The effects of social contact and milk allowance on responses to handling, play, and social behavior in young dairy calves.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of social contact and milk allowance on social behavior, play behavior, and responses to handling in dairy calves. Forty test calves and 16 companion calves were allocated to 1 of 5 treatments from birth to 4 wk of age: (1) housed singly and fed 5 L of milk/d; (2) housed singly and fed 9 L of milk/d; (3) housed in pairs and fed 5 L of milk/d; (4) housed in pairs and fed 9 L of milk/d; or (5) kept with the dam and fed 9 L of milk/d. From 4 to 6 wk of age, all calves were offered 5 L of milk/d to promote intake of solid feed before weaning. At 6 wk of age, all calves were weaned, and at 7 wk of age, they were grouped (7 calves/group: 1 test calf from each treatment and 2 companion calves). The response to restraint during blood sampling was recorded weekly; singly housed calves struggled more during restraint than did calves kept with the dam, and pair-housed calves struggled at an intermediate level. Play behavior was recorded for 20 min/wk after the provision of fresh straw; calves housed singly and fed a low milk allowance spent less time playing than did calves in all other treatments. Three days after grouping, calves were subjected to a feed competition test; calves receiving the high milk allowance and housed in pairs spent more time feeding than did those receiving the high milk allowance and housed singly, with all other treatments showing intermediate responses. These results indicate that social contact decreased responses to restraint and increased play and competitive success. The high milk allowance increased play but reduced competitive success after grouping. Lower responses to restraint indicated less responsiveness to stress. Play is considered an indicator of positive welfare, and competitive success helps calves succeed in a group environment.

[1]  L. Duve,et al.  The level of social contact affects social behaviour in pre-weaned dairy calves , 2011 .

[2]  M. Špinka,et al.  Animal play and animal welfare , 2011, Animal Behaviour.

[3]  D. Weary,et al.  Effects of milk ration on solid feed intake , weaning , and performance in dairy heifers , 2011 .

[4]  D. Weary,et al.  Effects of pair versus single housing on performance and behavior of dairy calves before and after weaning from milk. , 2010, Journal of dairy science.

[5]  J. Rushen,et al.  Play behaviour in dairy calves is reduced by weaning and by a low energy intake , 2010 .

[6]  D. Weary,et al.  Duration of weaning, starter intake, and weight gain of dairy calves fed large amounts of milk. , 2010, Journal of dairy science.

[7]  S. Bhatnagar,et al.  Struggling behavior during restraint is regulated by stress experience , 2008, Behavioural Brain Research.

[8]  R. C. Newberry,et al.  Implications of breaking mother–young social bonds , 2008 .

[9]  D C J Main,et al.  Assessment of positive welfare: a review. , 2008, Veterinary journal.

[10]  L. Keeling,et al.  Assessment of positive emotions in animals to improve their welfare , 2007, Physiology & Behavior.

[11]  D. Weary,et al.  Maternal behavior in cattle , 2007, Hormones and Behavior.

[12]  S. Kim,et al.  Pre- and postweaning performance of holstein female calves fed milk through step-down and conventional methods. , 2007, Journal of dairy science.

[13]  J. Rushen,et al.  Calves’ behaviour during nursing is affected by feeding motivation and milk availability , 2006 .

[14]  J. C. Pollard,et al.  Short communication A note on stability of behavioural reactions to handling in red deer hinds and their calves , 2006 .

[15]  K. Bøe,et al.  Dairy calves social preferences and the significance of a companion animal during separation from the group , 2006 .

[16]  H. N. Pandey,et al.  Effect of individual versus group rearing on ethological and physiological responses of crossbred calves , 2004 .

[17]  Shusuke Sato,et al.  Familiarity and group size affect emotional stress in Japanese Black heifers , 2003 .

[18]  A. Boissy,et al.  The Effect of Contact with Conspecifics and Humans on Calves' Behaviour and Stress Responses , 2003, Animal Welfare.

[19]  J. Jago,et al.  The presence of the dam during handling prevents the socialization of young calves to humans , 2003 .

[20]  L. Jeppesen,et al.  Calves’ motivation for access to two different types of social contact measured by operant conditioning , 2002 .

[21]  D. Weary,et al.  Effects of ad libitum milk intake on dairy calves. , 2002, Journal of dairy science.

[22]  M. Špinka,et al.  Mammalian Play: Training for the Unexpected , 2001, The Quarterly Review of Biology.

[23]  C. Krohn.  Effects of different suckling systems on milk production, udder health, reproduction, calf growth and some behavioural aspects in high producing dairy cows - a review. , 2001, Applied animal behaviour science.

[24]  Veissier,et al.  Reactions of calves to handling depend on housing condition and previous experience with humans. , 2001, Applied animal behaviour science.

[25]  A. Boissy,et al.  The social behaviour of cattle. , 2001 .

[26]  Garel,et al.  The social environment influences the behavioural responses of beef cattle to handling. , 2000, Applied animal behaviour science.

[27]  D. G. Satterlee,et al.  Effects of repeated restraint in Japanese quail genetically selected for contrasting adrenocortical responses , 2000, Physiology & Behavior.

[28]  Jensen,et al.  Play behaviour in group-housed dairy calves, the effect of space allowance. , 2000, Applied animal behaviour science.

[29]  B. L. Nielsen,et al.  On the interpretation of feeding behaviour measures and the use of feeding rate as an indicator of social constraint , 1999 .

[30]  L. Mogensen,et al.  Effects of Housing in Different Social Environments on Open-field and Social Responses of Female Dairy Calves , 1999 .

[31]  C. Krohn,et al.  Play behaviour in dairy calves kept in pens: the effect of social contact and space allowance , 1998 .

[32]  C. Krohn,et al.  Effect of single versus group housing and space allowance on responses of calves during open-field tests , 1997 .

[33]  J. Ingram,et al.  Effects of yarding and handling procedures on stress responses of red deer stags (Cervus elaphus) , 1997 .

[34]  J. C. Pollard,et al.  Effects of social isolation and restraint on heart rate and behaviour of alpacas , 1995 .

[35]  I. Veissier,et al.  The effects of rearing in individual crates on subsequent social behaviour of veal calves , 1994 .

[36]  M. Papini,et al.  Social behaviour of the calves of semi-wild Maremma cattle, Bos primigenius taurus , 1986 .

[37]  D. Wood‐Gush,et al.  The early behaviour of suckler calves in the field , 1984 .

[38]  D. A. Wieckert,et al.  Social behavior in farm animals. , 1971, Journal of animal science.

[39]  G. W. Snedecor.  STATISTICAL METHODS , 1967 .