Effects of Pair Versus Individual Housing on Performance, Health, and Behavior of Dairy Calves
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 sta...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-12-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/1/50 |
| _version_ | 1828384036727291904 |
|---|---|
| author | Shuai Liu Jiaying Ma Jinghui Li Gibson Maswayi Alugongo Zhaohai Wu Yajing Wang Shengli Li Zhijun Cao |
| author_facet | Shuai Liu Jiaying Ma Jinghui Li Gibson Maswayi Alugongo Zhaohai Wu Yajing Wang Shengli Li Zhijun Cao |
| author_sort | Shuai Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:58:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9c4f8d746ad4243a5dea51acab95035 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:58:38Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9c4f8d746ad4243a5dea51acab950352022-12-22T02:01:27ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152019-12-011015010.3390/ani10010050ani10010050Effects of Pair Versus Individual Housing on Performance, Health, and Behavior of Dairy CalvesShuai Liu0Jiaying Ma1Jinghui Li2Gibson Maswayi Alugongo3Zhaohai Wu4Yajing Wang5Shengli Li6Zhijun Cao7State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDepartment of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USAState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaThe 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/1/50calfpair housingindividual housingbehavior |
| spellingShingle | Shuai Liu Jiaying Ma Jinghui Li Gibson Maswayi Alugongo Zhaohai Wu Yajing Wang Shengli Li Zhijun Cao Effects of Pair Versus Individual Housing on Performance, Health, and Behavior of Dairy Calves Animals calf pair housing individual housing behavior |
| title | Effects of Pair Versus Individual Housing on Performance, Health, and Behavior of Dairy Calves |
| title_full | Effects of Pair Versus Individual Housing on Performance, Health, and Behavior of Dairy Calves |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Pair Versus Individual Housing on Performance, Health, and Behavior of Dairy Calves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Pair Versus Individual Housing on Performance, Health, and Behavior of Dairy Calves |
| title_short | Effects of Pair Versus Individual Housing on Performance, Health, and Behavior of Dairy Calves |
| title_sort | effects of pair versus individual housing on performance health and behavior of dairy calves |
| topic | calf pair housing individual housing behavior |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/1/50 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shuailiu effectsofpairversusindividualhousingonperformancehealthandbehaviorofdairycalves AT jiayingma effectsofpairversusindividualhousingonperformancehealthandbehaviorofdairycalves AT jinghuili effectsofpairversusindividualhousingonperformancehealthandbehaviorofdairycalves AT gibsonmaswayialugongo effectsofpairversusindividualhousingonperformancehealthandbehaviorofdairycalves AT zhaohaiwu effectsofpairversusindividualhousingonperformancehealthandbehaviorofdairycalves AT yajingwang effectsofpairversusindividualhousingonperformancehealthandbehaviorofdairycalves AT shenglili effectsofpairversusindividualhousingonperformancehealthandbehaviorofdairycalves AT zhijuncao effectsofpairversusindividualhousingonperformancehealthandbehaviorofdairycalves |