A Calf Conundrum: A Comparison of Behaviors Exhibited Based on Feeding Frequencies

• Luis Moreno, Animal Science, University of Delaware

• Tara Gaab, Animal and Food Sciences, University of Delaware

With rising concerns regarding the welfare of dairy production animals from consumers, dairy farms are likely soon going to transition from single-calf housing to pair- or group-housing. Keeping calf health concerns in mind, our objective was to evaluate whether increasing the feeding frequencies of calves would affect their display of desirable or undesirable behaviors, including competitive behaviors, feeding behaviors, and non-nutritive suckling on their enclosure, among others. In this pilot study there were 11 Holstein and Angus calves, approximately 5 weeks of age housed in four groups of two or three, on a working dairy farm in Colora, MD. Animals in the experimental groups (G1 and G2) were fed six times daily, and animals in the control groups (G3 and G4) were fed twice daily. All calves were fed the same total amount of milk each day. Calves were observed for 11 hours each day for six days. In-person behavioral observations were made using a scan sampling method every five minutes outside of feeding periods, and continuous video recording occurred during feeding periods. Preliminary results show that G1 Holsteins displayed cud chewing more frequently than G3 Holsteins, which points to the possibility of animals feeling calmer and happier having access to milk more often. Second, both control groups (G3 and G4) ate grain more often than the experimental groups (G1 & G2), suggesting that animals fed less frequently are bored or still hungry throughout the day. Interestingly, the G3 calves displayed significantly more inappropriate suckling and “rowdy” behaviors, likely due to two outlier Holsteins in that group, emphasizing the importance of individual animal observations. Based on this pilot experiment there is room for future research, including analysis of the video recordings which will allow for a closer look at their behaviors particularly around feeding times.