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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #340225
Title: Temperament affects rangeland use patterns and reproductive performance of beef cows

Author
item GOODMAN, LAURA - New Mexico State University
item CIBILS, ANDRES - New Mexico State University
item WESLEY, ROBERT - New Mexico State University
item MULLINIKS, J - New Mexico State University
item Petersen, Mark
item SCHOLLJEGERDES, ERIC - New Mexico State University
item COX, SHAD - New Mexico State University

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/3/2016
Publication Date: 8/25/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5578666
Citation: Goodman, L.E., Cibils, A.F., Wesley, R.L., Mulliniks, J.T., Petersen, M.K., Scholljegerdes, E.J., Cox, S.H. 2016. Temperament affects rangeland use patterns and reproductive performance of beef cows. Rangelands. 38(5):292-296. doi:10.1016/j.rala.2016.07.002.

Interpretive Summary: • The American beef industry is paying more attention to cattle temperament, but studies examining relationships between temperaments and grazing behavior or animal performance on rangelands are limited. We studied range beef cow temperaments using the behavioral syndromes framework. • Cows classified into behavioral type groups on the basis of a suite of correlated behaviors showed contrasting rangeland use patterns and different reproductive efficiency. These differences resulted in temperament-related culling rates over time. • We argue that the behavioral syndromes conceptual framework could be a valuable tool to advance current understanding about how cattle temperaments are related to grazing patterns and animal performance on rangeland.

Technical Abstract: • The American beef industry is paying more attention to cattle temperament, but studies examining relationships between temperaments and grazing behavior or animal performance on rangelands are limited. • We studied range beef cow temperaments using the behavioral syndromes framework. Cows classified into behavioral type groups on the basis of a suite of correlated behaviors showed contrasting rangeland use patterns and different reproductive efficiency. These differences resulted in temperament-related culling rates over time. • We argue that the behavioral syndromes conceptual framework could be a valuable tool to advance current understanding about how cattle temperaments are related to grazing patterns and animal performance on rangeland.