Behaviour and welfare of calves living in large groups

Janne Karin Brodin

New regulations entail that calves older than 8 weeks be kept in group pens. This gives the calves increased freedom of movement and the possibility of social contact and play, but may also have negative consequences due to competition and frequent regroupings, where social bonds are broken and new ones must be established. As part of a wider Nordic co-operative project, the behaviour and welfare of calves living in large groups is spotlighted

The earlier practice of keeping calves in individual boxes gives little or no possibility for engaging in social interaction and play. In order to give the calf the opportunity to behave in a way it is strongly motivated for, it is now fixed by law that calves older than eight weeks are to be kept in group pens. In addition to social contact and play, living in group pens will give increased freedom of movement due to the larger total space.

However, keeping animals in groups can also have negative consequences, due to competition for food and for attractive resting places. Also regrouping, when social bonds are broken and new must be established will be a liability. As part of a wider Nordic co-operative project, calves living in large groups are spotlighted. The object of the project is to increase our knowledge on the social behaviour of calves and to find out how factors such as group size and age heterogeneity influence competition and social integration.

The project consists of a series of experiments where we among other things examine how age heterogeneity influences social integration, competition and the formation of subgroups. A special focal point will be the welfare situation of the youngest calves in age heterogeneous groups. Corresponding experiments will be conducted with age homogenous groups of 4, 8 and 16 animals. A smaller experiment has been carried out where we examined the social preferences of calves and stress in connection with social separation. This experiment took place at Danmarks Jordbruksforskning (Aarhus University’s Faculty of Agricultural Sciences) at Foulum. The results from the project will form the basis for practical recommendations on the grouping of calves to ensure the best possible animal welfare in the new production systems.

Updated: 16.05.11
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