Reproductive behaviour of mithun (Bos frontalis) under farm condition

Abstract

In order to ascertain the behavioural favourables for the domestication of mithun (Bos frontalis) and to study its reproduction pattern under farm condition, the present study was conducted on 28 mithuns of Institute Farm in order to document the sexual, parturition and neonatal behavioural pattern under farm condition. The present findings showed that the most prominent behavioural sign of heat in mithun cows was standing to be mounted by the parading bull (92.65%) followed by tail raising and frequent urination. In bulls, the most prominent courtship behaviour was recorded to be sniffing of vulva (93.03%), followed by licking of cows’ body. The most prominent copulation behavioural activity was observed to be mounting in bulls and standing still in cows. While the calving time was found to be 176.9 minutes, the interval between the birth and the first suckling by the calf was recorded as 58.3 minutes. Thus the present study indicated the ability of the mithun to reproduce under captivity as well as the survival of the new-born after initiation of suckling and also helped in outlining the pattern of reproductive behaviour.