A stable herd of beef-suckler cows was studied to learn more about individual behavioural strategies. Furthermore, these strategies were studied in relation to basic activities, adrenocortical activity, and degree of consistency during social competition. For three months, the social interactions of 19 beef-suckler cows were recorded. The cows were classified as either agonistic dominant (AD), non-agonistic (NA), or agonistic challenging (AC). Lying, standing, feeding and walking (basic activities) and the concentration of faecal cortisol metabolites were compared between groups. Increased social competition was created by reducing the number of feeding places, such that consistency in social strategies could be evaluated. In undisturbed social situations, the most agonistic interactions were initiated by AD animals. Social licking was received the most, and performed the least by AC animals. Agonistic interactions were initiated the least by NA animals, but they performed more social licking than AC animals and the most head play. The dominance values were highest for AD animals, but did not differ between NA and AC animals. The highest frequency of walking, standing, feeding and drinking and the lowest frequency of lying was recorded for AC animals. NA animals had higher concentrations of faecal cortisol metabolites than AC animals. The social competition test confirmed the social strategies that were initially identified. The authors concluded that the identified social strategies were consistent in situations of low and high social competition. The three strategies differed in social behaviour, basic activities, and adrenocorticol activity. The NA and AC animals both have a low ranking status, but use different coping strategies to deal with being subordinate.