Keeping Cow with Calf

THE INFLUENCE OF MATERNAL CONTACT ON ACTIVITY, EMOTIONALITY AND SOCIAL COMPETENCE IN YOUNG DAIRY CALVES

Santo et al.; Germany and Austria

This study aimed to assess the influence of maternal contact on calves' activity, fearfulness, and social competence.

Calves were either dam-reared for their first 14 days (Maternal Contact, n = 12) or were separated from their dams within 12 hours after birth (Motherless, n = 12). Both groups of calves and the dams of the Maternal Contact calves were group-housed and suckling was prevented with udder nets.

General activity (lying, locomotion, swapping between lying and standing) was measured using pedometers in eight Maternal Contact and eight Motherless calves within a 24 day period. As general activity might be affected by calves' age or the separation of Maternal Contact calves from the dams, the period was divided into two groups (period A: 3rd–13th day of age, period B: 14th–27th day of age).

Emotionality and social competence were assessed in the open field, novel object, and confrontation test with an unknown cow at 14, 21, and 28 days of age, respectively.

Locomotion was greater in Motherless calves than Maternal Contact calves during the 24-d period (A + B combined) and period B (14th to 27th day of age). There was no difference in duration of lying or in the amount of swapping in any of the periods. There were no differences in behaviours indicating emotionality. Compared to Motherless calves, Maternal Contact calves showed increased vigilance during the confrontation test.

The results of this study indicate that mother-reared calves likely searched less for social contact and developed greater social skills than calves that were separated from their mothers soon after birth.