Calves Use an Automated Brush and a Hanging Rope When Pair-Housed

Abstract

Calf housing often only meets the basic needs of calves, but there is a growing interest in providing enrichments. This study described the behaviour of calves when they were given the opportunity to interact with two commonly available enrichment items. Female and male calves (approximately 11 days old) were pair-housed in 8 identical pens fitted with an automated brush and a hanging rope. Frequency and duration of behaviours were recorded on 3 separate days (from 12:00 until 08:00 the following day. Calves spent equal time using the brush and rope (27.1 min/day), but there was less variation in the use of the brush as opposed to the rope (coefficient of variation, CV: 23 vs. 78%, respectively). Calves had more frequent (94 bouts, CV: 24%) and shorter (17.8 s/bout, CV: 24%) brush use bouts compared to fewer (38 bouts, CV: 43%) and longer (38.3 s/bout, CV: 53%) rope use bouts. There was a diurnal pattern of use for both items. Frequency of play was similar to rope use, but total time playing was 8% of rope and brush use. Variability among calves suggested that individual preference existed; however, the social dynamics of the pair-housed environment were not measured and therefore could have influenced brush and rope use. Multiple enrichment items should be considered when designing improvements to calf housing.

Keywords: dairy; grooming; housing enrichment; welfare.

Figure 1

Pen layout for 8 identical pens containing an automated brush and a 1 m length of manila rope. Water, concentrate, and hay were provided ad libitum. Pens were bedded with wood shavings and housed 2 calves. One calf per pen was selected as the focal animal for observation.

Figure 2

Mean (±SEM) time spent using (a) brush and (b) rope for 7 calves averaged for 3 days (d1, d3, and d6). Observations spanned from 12:00 to 08:00 the following day. Calves were fed 4 L of whole milk from a 5-nipple milk feeder twice daily at 07:00 and 15:00 (dotted line); feeders were left in the pen for 30 min to ensure the full milk meal was consumed.

Figure 3

Mean (±SEM) number of (a) brush and (b) rope bouts for 7 calves averaged for 3 days (d1, d3, and d6). Observations spanned from 12:00 to 08:00 the following day. Calves were fed 4 L of whole milk from a 5-nipple milk feeder twice daily at 07:00 and 15:00 (dotted line); feeders were left in the pen for 30 min to ensure the full milk meal was consumed.

Figure 4

Brush to rope use ratio presented as a mean for 3 days (d1, d3, d6). Observations spanned from 12:00 to 08:00 the following day. The mean of each calf is represented by ● (female) or ▲ (male). Values are back-transformed and presented on a log transformed scale to maintain SED.