title: Pair housing and enhanced milk allowance increase play behavior and improve performance in dairy calves.
abstract: To investigate the effects of social housing and milk feeding on play behavior and performance, 48 Holstein-Friesian male and female calves were either individually or pair housed in straw-bedded pens (3.0 m × 4.5 m). Half of the calves in each housing treatment were fed a standard milk allowance (5 L/d from d 3 to 42); the other calves were fed an enhanced milk allowance (9 L/d from d 3 to 28 and 5 L/d from d 29 to 42). All calves were abruptly weaned on d 43. Play behavior was recorded for 48 h beginning on d 15, 29, and 43. Variables were square root-transformed before analysis, but back-transformed values are given. On d 15 the duration of locomotor play behavior was greater among enhanced- than standard-fed calves [15.2 vs. 10.8 (± 1.0) corresponding to 231 vs. 117 s/24 h]; this behavior decreased when milk allowance in the enhanced treatment was reduced on d 29. Across ages, the duration of locomotor play behavior was greater among individually housed than pair-housed calves [10.9 vs. 8.2 (± 0.6) corresponding to 119 vs. 67 s/24 h], but the total duration of play did not differ between individual and pair-housed calves [130 (45-295) s/24 h; median and interquartile range]. Only pair-housed calves could perform social play behavior (play fighting), and the duration of this was greater on d 15 and 29 than on d 43 [8.3, 10.7 and 3.5 (± 1.3) corresponding to 69, 115 and 12 s/24 h for d 15, 29, and 43]. Among calves on enhanced milk, pair-housed animals had a greater concentrate intake than individually housed calves (840 vs. 530 ± 110 g/d); for calves on standard milk, we detected no effect of housing [990 and 1,090 (± 110) g/d]. Among calves on enhanced milk, pair-housed calves had greater body weight gain than individually housed calves [990 vs. 850 (± 40) g/d]. For calves on standard milk, we observed no effect of pair versus individual housing [810 and 840 (± 40) g/d]. In conclusion, greater durations of play behavior in enhanced-fed calves suggest an animal welfare benefit of this feeding method. Enhanced-fed calves consumed less concentrate, but pair housing stimulated concentrate intake in these calves, suggesting that pair housing and enhanced feeding should be used together.
authors: Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, PO Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark. Electronic address: MargitBak.Jensen@agrsci.dk.
authors: M B
authors: MB
authors: Jensen
authors: Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, PO Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.
authors: L R
authors: LR
authors: Duve
authors: Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Weary
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000523:psychology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: group housing; milk feeding; performance; play behavior; welfare