Effects of individual and pair housing of calves on short term health and behaviour on a UK commercial dairy farm

Mahendran, Sophie; Blackie, Nicola; Wathes, Claire; booth, richard

Abstract

Social pair housing of calves has previously demonstrated positive impacts on calf health and productivity compared to individual housing, but much of the research has been conducted in research institutions in different environmental conditions to those found in the UK. The aim of this study was to compare the health and behaviour of calves kept in individual compared to pair housing on a single commercial UK dairy farm. A total of 457 Holstein or Jersey heifer calves were recruited and were systematically allocated to individual and pair housing. Weekly visits were conducted up to 8 weeks old, with weight and presence of clinical disease measured using both a standardized scoring system and thoracic ultrasonography. A subset of calves (n=90) had accelerometers attached to monitor activity, with CCTV placed above a further 16 pens to allow behavioural assessments to be made via continuous focal sampling at 1 and 5 weeks of age. During the study there was a mortality rate of 2.8%, and an average daily liveweight gain (ADLG) of 0.72 kg/day, with no significant effect of housing group (P = 0.76). However, individually housed calves had increased odds of developing disease (OR=1.88, P = 0.014). Accelerometer data showed that housing group had no effect on lying times, with a mean of 18 hrs 11 mins per day (SD 39 mins) spent lying down. The motion index was significantly higher in pair housed calves (F1,83 = 440.3, P < 0.01), potentially due to more social play behaviour. The total time engaged in non-nutritive oral behaviours (NNOBs) was not impacted by housing group (P = 0.72). Pair housed calves split their time conducting NNOBs equally between inanimate objects and on thoer pen mates body. Individually housed calves spent significantly more time with their head out of the front of the pen (P = 0.006), and also engaged in more self-grooming than pair housed calves (P=0.017), possibly due to a lack of socialization. The overall findings of this study indicate that within a UK commercial dairy management system, pair housed calves were healthier and more active than individually housed calves, while housing group did not influence ADLG or the occurrence of NNOBs.

Citation

Mahendran, S., Blackie, N., Wathes, C., & booth, R. (2023). Effects of individual and pair housing of calves on short term health and behaviour on a UK commercial dairy farm. Animals, https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132140

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 27, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jun 28, 2023
• Publication Date: Jun 28, 2023
• Deposit Date: May 3, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 24, 2023
• Print ISSN: 2076-2615
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132140