• Kathryn J. McLellan | University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• M. Claire Windeyer | University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• Cecilia Lucio Rodriguez | University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• Ed A. Pajor | University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• Jennifer M. Pearson | University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Nursing behaviour is essential following parturition to ensure transfer of passive immunity and the development of a strong cow-calf bond. One factor that could modify nursing behaviour is dystocia; however, little work has documented this effect. The objective was to characterize and identify cow- and calf-level factors associated with nursing behaviours in beef cattle for 24hr following an assisted calving. Cows and calves (n = 21 pairs) that required assistance at calving were enrolled and video recorded for 24hr to score maternal behaviours. Cow- and calf-level predictors of nursing behaviour (i.e., calf sex, parity, calving difficulty, calf presentation, measures of calf vigour, meconium staining, latency to first stand, time spent licking calf) were offered to general linear models. Median and interquartile range for latency to nurse was 6.0hr (1.85 – 17.5hr). On average (± standard deviation), calves spent a total of 43.4 ± 22.6min nursing and had 23.1 ± 14.8 nursing bouts over 24hr. Calves nursed earlier if they were born to a multiparous dam compared to a primiparous dam (P < 0.01), if they had an easy assist compared to a difficult assist (P = 0.04), if they stood earlier following birth (P < 0.01), and if they were licked by the dam within 1hr of birth (P = 0.02). Results from this study contributes to a growing body of literature on maternal behaviours in beef cattle and can be used to inform management decisions for supporting the health and welfare of cow and calves after an assisted calving.