In my region, there is a cattle operation where bulls of different ages are kept on a (very small) pasture enclosure for the purposes of later culling them to produce beef.
It is a very sad place not only for the fates of the bulls who are often not even yearlings and mostly quite young, but also because it is not managed with much ethical concern and these individuals are not given any comforts (shade, lush pasture vegetation, diverse diet, adequate facilities and troughs that do not consist of structures hammered up from wood waste materials or old tractor tyres).
When I pass by it, I try to say ‘hi’ the bulls and when the crops are removed on the small plot between the road and the cattle enclosure, we (my dog and I) sometimes approach the paddock closer to interact with the bulls.
By interaction I do not mean that we even get to pat these animals.
They are usually too timid and jumpy but they are also very bored and curious and nothing really happens in their lives apart from feeding and choking on dust from the road where trucks drive rather often or suffering the clatter of the cargo train (cattle have a very sensitive hearing and heavy machinery traffic can cause significant stress to them).
I am very cautious that we provide them only such intensity of interaction that would be perceived as a mild adventure and exploration of the world outside – and not an addition to their anxieties.
Usually, they seem rather happy when we interact with them.
We simply crouch quietly in the longer grasses by the fence and they can take the decision to ignore us or to approach us and how close etc.
If they seem upset, we leave immediately.
It is impossible to befriend them really because as soon as one group gets sort of used to us, they are culled and replaced by a new group and it starts all over again.
But I believe that even during these last days, life can be enjoyed and some fun can be had apart from a full stomach (they do not get any enrichment that I can observe so in autumn I throw organic apples or carrots over the fence if I have any and if I have planned on passing there – I also sort of hope some apple seed might sprout to grow an apple tree that provides shade but this is very unlikely because even if it did, the cattle would probably browse it clean off).
During these brief encounters, I have noticed that the younger calves tend to stick together.
They keep a bit separate from the rest of the bulls (although they do not appear to be bullied, i.e., they do not seem to be actively excluded).
I have also noticed that the older bulls have a hard time taking responsibility and an active stand of dominance in the form of taking initiative or making decisions or reassuring the younger calves if they get timid (with respect to our presence).
I have come by impression that these bulls who might be perhaps 1 – 2 year olds have a hard time perceiving themselves as dominating individuals in a herd situation.
I have observed dominance behaviour within the herd – between individuals or small groups of individuals.
But when the herd must function as a unit and when the decisions and hierarchies have to be made on a level that is perhaps more cognitive than it is instinctual, I would not say that these bulls demonstrate lack of potential to protect the young and to take a lead – but they do not seem able to recognize such qualities in themselves that might cause the respective actions.
I think that while they establish dominance relationships, these relationships are perhaps very limited and based on instinctual behaviour that is related to breeding situations.
But other types of social situations, roles and behaviours that involve leadership, protection, grouping up, recognizing leadership in oneself and others and following it, trusting, relying on it -all of this appears confounding to the young bulls.
I have concluded that dominance behaviour which is not related to breeding context might be learned not from other males but from females (mothers, leaders of the herd).
The premature severance of bond with the mother might have prevented significant cognitive development in the bulls – they have not learned what leadership means (from perspective of social cohesion and defense) despite the fact that even in these mixed, captive groups they have dominant individuals.
I tried to look up information regarding herding behaviour in cattle ancestors (aurochs) and feral cows.
However, it is not very clear to me whether the sources that I found were trustworthy.
I discovered references to mixed-sex grouping in winter and solitary/small group herding (probably by female cows and their calves) in summer with regard to aurochs.
With respect to feral cows, I found references to matriarchic groups that consist of female cows from different generations + their calves + young bulls (until 1.5 years of age).
Meanwhile, feral bulls that separate from these mother herds upon reaching reproductive maturity, form their own bull herds.
The feral cattle behaviour descriptions were obtained from ‘The Breeding-back Blog’ which claims to base their statements on scientific facts and quotes scientific literature.
While it might be assumed that bull herds also exhibit defense, guidance and leadership behaviour, my observations suggest that these behaviours, under ‘natural’ circumstances (i.e., under circumstances where young bulls get to stay with their mothers and where female cows can form groups freely) are learned from dominating cows and mothers later carrying this experience and knowledge over to the bull groups.
Bulls that are separated from their mothers too young might be impaired in their social cognition finding it difficult to take initiative, protect subordinates and, ultimately, to trust their own judgement.
Notes by Ieva 