats

108. Polytoccus animal (Protection(

109. Stimuli elicit maternal behaviour
 odour and taste: the presence of birth fluid
Stimulate licking
 Vocalization (distress calls) mother
distinguish young from calls
 altracial inaudible calls while Precocial
audible calls.
 Stimuli emanating at suckling :
 thermal contact or tactile stimuli
 Sniffing & licking them at suckling due to butting
nuzzling by young.

110. Stimuli elicit maternal behaviour
 Movement : newly born activity specially
during suckling
 Vigor or strong newborn stimulate dam to
lick him
 ● shape of the young (visual stimuli)
 ●protective response: defence against
predators to protect young.

111. Abnormal maternal behaviour
 Suckling behaviour
 1- Cow suckle itself
 2- cow suckle another cow
 Abnormal suckling posture
 A- Perpendicular suckling
 B- Rear suckling
 3- Calf or foal rejection

112. A cow suckle itself

113. A cow suckle another cow

114. Abnormal suckling posture
(Perpendicular suckling(

115. Perpendicular suckling

116. Rear suckling in Buffalo

117. Calving interference

118. Calf rejection

119. Abnormal maternity
 Delay of standing of the dam
 Delay of licking the newly born
 Cow step on its calf or foal
 Eating of placenta

120. Abnormal maternal behaviour
 Early maternal interest
early maternal interest to the young of
other females that give birth in vicinity
she may care it and this called lamb
stealing or calf stealing
Cross licking behaviour
Cow licks alien calf

121. Eating of placenta (Placento-
phagia(

122. Cross licking behaviour
( early maternal interest(

123. Calf stealing behaviour
(Early maternal interest(

124. Abnormal maternal behaviour
 Cross suckling behaviour
 Cross fostering behaviour
 Inter-suckling behaviour
Cow suckle an alien calf
Or A calf suck alien cow (mother)

125. Abnormal maternal behaviour
Miss-mothering behaviour
This may be due to the mother having
suffered a long and difficult birth and not
being able to stand up for suckling. The calf
may also be too weak to suckle. Cases of
mismothering are common with cows calving
in synchrony in intensively managed
maternity groups.

126. Cross Suckling behaviour
(Abnormal Maternal Behaviour(

127. Cross Suckling behaviour
(Abnormal Maternity(

128. Abnormal maternity in poly-toccus
Animals
• 1- Cannibalism (Eating litters(
• 2- Scattering behaviour
• 3- Dam failed to build the nest (nestless
dam(
• 4- miss-mothering
• 5- Pseudo-pregnancy

129. Litter scattering and
cannibalism in cats

130. Maternal behaviour in Kangaroo

131. ‫بالتوفيق‬ ‫لكم‬ ‫تمنياتى‬
‫فايد‬ ‫حسن‬ ‫ربيع‬ /.‫ا.د‬