Consistent behavioral differences among individuals across situations/time are known as behavioral syndromes (BSY). BSYs are suites of correlated behaviors which are used to classify animals into behavioral type groups. The BSY approach to studying individual variation in livestock behavior could be useful to identify individuals that are best suited to harsh grazing environments. However, we do not know whether cattle with BSYs adapted to one foraging context (rangelands) exhibit similar levels of adaptation to other foraging environments (feedlot confinement). We conducted tests to examine statistically detectable (P?0.1) correlations between rangeland vs. confined arena behaviors of 12 adult Brangus cows selected on the basis of their supplement consumption rate (SCR) in confinement, a test previously used to identify animals with contrasting BSYs. Cows with higher SCR explored smaller areas of rangeland pastures (r= -0.52; P=0.1), traveled shorter distances on rangeland during daytime hours (-0.71; P=0.01) but longer distances at night (r=0.54; P=0.08), and tended to exhibit more sinuous travel trajectories (r=-0.51; P=0.11). Cows that traveled longer distances during 24 h periods on rangeland exhibited faster chute exit velocities (r=0.56; P=0.07), lower levels of boldness (r=-0.53; P=0.09) and marginally higher vigilance (r=0.50; P=0.12) while foraging in an arena containing a predator decoy. They also consumed less unfamiliar feeds in confinement (r=-0.55; P=0.08). Cows with more sinuous trajectories while traveling on rangeland also exhibited slower chute exit velocities (r=0.6; P=0.05) and showed higher levels of boldness in the predator decoy arena tests (r:-0.70; P=0.02). Individuals better adapted to explore large desert pastures, might be less well adapted to confined foraging contexts where they appear to exhibit higher levels of shyness and food neophobia. More research is needed to determine whether Brangus mother cows that exhibit desert-adapted BSYs raise calves that are less well adapted to feedlot confinement.
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