The effects of forage provision and group size on the behavior of calves

Abstract

The effects of providing alternative forages to individual or group-reared calves on their behavior were examined in 2 experiments. In experiment 1, 24 calves were reared in groups of 3 or individually in straw-bedded pens from age 1 to 7 wk. One-half of the calves in each treatment were provided with ad libitum cut perennial ryegrass herbage. Grass intakes and time spent eating grass were greater for grouped calves than for individual calves. Providing grass reduced concentrate intake of grouped calves and reduced the time that all calves, but particularly individual calves, spent eating straw bedding. Ruminating time was increased by offering grass to grouped calves compared with individual calves. Grass reduced the frequency of calves licking their buckets and their pen, vocalizing, and investigating their pen. Particularly for grouped calves provision of grass reduced all grooming. Group rearing reduced the frequency of calves licking their bucket, vocalizing, and investigating their pen, but had no effect on the frequency of pen licking. Calves were weaned at wk 7 and transferred to indoor silage feeding or grazing. Most effects of group rearing and grass provision were not maintained after weaning, but calves that had received grass ate for longer periods when turned out to pasture. In experiment 2, 72 calves were offered a mixture of straw, molasses, and pot ale syrup or grass hay. Calves offered the straw mixture ate more forage and concentrates and grew faster than calves offered hay. It was concluded that nontraditional forages, such as fresh grass and straw mixtures, could benefit the behavior and growth of calves compared with hay and straw.