• cows
• dominance
• hierarchy
• social play
• affiliative behaviour

In my master thesis project we studied the social dynamics within a group of Maremman calves (Bos taurus) living in an extensive breeding system. We found that calves interacted in different ways. A clear linear dominance order with low steepness has been highlighted in the group considering both direct and indirect aggressions. The most dominants individuals were the older and larger calves. The social rank of each subject is influent on social behaviours distribution, with both dominants and subordinates engaging in both affiliative and playful interactions. However, dominants received more affinitive contacts than subordinates and spent more time playing with groupmates. We also found that allogrooming can anticipate and punctuate social play sessions, that consist mainly in play fighting. When allogrooming is temporally associated with play fighting, the former is generally characterized by short sessions, the latter by longer ones. Moreover, playful sessions last longer when sessions are unbalanced in term of playful behaviours exchanged (PAI) and when the dominance rank differences between playmates are large.
Such findings support the potential competitive nature of social play in Maremman cattle breed and that play is used by calves for physical and social training. In such risky contexts the use of signals clearly communicating good intent becomes crucial. We suggest calves recruit patterns from affiliative domain to prolong play fight sessions, increasing their effectiveness and reducing risk of escalation.
The agonistic, affiliative, and social play spheres are intimately interconnected and shape the social dynamics of this cattle breed.