Peripartum behavior and mother–calf interactions as determinants of neonatal survival of Hereford calves in Patagonia

Abstract

The neonatal survival of Hereford calves in Patagonia cannot be explained solely by climatic harshness or isolated productive traits, but for the interaction among environmental stressors, peripartum physiology, and the mother–calf relationship in extensive systems. Based on a systematized literature review, emphasized on evidence published between 2015 - 2025 and the integration of foundational literature since 1970, this article assembles climatological, neuroendocrine, behavioural, and genetic data to propose a mechanistic framework for neonatal mortality under conditions of cold, wind, humidity, and seasonal forage availability. These factors increase metabolizable energy demand in both the pregnant cow and the neonate, narrowing the functional window for drying, standing, and effective colostrum intake. Peripartum behavior and the neuroendocrine determinants of maternal ability are examined, with particular attention to the peripartum window of oxytocin sensitivity. On this foundation, a hypothesis of an antagonism is set between stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and oxytocinergic signaling, manifested as a subtle behavioural disruptions such as delayed licking, reduced proximity, and delayed suckling, which intensify heat loss and increase the risk of failure of passive transfer of immunity (FPT). Implications for stress relief are discussed, including the use of sheltered calving paddocks, adjustments to calving season, and strategic supplementation. Finally, reproductive efficiency is proposed to be reframed by prioritizing maternal ability and neuroendocrine resilience among environmental stress as genetic selection targets to strengthen mother–calf bonding and in extreme environments.