The effect of individual vs pair housing during the pre-weaning period on dairy calf well-being to four months of age

Authors

  • Whitney A. Knauer Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
  • Sandra M. Godden Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108
  • Marcia I. Endres Department of Animal Science, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108
  • Brian A. Crooker Department of Animal Science, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20197256

Keywords:

pair housing, social needs, individual housing, weaning, well-being, behavioral, physiologic

Abstract

Pair housing of dairy calves during the pre-weaning period helps meet the natural social needs of the calf and has been shown to improve growth and starter intake during the pre-weaning period as compared to individual housing. However, there is little evidence to suggest that pair housed calves maintain their social and growth advantages past the weaning phase. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of pair housing on measures of behavioral and physiologic well-being during the first four months of life.

Cover image of the 52nd Conference Proceedings: A photo of a herd of cattle shot from below. A black and white cow is looking curiously at the phototgrapher. Yellow

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Published

2019-09-12

Issue

2019

Section

Research Summaries

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