The role of the sense of smell in interindividual relationships in livestock

Abstract

The sense of smell plays an essential role in communication in mammals. Individual recognition can be achieved on the sole basis of olfactory signals. The setting of the different stages in sexual behaviour involves smells coming from the male as well as the female. Sexual odours also interfere in the regulation of physiological processes. The different phases in the relationship between mother and young involves a critical role for olfactory communication. In every case studied the sense of smell acts by interacting with the other senses, in a way that is cumulative and often redundant.