| Effects of pair versus single housing on performance and behavior of dairy calves before and after weaning from milk. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20630226 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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This experiment tested the effects of pair versus single housing on the performance and behavior of dairy calves before and after weaning. Twenty-seven Holstein calves were separated from the dam within 6h of birth, housed in individual pens for 4 d, and then assigned to either continued individual housing (n=9 calves) or pair housing (n=9 pairs). Calves had ad libitum access to starter, hay, and water via buckets. Pasteurized whole milk was fed via teat twice a day for 2h at ad libitum volumes until d 36. During the milk-feeding period, paired calves showed higher intakes of starter than did the individually housed calves (averaging 93 vs. 59+/-11 g/d per calf). Calves were weaned from milk from d 37 to 41 by progressive dilution of milk with water, and the teat was removed on d 49. Calves in both treatments vocalized in response to teat removal but this response was less in paired calves than in individually housed calves (84 vs. 194+/-12 calls/2-h period per calf on d 49). On d 56, calves were moved to group pens, mixed with other calves, and observed for 15 d. Starter, water, and hay were available ad libitum via automatic feeders. Compared with calves previously housed in single pens, paired calves had a shorter latency to start feeding (9.1+/-2.6 vs. 49.5+/-4.1 h/calf), visited the starter feeder more frequently (41.6+/-3.0 vs. 26.4+/-3.3 visits/d per calf), spent more time at the feeder (87.8+/-2.5 vs. 65.3+/-2.9 min/d per calf), and consumed more starter (3.4 vs. 2.3+/-0.2 kg/d per calf). Weight gains at mixing were higher for paired than for individually housed calves on d 2 and 3 after mixing (0.5 vs. -2.4+/-0.3 kg/d per calf; and 0.8 vs. -0.9+/-0.3 kg/d per calf, respectively). The results indicate that pair housing during the milk-feeding stage reduces calf responses to weaning and improves performance after weaning when calves are housed in groups. |
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Authors:
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A De Paula Vieira; M A G von Keyserlingk; D M Weary |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of dairy science Volume: 93 ISSN: 1525-3198 ISO Abbreviation: J. Dairy Sci. Publication Date: 2010 Jul |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-07-15 Completed Date: 2010-12-14 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 2985126R Medline TA: J Dairy Sci Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 3079-85 Citation Subset: IM |
Copyright Information:
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Copyright (c) 2010 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Affiliation:
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Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Behavior, Animal / physiology* Body Weight / physiology Cattle / physiology*, psychology* Drinking / physiology Eating / physiology, psychology Female Housing, Animal* Vocalization, Animal / physiology Weaning* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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