When a calf is separated from its mother early (a common practice in dairy farming) or weaned prematurely, it may develop "inappropriate suckling" behaviors. This is often directed at other calves (inter-suckling), inanimate objects like fence posts, or humans.

: During bottle-feeding or bucket-feeding, calves may begin to associate humans with food and comfort. They may attempt to suck on a farmer's fingers, hands, or clothing as a way to satisfy their oral urge or signal hunger. Farm Management and Health The 3-2-1 Rule : To ensure proper development, farmers often follow the 3-2-1 Rule for newborn calves: feeding of quality colostrum within of birth, using only the 1st Milking Feeding Consistency : Maintaining high standards in the "5 C's of Calf Care"

A man working with calves on a farm quickly learns that sucking is simply a biological necessity for a young bovine. By understanding the motivation behind the behavior, farmers can create a better environment that promotes growth and prevents the health complications associated with misplaced sucking urges.

The draft headline is syntactically ambiguous. It is unclear if the calf is the subject or the man is the subject of the action.