Effects of early social contact on dairy calf response to initial social grouping and regrouping

Social contact affects social development and response to novelty in dairy calves, but the age of introduction housing varies on-farm may have implications for behavioral grouping. The objective this experiment was evaluate effects early during approximately first 2 wk life on calf behavior performance responses following initial regrouping, followed by subsequent regrouping. At birth, calves were randomly assigned individual (IH; n = 16 calves) or pair-housing (PH; 8 pairs). Calves mingled between treatments initially grouped (4 calves/pen) at 13 ± d (mean standard deviation) then regrouped (8 20 5 age. Calf ability learn feed independently from teat bucket life, autofeeder grouping, monitored. health, intake, weight gain recorded throughout 3 life. Activity interactions continuously video 24 h grouping regrouping (except allogrooming, hay consumption, play, which observed 12 due nighttime visibility). During period exposure different treatments, intake did not differ, housed pairs tended scour fewer days [4.1 vs. 5.6 d; PH IH; error (SE) 0.58]. Previously pair-housed spent more time lying socially (within 1 body length another calf) than previously individually both (9.8 5.7 h/d; SE 0.83) (11.3 9.1 1.1). We saw no previous duration brush use (31.5 min/d; 4.2), feeding (5.1 min/12 h; 1.6), allogrooming (4.1 0.16), play (0.52 0.19) However, greater after These results suggest that before weeks greatly affect activity within pen active transition group housing. persistent differences suggests influence overall comfort toward other