Abstract
Simple SummaryIn modern dairy farming systems, calves are often housed in individual pens or hutches, which results in less social interaction with their peers during the milk-feeding period. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pair versus individual housing on performance, health, and behavior of dairy calves from the milk-feeding period to the first week after mixing. Results showed that pair versus individual housing had no effects on body weight, starter intake or average daily gain during the milk-feeding period, while pair housing increased the growth performance of calves during weaning and postweaning periods, and the beneficial effects of pair housing on growth faded after calves were mixed and moved to group housing. Paired calves showed higher diarrhea frequency only in week three. The behavior of calves was altered at different periods, including increased time spent in feeding, chewing and ruminating, and decreased self-grooming time, and a drop of non-nutritive manipulation for all calves after they were mixed and moved to group housing. We also found less social contact may lead to more non-nutritive manipulation.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pair versus individual housing on performance, health, and behavior of dairy calves. Thirty female Holstein dairy calves were assigned to individual (n = 10) or pair housing (n = 10 pairs). The results showed that both treatments had a similar starter intake and average daily gain (ADG) during the preweaning period. During weaning and postweaning periods, paired calves had a higher starter intake, and the ADG of paired calves continued to increase but calves housed individually experienced a growth check. Paired calves showed higher diarrhea frequency only in week three. The results on behavior showed that feeding, chewing and ruminating time increased, and self-grooming time decreased with age during weaning and postweaning periods, and paired calves spent less time feeding, standing and self-grooming but more time lying during this time. After mixing, feeding, and chewing and ruminating time continued to rise, and self-grooming time continued to decline for both treatments. All calves spent less time standing and non-nutritive manipulation after mixing, and previously individually housed calves tended to increase non-nutritive manipulation. These results showed that pair housing improved growth during weaning and postweaning periods and that calves altered their behavior at different phases. Less social contact may lead to more non-nutritive manipulation.
Highlights
Under natural conditions, calves are nursed by the dam and tend to have social interactions with their peers or other animals [1,2]
During weaning and postweaning periods, starter intake tended to be higher for paired-housed calves during week seven (860.0 vs. 658.1 ± 80.1 g/d, p = 0.09), and than for individually housed calves during week eight (1461.4 vs. 1123.1 ± 97.0 g/d, p = 0.02) and week nine
average daily gain (ADG) increased over time (p < 0.001) for both treatments and no differences were found between treatments during the preweaning period (p > 0.05, Figure 2)
Summary
Calves are nursed by the dam and tend to have social interactions with their peers or other animals [1,2]. In modern dairy farming systems, calves are often housed in individual pens or hutches. They are less likely to interact with their peers or other animals during the milk-feeding period. Previous work has indicated that different housing systems (group versus individual housing) affect the performance and health of dairy calves. Some studies showed that compared with individual housing, group housing increased weight gains [3], starter intake [4] and hay intake of dairy calves [5]. The variability among studies may be related to differences in management (e.g., the number of animals per group, milk volume provided, duration of the feeding period, weaning method, and disease diagnosis). From a behavioral standpoint, weaning from a milk-based diet to a solid diet is one typical stressor faced by dairy calves, in which case, calves vocalize more
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