Maternal-Nursling Interactions in the Collared Peccary

Abstract

Captive collared peccary maternal-nursling interactions were quantitatively described by determining the influence of weeks post partum, time of day, and diet on the relative frequency of occurrence, mean duration, and proportion of time spent on active, resting, nursing, and play behavior during the young's first six weeks of life. Eleven females with litters culled to singletons were observed from 03 Jun 83 to 10 Jul 83 at Texas A&M University in Brazos County, Texas. A chi-square analysis showed no significant difference in relative frequency of occurrence and proportion of time spent on the four behaviors according to weeks post partum, time of day, and diet. There were significant differences among mean durations of all behaviors across all parameters except nursing and young active behavior. A dietary effect on the behaviors was not evident in this study, but further research is encouraged.