Effect of raising method of calves during liquid milk nutrition on their open-field and maze behaviour after weaning

The objective was to find whether calf behaviour is affected by it rearing to weaning in 84 days, gender, and the sire lineage. 99 Holstein calves were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: artificially reared in hutches (A), suckling of a foster cow (F), or suckling of the mother (M). After weaning (84 days), all calves were kept separately by sex in age-balanced groups. The speed of traversing the maze was recorded at 6 months of age. The open-field observation was performed at 10 months. The average time of traversing the maze facility was no significantly different among treatment groups. The average time of traversing the maze for 6 tasks was the highest in A and the lowest in the F group (P 0.05). At the open field test, the difference compared to the grid (square) crossings was significant at the 1st minute of the 1st test (P 0.05). The average of the grid crossings in all tests was highest in M (139.5) and the lowest in A (123.1) (P 0.05). There were no significant differences between sex in behaviour in the maze or the open field tests. Sire lineage significant effect was found in vocalisation and defecation behaviour. The results show that the method used to rear calves and sire lineage may have an impact on their later behaviour.(AU)

Effect of different rearing condition on early age in the maze, open-field, and aversive behaviours in the dairy cow during the first lactation

The aim of the study was to tested hypotheses that the primiparous cows behaviour is impacted by the method of rearing from the second day of life to weaning. 53 Holstein primiparous cows were used. They were reared in different ways during milk nutrition. Calf-heifers were assigned to one of five rearing groups on the second day after having nursed their mothers for 24 hours: H) hutch; HA) hutch, from 7 days pen with an automated drinking machine (ADM); MA) with mother, from 7 days pen with an ADM; MH) with mother, from 7 days hutch; MN) with mother, from 4 days with nursing cows. After weaning (56 days), all heifers were kept in group pens, after calving in free-stall housing. Maze learning ability was tested in the third month of lactation. In the 5th month, cows were observed in the open-field, in the seventh month they were subjected to an aversion test (AT). Group MN was the slowest in solving all tasks and HA the fastest. Differences were recorded among groups in the first-day evaluation (P < 0.01). No differences in open field tests were found. In the AT traversing, the slowest were groups H and HA, the fastest MH and MA (P < 0.01). The time of the first return was different (P < 0.001). On the first day, the most vocalized cows of the MN group (P < 0.05). The results show that the method used to rear heifers may have a significant impact on their maze and aversive behaviour.(AU)

Effect of raising method of calves during liquid milk nutrition on their open-field and maze behaviour after weaning

The objective was to find whether calf behaviour is affected by it rearing to weaning in 84 days, gender, and the sire lineage. 99 Holstein calves were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: artificially reared in hutches (A), suckling of a foster cow (F), or suckling of the mother (M). After weaning (84 days), all calves were kept separately by sex in age-balanced groups. The speed of traversing the maze was recorded at 6 months of age. The open-field observation was performed at 10 months. The average time of traversing the maze facility was no significantly different among treatment groups. The average time of traversing the maze for 6 tasks was the highest in A and the lowest in the F group (P 0.05). At the open field test, the difference compared to the grid (square) crossings was significant at the 1st minute of the 1st test (P 0.05). The average of the grid crossings in all tests was highest in M (139.5) and the lowest in A (123.1) (P 0.05). There were no significant differences between sex in behaviour in the maze or the open field tests. Sire lineage significant effect was found in vocalisation and defecation behaviour. The results show that the method used to rear calves and sire lineage may have an impact on their later behaviour.

Effect of different rearing condition on early age in the maze, open-field, and aversive behaviours in the dairy cow during the first lactation

The aim of the study was to tested hypotheses that the primiparous cow’s behaviour is impacted by the method of rearing from the second day of life to weaning. 53 Holstein primiparous cows were used. They were reared in different ways during milk nutrition. Calf-heifers were assigned to one of five rearing groups on the second day after having nursed their mothers for 24 hours: H) hutch; HA) hutch, from 7 days pen with an automated drinking machine (ADM); MA) with mother, from 7 days pen with an ADM; MH) with mother, from 7 days hutch; MN) with mother, from 4 days with nursing cows. After weaning (56 days), all heifers were kept in group pens, after calving in free-stall housing. Maze learning ability was tested in the third month of lactation. In the 5th month, cows were observed in the open-field, in the seventh month they were subjected to an aversion test (AT). Group MN was the slowest in solving all tasks and HA the fastest. Differences were recorded among groups in the first-day evaluation (P < 0.01). No differences in open field tests were found. In the AT traversing, the slowest were groups H and HA, the fastest MH and MA (P < 0.01). The time of the first return was different (P < 0.001). On the first day, the most vocalized cows of the MN group (P < 0.05). The results show that the method used to rear heifers may have a significant impact on their maze and aversive behaviour.