Dominant female meerkats do not use aggression to elevate work rates of helpers in response to increased brood demand

► In cooperative breeders, dominants may use aggression to elevate work rates of subordinates. ► Increased brood demand and helping effort were simulated in meerkats using playback experiments. ► Dominant females did not adjust aggressiveness towards helpers. ► Dominant females adjusted their own pup provisioning rates. ► Alloparental care by meerkat helpers is not enforced by dominants.