Urus

Urus live in single-sex herds of up to 30 individuals and only come together in the autumn for breeding. Although herds do not maintain territories, they tend to avoid each other outside the breeding season. Consequentially, clashes between herds are rare, but in-group fighting to establish dominance can be intense and fatalities are common.

Establishing dominance

In herds, adults have dominance over juveniles and maintain it by threat displays (roaring and bellowing, pawing at the ground, and mock rushes). If a juvenile or subordinate adult challenges the dominant adult or fails to give way in timely manner, they two will lock horns and attempt to wrestle the other to the ground. The weaker of the two may be thrown to the ground, where they risk being trampled, or attempt to disengage, whereupon the other will give chase and attempt to gore them.

In cow-herds, dominance is largely settled by late summer, before breeding begins, and conflict between pregnant females is rare. The pace and direction or travel, and resting sites are dictated by the most dominant pregnant or nursing individual. Fights for dominance between bulls may happen year-round.