Effects of Different Factors on Dairy Calves Behaviour
Keywords:
age, behaviour, calf, father, sex, welfareAbstract
The purpose of this study was to study the effects of age, sex, and father on behaviour of calves. The study included 40 dairy calves kept in group housing. Maintenance behaviours were conducted at the age of 90, 130 and 170 days. The social behaviour was determined during 1 h feeding on access to limited amounts of feed during three consecutive days in 155th day of the age. Maintenance activities were significantly increasing with the age. Calves spent lying on the left side and ruminating while lying on the left side longer time. The most periods of total lying, lying on the left side, and lying on the right side were found at the age of 130 days. Period number was increasing within ages in ruminating while on the left and right sides, ruminating while lying, and total ruminating. Father lineage was significantly manifested in times of total standing, total eating, number eating and lying periods. No significant differences were found between males and females behaviour, and among fathers in social index.
References
Arave, C. W., Anderson, M. J., Feed intake, weight gain, and behavioral activity of heifers on an electronic or a tie-up feeding system, Journal of Dairy Science, 1979, 62, 1104-1107
Broom, D.M., Welfare evaluation, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1997, 54, 21-23
Friend, T. H., Recognizing behavioral needs, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1989, 22, 151-158
Gonyou, H. W., Assessment of comfort and well-being in farm animals, Journal of Animal Science, 1986, 62, 1769-1775
Jensen, M. B., Munksgaard, L., Mogensen, L., and Krohn, C. C., Effect of housing in different social environments on open-field and social responses of female dairy calves. Acta Agric. Scand., Sect. A, Anim. Sci., 1999, 49, 113-120
Lauber, M. C., Hemsworth, P. H., and Barnett, J. L., The effects of age and experience on behavioural development in dairy calves, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2006, 99, 41-52
Nakanishi, Y., Shimizu, Y., and Sumiyoshi, Y., Relationship between social grooming and agronistic behaviour in a stable fattening cattle herd. Journal of Faculty Agriculture, Kyushu University, 1993, 37, 325-329
Fisher, A. D., Stewart, M., et al. The effects of surface type on lying behaviour and stress responses of dairy cows during periodic weather-induced removal from pasture. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2003, 81, 1-11
Friend, T. H., Dellmeier, G., Common practices and problems related to artificially rearing calves: an ethological analysis, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1988, 20, 47-62
Kondo, S., Yoshida, Ch., Nishino, S., and Sahida, Y., Lying behavior of calves on sloped floor, Japanese Journal of Livestock Management, 1990, 26, 47-53
Hänninen, L., Ma¨kela¨, J. P. ,et al. Assessing sleep state in calves through electrophysiological and behavioural recordings: A preliminary study, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 2008, 111, 235-250
Lidfors, L., The use of getting up and lying down movements in the evaluation of cattle environments, Veterinary Research Communication, 1989, 13, 307-324
Brouček, J., Uhrinčať, M., and Hanus, A., Maintenance and competitive behaviour study in dairy calves. Slovak Journal of Animal Science, 2011, 44, 1, 28-33
Hohenboken, W. D., Inheritance of behavioural characteristics in livestock: a review, Animal Breeding Abstract, 1986, 54, 623-639
Jensen, M. B., Adaptation to tethering in yearling dairy heifers assessed by the use of lying down behavior, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1999, 62, 115-123
Lauber, M. C., Hemsworth, P. H., and Barnett, J. L., The effect of breed, time spent with dam and late pregnancy induction of parturition on behavioural development in dairy calves, Behavioural Processes, 2009, 82, 301–311
Albright, J. L., The effects of neonatal social isolation on the behavior and endocrine function of Holstein calves, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1988, 21, 293-306
Neindre Le, P., Influence of rearing conditions and breed on social behaviour and activity of cattle in novel environments, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1989, 23, 129-140
Arave, C. W., Lamb, R. C.,et al.., Behavior and maze learning ability of dairy calves as influenced by housing, sex and sire, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1992, 33, 149-163
Brouček, J., Kišac, P., and Uhrinčať, M., The effect of sire line on learning and locomotor behaviour of heifers. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2003, 48, 9, 387-394
Brouček, J., Uhrinčať, M., Šoch, M., and Kišac, P., Genetics of behaviour in cattle, Slovak Journal of Animal Science, 2008, 41, 166-172
Curtis, S. E., Animal well-being and animal care, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 1987, 3, 369-382
Phillips, C. J. C., The effects of forage provision and group size on the behavior of calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 2004, 87, 1380-1388
Albright, J. L., Feeding behavior of dairy cattle, Journal of Dairy Science, 1993, 76, 485-498
Uhrinčať, M., Tančin, et al., The effect of growth intensity of heifers till 15 months of age on their milk production during first lactation. Slovak Journal of Animal Science, 2007, 40, 83-88
Kondo, S., Hurnik, J.F., Stabilization of social hierarchy in dairy cows, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1990, 27, 287-297
Craig, J. V., Measuring social behavior: social dominance, Journal of Animal Science, 1986, 62, 1120-1129
Hohenboken, W. D., Behavioral genetics, Veterinary Clinic of North America: Food Animal Practice, 1987, 3, 217-229
Arave, C. W., Mickelsen, C. H., and Lamb, R. C., Effect of dominance rank changes, age, and body weight on plasma corticoids of mature dairy cattle, Journal of Dairy Science, 1977, 60, 244-248
Sambraus, H. H., Beobachtungen und Überlegungen zur Sozialordnung von Rindern. Züchtungskunde, 1975, 47, 8-14
