The use of licking behaviour of cattle to administer medicaments

Abstract

The use of the licking behaviour of animals as a means of dosing cattle was evaluated in 2 experiments. In the first experiment the licking behaviour of 8 Brahman cross steers in a yard was recorded over a 4 day pretreatment period and then for 6 days when sugar syrup (first 3 days) and molasses (next3 days) were applied to their sides. In the pretreatment period, the steers varied greatly in the extent to which they licked themselves and others. The frequency of self licking did not vary significantly (P>0.05) from day to day. The steers favoured their left side and mainly licked between the shoulder and hip and on the lower rump. They licked others mainly on the head, neck and shoulder. Licking activity was greatly increased by the application of sugar syrup or molasses.

In the second experiment the licking behaviour of 20 Hereford heifers in a paddock was observed after applying molasses to their sides. There was considerable variation in the extent to which heifers licked themselves and others after molasses was applied to their sides. Frequency of licking by heifers varied from day to day, only 4 of the 20 animals licking themselves after every application. Licking of others was less common than in the steer group. The results suggest that this delivery system could be used to administer medicaments to cattle.