News

 Statistics

Number of Journals51
Number of Issues1,979
Number of Articles20,711
Article View34,368,424
PDF Download17,432,938
Ahmadi, F., Ghasemi, E., Alikhani, M., Akbarian-Tefaghi, M. (2022). Effect of Group and Individual Breeding on Performance, Blood Parameters, Ruminal Fermentation, Behavior and Health of Dairy Calves. , 14(3), 317-331. doi: 10.22067/ijasr.2021.71006.1030
Fatemeh Ahmadi; Ebrahim Ghasemi; Masoud Alikhani; Majid Akbarian-Tefaghi. "Effect of Group and Individual Breeding on Performance, Blood Parameters, Ruminal Fermentation, Behavior and Health of Dairy Calves". , 14, 3, 2022, 317-331. doi: 10.22067/ijasr.2021.71006.1030
Ahmadi, F., Ghasemi, E., Alikhani, M., Akbarian-Tefaghi, M. (2022). 'Effect of Group and Individual Breeding on Performance, Blood Parameters, Ruminal Fermentation, Behavior and Health of Dairy Calves', , 14(3), pp. 317-331. doi: 10.22067/ijasr.2021.71006.1030
Ahmadi, F., Ghasemi, E., Alikhani, M., Akbarian-Tefaghi, M. Effect of Group and Individual Breeding on Performance, Blood Parameters, Ruminal Fermentation, Behavior and Health of Dairy Calves. , 2022; 14(3): 317-331. doi: 10.22067/ijasr.2021.71006.1030

Effect of Group and Individual Breeding on Performance, Blood Parameters, Ruminal Fermentation, Behavior and Health of Dairy Calves

پژوهشهای علوم دامی ایران
Article 2, Volume 14, Issue 3 - Serial Number 51, September 2022, Pages 317-331    PDF (982.71 K)
Document Type: Research Articles
DOI: 10.22067/ijasr.2021.71006.1030
Authors
Fatemeh Ahmadi1; Ebrahim Ghasemi* 1; Masoud Alikhani2; Majid Akbarian-Tefaghi2
1Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Isfahan University of technology, Isfahan, Iran.
2Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Isfahan University of technology, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: In most dairy farms, calves are housed individually during the milk-feeding period and will only introduce to social groups after weaning. Individual housing can help keep calves healthy by reducing disease transmission and incidence behavioral problems such as cross-sucking as well as providing individual feeding and health-care of the calf. Nevertheless, individual rearing systems through lack of social contact can compromise the welfare of the calf. Calves are social animals, thus keeping calves in groups can promote more normal social behavior. Also, social housing results in decreased labor costs associated with calf rearing, increased solid feed intake, weight gains, and less fear of novel social situations. Despite all the performance and behavioral advantages in calves with social housing compared to individually housing, there are concerns about the close relationship between calves and the risk of disease transmission. It has been reported a higher frequency of diarrhea in socially housed calves compared with individually housed calves at week 3. Thereby the risk of morbidity and mortality can be reduced if calves are grouped after 3 weeks of age onwards. Also, no considerable differences were observed for social behaviors between calves housed together from birth compared with those housed together from 3 week of life. Research is needed to establish best practices to rear the calves whilst improving the welfare, health, and growth of dairy calves. Therefore the aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of individual or group housing (from 4 weeks) on performance, blood parameters, ruminal fermentation, behavior, and health of dairy calves.
Materials and Methods: A total of 32 Holstein calves were separated from their dams immediately after birth, weighed, and placed in individual pens. Then at 28 ± 2 d, calves were randomly assigned to either an individual pen (n = 16 calves, 1.5×2 m2) or group pen (4 calves/pen, n = 16 calves, 3×4 m2). All calves were offered a step-up/step-down method of milk feeding (4, 6, 8, 6, 4, and 2 L/d) and weaned at d 63. The study finished when calves reached 90 d of age. Feed intake was determined daily. Calves were weighed at birth, 28, 63, and 90 d of the age. Body measurements including body length, body girth, withers height, heart girth, hip height, and hip width of the calves were measured at the start and end of the study. Blood samples were collected at d 4 before and d 4 after weaning for measurement of glucose, cholesterol, and BUN concentration. Behavior parameters (playing, cross-sucking, grooming, and non-nutritive oral behavior) were monitored by visual observations of all calves at the 60 and 89 d of age for a period of 24 h. Calf health was checked every day for fecal scoring, general appearance scoring, and respiratory scoring. Also, diarrhea and pneumonia diagnoses and treatment of calves were recorded. On 50 and 80 d of age, ruminal fluid samples were collected from male calves for the measurement of pH and analysis of volatile fatty acids.
Results and Discussion: There was no significant difference between housing for starter intake, total dry matter intake, and ADG during pre-weaning, post-weaning, and the total period of the study. Also, BW (birth, 28, 63, and 90 d) and skeletal growth (initial and final of the study) were not affected by housing. We observed no housing effect on glucose and BUN plasma, however, cholesterol concentration was greater in individual calves than group calves at pre- and post-weaning, which is probably related to the greater stress of individual calves than group calves during weaning. Ruminal pH, total VFA concentration, the concentration of acetate, propionate, butyrate, iso-butyrate, isovalerate, valerate, and acetate to propionate ratio in ruminal fluid were similar between treatments. There was no difference between treatments for the frequency and number of days with general appearance (score ≥2), diarrhea (score ≥3), and pneumonia, as well as medicated days for both diarrhea and pneumonia during the pre-weaning, post-weaning, and total period of the experiment, indicating that calves, in general, were healthy. These results are probably attributed to good management of colostrum feeding, bedding, hygiene, regular health monitoring and disease diagnosis, and small group size. In the current study, non-nutritive oral behaviors were greater in individual calves than group calves during pre-weaning. However, cross-sucking, grooming, and playing activities were greater in group calves than individual calves during pre-weaning. During post-weaning, behaviors were not affected by housing. Behavioral results show that group housing improves the welfare of calves at weaning.
Conclusion: In general, the results showed that type of housing (group or individual) did not affect performance, rumen fermentation, and health of calves. While group housing can lead to improving the welfare of calves (increase the play and grooming, and decrease the non-nutritive oral behaviors).We suggested that calves can be grouped in good health if housing is properly managed.
Keywords
Calves; Group; Housing; Individual; Performance; Welfare
References
  1. Abdelfattah, E. M., Karousa, M., Lay, D. C., Marchant-Forde, J. N., & Eicher, S. D. (2018). Short communication: Effect of age at group housing on behavior, cortisol, health, and leukocyte differential counts of neonatal bull dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 101(1), 596-602. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-12632.
  2. AOAC (2002). Official Methods of Analysis. Vol. 1. 17th ed. AOAC International, Arlington, VA.
  3. Babu, L. K., Pandey, H. N., & Sahoo, A. (2004). Effect of individual versus group rearing on ethological and physiological responses of crossbred calves. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 87(3-4), 177-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2004.01.006.
  4. Bernal-Rigoli, J. C., Allen, J. D., Marchello, J. A., Cuneo, S. P., Garcia, S. R., Xie, G., Hall, L. W., Burrows, C. D., & Duff, G. C. (2012). Effects of housing and feeding systems on performance of neonatal Holstein bull calves. Journal of Animal Science, 90(8), 2818-2825. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2011-4722.
  5. Bučková, K., Šárová, R., Moravcsíková, Á., & Špinka, M. (2021). The effect of pair housing on dairy calf health, performance, and behavior. Journal of Dairy Science, 104(9), 10282-10290. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-19968.
  6. Chase, C. C., Hurley, D. J., & Reber, A. J. (2008). Neonatal immune development in the calf and its impact on vaccine response. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 24(1), 87-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2007.11.001.
  7. Chua, B., Coenen, E., Van Delen, J., & Weary, D. M. (2002). Effects of pair versus individual housing on the behavior and performance of dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 85(2), 360-364. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(02)74082-4.
  8. Cobb, C. J., Obeidat, B. S., Sellers, M. D., Pepper-Yowell, A. R., & Ballou, M. A. (2014). Group housing of Holstein calves in a poor indoor environment increases respiratory disease but does not influence performance or leukocyte responses. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(5), 3099-3109. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2013-7823.
  9. Costa, J. H. C., Meagher, R. K., Von Keyserlingk, M. A. G., & Weary, D. M. (2015). Early pair housing increases solid feed intake and weight gains in dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 98(9), 6381-6386. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-9395.
  10. Curtis, G. C., Argo, C. M., Jones, D., & Grove‐White, D. H. (2016). Impact of feeding and housing systems on disease incidence in dairy calves. Veterinary Record, 179(20), 512-512. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.103895.
  11. De Passillé, A. M. (2001). Sucking motivation and related problems in calves. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 72(3), 175-187. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(01)00108-3.
  12. Duve, L. R., Weary, D. M., Halekoh, U., & Jensen, M. B. (2012). The effects of social contact and milk allowance on responses to handling, play, and social behavior in young dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 95(11), 6571-6581. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2011-5170.
  13. Gulliksen, S. M., Lie, K. I., Løken, T., & Østerås, O. (2009). Calf mortality in Norwegian dairy herds. Journal of Dairy Science, 92(6), 2782-2795. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2008-1807.
  14. Hänninen, L., Hepola, H., Rushen, J., De Passille, A. M., Pursiainen, P., Tuure, V. M., Syrjälä-Qvist, L., Pyykkönen, M., & Saloniemi, H. (2003). Resting behaviour, growth and diarrhoea incidence rate of young dairy calves housed individually or in groups in warm or cold buildings. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A—Animal Science, 53(1), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064700310002008.
  15. Heinrichs, A. J., Jones, C. M., VanRoekel, L. R., & Fowler, M. A. (2003). Calf Track: A system of dairy calf workforce management, training, and evaluation and health evaluation. Journal of Dairy Science, 86(Suppl 1), 115.
  16. Hepola, H., Hänninen, L., Pursiainen, P., Tuure, V. M., Syrjälä-Qvist, L., Pyykkönen, M., & Saloniemi, H. (2006). Feed intake and oral behaviour of dairy calves housed individually or in groups in warm or cold buildings. Livestock Science, 105(1-3), 94-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2006.04.033.
  17. Hötzel, M. J., Longo, C., Balcao, L. F., Cardoso, C. S., & Costa, J. H. (2014). A survey of management practices that influence performance and welfare of dairy calves reared in southern Brazil. PLoS One, 9(12), e114995. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114995.
  18. Jensen, M. B., Vestergaard, K. S., & Krohn, C. C. (1998). Play behaviour in dairy calves kept in pens: the effect of social contact and space allowance. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 56(2-4), 97-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(97)00106-8.
  19. Jensen, M. B., & Larsen, L. E. (2014). Effects of level of social contact on dairy calf behavior and health. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(8), 5035-5044. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2013-7311.
  20. Jensen, M. B., Duve, L. R., & Weary, D. M. (2015). Pair housing and enhanced milk allowance increase play behavior and improve performance in dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 98(4), 2568-2575. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-8272.
  21. Keil, N. M., & Langhans, W. (2001). The development of intersucking in dairy calves around weaning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 72(4), 295-308. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(00)00207-0.
  22. Khan, M. A., Lee, H. J., Lee, W. S., Kim, H. S., Ki, K. S., Hur, T. Y., Suh, G. H., Kang, S. J., Choi, & Y. J. (2007). Structural growth, rumen development, and metabolic and immune responses of Holstein male calves fed milk through step-down and conventional methods. Journal of Dairy Science, 90(7), 3376-3387. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2007-0104.
  23. Kung Jr, L., Demarco, S., Siebenson, L. N., Joyner, E., Haenlein, G. F. W., & Morris, R. M. (1997). An evaluation of two management systems for rearing calves fed milk replacer. Journal of Dairy Science, 80(10), 2529-2533. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(97)76206-4.
  24. Leruste, H., Brscic, M., Cozzi, G., Kemp, B., Wolthuis-Fillerup, M., Lensink, B. J., Bokkers, E. A. M., & Van Reenen, C. G. (2014). Prevalence and potential influencing factors of non-nutritive oral behaviors of veal calves on commercial farms. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(11), 7021-7030. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-7917.
  25. Liu, S., Ma, J., Li, J., Alugongo, G. M., Wu, Z., Wang, Y., Li, S., & Cao, Z. (2019). Effects of pair versus individual housing on performance, health, and behavior of dairy calves. Animals, 10(1), 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10010050.
  26. Miller-Cushon, E. K., & DeVries, T. J. (2016). Effect of social housing on the development of feeding behavior and social feeding preferences of dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 99(2), 1406-1417. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-9869.
  27. Morgan, C.K. (2018). Evaluation of single vs. pair housing Holstein calves on specific antibody concentrations to KLH.‏ (Honors Thesis Projects).University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
  28. Pempek, J. A., Eastridge, M. L., Swartzwelder, S. S., Daniels, K. M., & Yohe, T. T. (2016). Housing system may affect behavior and growth performance of Jersey heifer calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 99(1), 569-578. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-10088.
  29. Suarez-Mena, F. X., Hill, T. M., Jones, C. M., & Heinrichs, A. J. (2016). Effect of forage provision on feed intake in dairy calves. The Professional Animal Scientist, 32(4), 383-388. https://doi.org/10.15232/pas.2016-01502.
  30. Svensson, C., Lundborg, K., Emanuelson, U., & Olsson, S. O. (2003). Morbidity in Swedish dairy calves from birth to 90 days of age and individual calf-level risk factors for infectious diseases. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 58(3-4), 179-197. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5877(03)00046-1.
  31. Svensson, C., & Liberg, P. (2006). The effect of group size on health and growth rate of Swedish dairy calves housed in pens with automatic milk-feeders. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 73(1), 43-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2005.08.021.
  32. Tapki, İ. (2007). Effects of individual or combined housing systems on behavioural and growth responses of dairy calves. Acta Agriculturae Scand Section A, 57(2), 55-60. https://doi.org/10.1080/09064700701464405.
  33. Terré, M., Bach, A., & Devant, M. (2006). Performance and behaviour of calves reared in groups or individually following an enhanced-growth feeding programme. Journal of Dairy Research, 73(4), 480-486. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022029906002019.
  34. Van Soest, P. V., Robertson, J. B., & Lewis, B. A. (1991). Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, 74(10), 3583-3597. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2.
  35. Vieira, A. D. P., Von Keyserlingk, M. A. G., & Weary, D. M. (2010). Effects of pair versus single housing on performance and behavior of dairy calves before and after weaning from milk. Journal of Dairy Science, 93(7), 3079-3085. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2516.
  36. Vieira, A. D. P., Von Keyserlingk, M. A. G., & Weary, D. M. (2012). Presence of an older weaned companion influences feeding behavior and improves performance of dairy calves before and after weaning from milk. Journal of dairy science, 95(6), 3218-3224. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2011-4821.
  37. Vinay Agarwal, B. G. (1997). Examination stress: Changes in serum cholesterol, triglycerides and total lipids. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 41(4): 404-408.‏
  38. Whalin, L., Weary, D. M., & Von Keyserlingk, M. A. G. (2018). Pair housing dairy calves in modified calf hutches. Journal of Dairy Science, 101(6), 5428-5433. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-14361.
  39. Zhu, L., Jones, C., Guo, Q., Lewis, L., Stark, C. R., & Alavi, S. (2016). An evaluation of total starch and starch gelatinization methodologies in pelleted animal feed. Journal of Animal Science, 94(4), 1501-1507. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2015-9822.
Statistics
Article View: 1,294
PDF Download: 760


Journal Management System. Powered by Sinaweb