The objectives of the present studywere to evaluate the suitability of potential biomarkers for maternal ability in
cattle, and in addition to test the hypothesis that dairy cows have a less pronounced motherliness than beef cows.
Therefore, maternal behavior of 20 Simmental beef-type (S) and 20 German Black Pied (dairy-type) Cattle (BP)
was assessed on the 2nd and again on the 3rd day of the calf's life. Measurements included the frequency of
interactions between cow and calf, the cow's willingness to defend her calf, the overall maternal behavior, saliva
cortisol, saliva oxytocin, heart rate, and thermal images of the eye (ET). Mixed model analysis revealed that BP
had significantly (P b 0.05) higher oxytocin (88.6 ± 9.2 vs. 62.8 ± 9.2 pg/ml saliva) and cortisol (1.3 ± 0.1 vs.
1.0 ± 0.1 ng/ml saliva) levels, but lower heart rates (80.0 ± 2.0 vs. 95.8 ± 2.0 bpm) than S cows. Simmental
(beef) cows showed more defensive behavior (3.5 ± 0.2 vs. 2.7 ± 0.2 scores), but fewer total interactions between
cow and calf (8.1 ± 1.4 vs. 13.8 ± 1.4), compared to BP (dairy). However, with the exception of heart
rate and overall maternal behavior, breed differences tended to diminish fromthe 2nd to the 3rd day of the calf's
life. Repeatabilities ranged from 9 ± 23% (ET) to 77 ± 7% (maternal behavior measured on a visual analogue
scale), and correlations between physiological parameters and behavior differed between breeds and were
generally at a low level. In conclusion, beef cows do not seem to be per se more maternal compared to dairy
cows, and the assessed parameters are of limited use as biomarkers for maternal behavior.