Behavioral characteristics of calving in Curraleiro Pé-duro cows

Studies were conducted to characterize the labor behavior in Curraleiro Pe-duro cows, a locally adapted breed found in the semiarid region of Brazil, which is considered rustic and fertile. Eleven Curraleiro Pe-duro cows were kept in pasture and were observed every 4 h to assess the beginning of birth, and subsequently were constantly monitored until the complete expulsion of the placenta, accordingly to the three different stages of labor. The cows were evaluated according to the following events: staring into the flank (SIF); licking vulva and lifting the tail (LVUT); head-butts to the flank (HF); dripping colostrum (DC); lying down and standing (restlessness; LDS); duration of the first phase (Dur1P); amount of initial contractions (IC); time to onset of appearing of feet (TOAF); duration of calving (DC) and duration time from end of calving till the expulsion of the placenta (DurExpP). The results are presented as mean +/- standard deviation: SIF (4.00 +/- 2.37); LVUT (2.38 +/- 1.06); HF (1.80 +/- 0.45); DC (1.20 +/- 0.45); LDS (2.56 +/- 1.33); IC (6.00 +/- 2.9); Dur1F (71 +/- 40 min); TOAF (7 +/- 8 min); DC (25 +/- 24 min); and DurExpP (228 +/- 76 min). These results allow us to characterize the events that precede and accompany the moment of labor in Curraleiro Pe-duro cows.