Calving seasonality at Pool, Orkney during the first millennium AD: an investigation using intra-tooth isotope ratio analysis of cattle molar enamel

Towers, Jacqueline; Mainland, Ingrid; Montgomery, Janet; Bond, Julie M.

doi:10.1080/14614103.2015.1116214

Cited by 16 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 72 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…have a defined calving season when no supplementary feed is provided. 10 Therefore, considering the natural seasonality of cattle may prove advantageous for producers. Methods to synchronize estrus are rarely used in cow-calf systems in Mexico (9.1%), even if more frequent in large and privately-owned farms ( Table 2).…”

Section: Annual Breeding Strategy Sedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cow-calf management practices in Mexico: Reproduction and breeding

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Beef cattle breeding has developed in extensive grazing systems in Mexico, concerning the livelihood of over one million families and affecting the use of natural resources. Reproductive efficiency is a major determinant of both the environmental impact of the herd, and the economic viability of the cow-calf production system. As reproductive traits have low heritability, reproductive efficiency can be largely influenced by herd management practices. Thus, a questionnaire was administered as personal interviews to 3280 producers, to investigate the prevalence of practices that could directly influence the reproductive outcome of their cattle. Results show that yearround breeding (93%) and natural service by the bull (97.4%) are the most common mating methods. However, only 41% of producers evaluate the breeding soundness of their bulls, and diagnostic testing for specific reproductive diseases of the sires is barely performed in 20% of the farms. The main declared reason for replacing the bull is old age (26.8%), which is followed by to avoid inbreeding (68.4%). Less than 10% of the operations use methods for the synchronization of the estrous cycle, and most farmers breed their heifers for the first time after 2 years of age (73%). Diagnosis of pregnancy is performed in merely 31% of operations, with 23% of the producers declaring to discard non-pregnant cows. Energy or protein feed supplements are provided to the cattle in 63% of the production units, whilst mineral supplements are given in 79% of the farms. Calves are typically weaned between 6 months and a year of age (85%). Only 16% of operations vaccinate against brucellosis and 17.5% against other reproductive

show abstract

Section: Annual Breeding Strategy Sedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cow-calf management practices in Mexico: Reproduction and breeding

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the model proposed by Towers and colleagues, this change can then be crossrelated to the seasonal information (δ 18 O), specifically the position of the first δ 18 O peak, in order to determine the seasonal timing of birth. The strong linear correlation of the estimated birth timing from this method with the results generated by Balasse's model suggests that this is also a valid approach for ruminants (Towers et al, 2016(Towers et al, , 2014. However, no extensive testing on a modern reference population of known birth season was conducted and slight uncertainties concerning tooth crown height and tooth development timing remain.…”

Section: Seasonality and Season Of Birthmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…However, due to the fairly small differences observed in both studies, it remains unclear if this variability was affected by prehistoric herders or was instead rooted in the natural variation of birth seasonality due to environmental differences which are not apparent in modern managed herds. In another example, the management of cattle for year-round production of fresh dairy could be identified through strong staggering and multiple seasons of birth in Iron Age and Scandinavian Interface Period sites on the Orkney Islands, where climatic conditions usually preclude extended birthing seasons (Towers et al, 2016). Given the evidence for animal foddering in prehistoric Orkney (e.g.…”

Section: Seasonality and Season Of Birthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the evidence for animal foddering in prehistoric Orkney (e.g. Balasse et al, 2009), it seems likely that such practices were necessary to underpin a husbandry system with well-managed, staggered birthing seasons, underlining the great importance of -and the investments made for -dairy production (Towers et al, 2016). husbandry strategies, particularly amongst mobile pastoralist communities (Aguilar et al, 1994;Bacon, 1954;Chang, 2006;Fernandez-Gimenez and Le Febre, 2006;Fratkin, 1994;Kerven et al, 2004;Oba and Lusigi, 1987).…”

Section: Seasonality and Season Of Birthmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Oxygen isotopes in bioarchaeology: Principles and applications, challenges and opportunities

Pederzani

Britton

2019

Earth-Science Reviews

165

161

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Oxygen isotope analyses of skeletal remains (18 O/ 16 O, δ 18 O) are a powerful tool for exploring major themes in bioarchaeology (the study of biological archaeological remains) and can aid in the reconstruction of past human-environment interactions, socio-cultural decisions and individual life histories. Making use of the preserved animal and human tooth and bone commonly found at archaeological sites, applications include the reconstruction of palaeoclimate and palaeoseasonality; animal husbandry and management practices; human and animal lifetime mobility and provenance; and cultural practices such as breastfeeding, weaning and even past culinary preparation techniques. With a range of other uses across the natural, physical, chemical and biological sciences, oxygen isotope analyses are also highly cross-disciplinary, with developments in the field of isotope bioarchaeology potentially feeding into other fields and vice-versa. The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of the biogeochemical background of oxygen isotope systematics from the water cycle to human and animal skeletal tissues for archaeologists and other scientists, and to explore how these have been utilised in terrestrial bioarchaeological research. In this way, we aim to provide an overview resource for stable isotope analysts in archaeology and the wider earth science community, as well as for archaeological practitioners and consumers interested in specific applications. By providing a summary of fundamental isotope mechanics alongside a review of recent developments in the field, we hope to highlight the potential of oxygen isotope bioarchaeology to not only reveal environmental and ecological aspects of the past relevant to human groups using archaeological materials, but also to illuminate past human decisions and behaviours. Current limitations and caveats of the approaches used are also explored.

show abstract

“…In principal, it should be possible to estimate calving seasonality for the Grimes Graves cattle using first and second molar δ 18 O and δ 13 C profiles (Balasse et al, 2012;Towers et al, 2014). Knowledge of calving seasonality can potentially provide information regarding economic focus (fresh milk, storable milk products or meat) (Balasse et al, 2012;Gron et al, 2015;Towers et al, 2017). However, the Grimes Graves cattle molars were excavated from contexts spanning more than 500 years.…”

Section: Intra-tooth δ 18 O and δ 13 C Profilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An isotopic investigation into the origins and husbandry of Mid-Late Bronze Age cattle from Grimes Graves, Norfolk

Towers

Bond

Evans

et al. 2017

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

show abstract

Calving seasonality at Pool, Orkney during the first millennium AD: an investigation using intra-tooth isotope ratio analysis of cattle molar enamel

Cited by 16 publications

References 72 publications

Cow-calf management practices in Mexico: Reproduction and breeding

Cow-calf management practices in Mexico: Reproduction and breeding

Oxygen isotopes in bioarchaeology: Principles and applications, challenges and opportunities

An isotopic investigation into the origins and husbandry of Mid-Late Bronze Age cattle from Grimes Graves, Norfolk

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About