RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NURSING AND SUCKLING BEHAVIOR IN TOKARA NATIVE GOATS

Data on suckling behaviour in Tokara native goats were collected from six mother-kid pairs which were reared separately. Each pair was obser ved for suckling bouts (the duration of time during which kid pulled a t or was in contact with the udder) and rejection of nursing (mother d id not permit kid to suckle) from one week to nine weeks of age, and d ata were collected once every second week. The following results were obtained. There was a large reduction both in the suckling duration pe r bout and in the suckling duration per hour from the 1st to 3rd week. The rejection rate had a large increase from the Ist to 3rd week. The re were large changes in them from the Ist to 3rd weeks. In the freque ncy of access to udder, there were reductions between the Ist to 3rd w eeks and the 7th to 9th weeks and between the Ist to 5th weeks and the 9th week. It is suggested that the suckling period between the Ist an d 7th weeks is a critical period for the relationship between mother a nd her offspring in Tokara native goats. For weaning, not only sucklin g behaviour but also rejection of nursing must be taken into account. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.