Allonursing in water buffalo: Cooperative maternal behavior in domestic Bovidae
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: In several species of mammals, allonursing is a common practice in which maternal care of nonfilial offspring is provided. Allonursing benefits both mothers and young people. Although this phenomenon is not frequently observed in ungulates, different authors have reported this behavior in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). However, it is still unclear why animals engage in alloparenting and, particularly, allosuckling when milk production has a high energetic cost. To explain this, several hypotheses have been proposed to understand the benefits that can be represented for the dam (e.g., improve maternal skill or milk evacuation) and the reasons that may motivate young people to be fed from nonfilial mothers (e.g., compensate for deficient milk intake). This review aims to discuss allomaternal care in Bubalus bubalis to understand how allonursing helps both females and offspring. Studies concerning allonursing are still limited in water buffalo, but current research suggests that some of the hypotheses to explain this strategy are parenting and compensation, among others.
Institutions: Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Institut de Recherche en Sémiochimie et Ethologie Appliquée, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, University of Basilicata
Language: English
Subfield: Small Animals
Field: Veterinary
Domain: Health Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4404803694