301 Effects of housing system on performance and behavior of dairy calves before and after weaning

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of housing system on performance and behavior of dairy calves during pre-weaning (d 1–42), weaning (d 43–56), post-weaning (d 57–63) and mixing (d 64–70) period. Thirty-seven newborn Holstein dairy calves were allocated to individual (n = 17) or pair housing (n = 10 pairs). After that, calves remained in their pens until d 63 ± 1, and then PH group and IH group were mixed and moved to 6 group pens randomly. Starter intake, fecal consistency scores and body weight were collected. Instantaneous scan-sampling with 5-min intervals was used to collect the behavioral observations (lying, ruminating, standing, eating, drinking, walking, self-grooming, manipulating object) for 48 h beginning on d 43, 50, 57 and the second day after mixing. Data were analyzed by mixed effect model with treatment, time, and the interaction between them as fixed effects, and animal within treatment as a random effect. During post-weaning period, PH group had higher starter intake (P = 0.02) and average daily gain (P = 0.02) than IH group. PH group weighed more on d 63 (P = 0.002) and d 70 (P = 0.002). PH group had higher diarrhea frequency than IH group in week 3 (P = 0.03). PH increased lying time in week 8 (P = 0.03) and walking time during post-weaning period (P = 0.05), yet IH group spent more time standing in week 8 (P = 0.008), eating during post-weaning period (P = 0.008), self-grooming during weaning period (week 7, P = 0.007; week 8, P = 0.03). Furthermore, previous housing system had no effect on calves’ behavior after mixing. In conclusion, Pair housing during post-weaning period improved performance of calves and housing system had on effect on behavior after mixing. Figure 1. ADG (mean±SEM) for calves housed individually (n = 17 calves) or in pairs (n = 10 pairs). PH = calves housed in pairs; IH = calves housed individually. * P ≤ 0.05, † P < 0.10. Figure 2. BW (mean±SEM) for calves housed individually (n = 17 calves) or in pairs (n = 10 pairs). PH = calves housed in pairs; IH = calves housed individually. * P ≤ 0.05, † P < 0.10. Figure 3. Diarrhea frequency for calves housed individually (n = 17 calves) or in pairs (n = 10 pairs) before 63d. PH = calves housed in pairs; IH = calves housed individually. * P ≤ 0.05. Figure 4. Time (mean±SEM) for calves (n = 6) performing each behavior as affected by different housing system during weaning, post-weaning and mixing period.* P ≤ 0.05.