Effect of individual versus group rearing on ethological and physiological responses of crossbred calves

Applied Animal Behaviour Science 87 (2004) 177–191

Effect of individual versus group rearing on ethological and physiological responses of crossbred calves L.K. Babu1 , H.N. Pandey, A. Sahoo∗ Division of Livestock Production and Management, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243-122, UP, India Accepted 25 January 2004

Abstract A repeated measure linear model was used to study the impact of rearing systems, individual versus group, on ethological and physiological response of crossbred (Bos indicus × Bos taurus) calves during 1 h pre- and post-milk feeding in the morning as well as evening at different ages (2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks). Eighteen calves were taken in each group on the basis of their birth weight and housed individually (220 cm × 116 cm per calf) or in group pens (220 cm × 103 cm per calf). The calves were fed colostrum for 3 days and thereafter were allotted to standard milk feeding schedules, milk, 1/10th of body weight (BW) during 4 days to 4 weeks, 1/15th of BW during 5–6 weeks and then, 1/20th of BW to wean at 8 weeks of age. Calf starter and green fodder were fed ad libitum to all the calves beginning from the second week of age. Different behavioural activities like feed and water consumption, rumination, licking and cross-sucking, stereotypes, socialisation of all the calves were recorded. Group housed calves spent more time eating solid feeds (19.3 versus 14.4) with relatively higher dry matter consumption (399 ± 35 g versus 330 ± 33 g). The time spent in licking of inanimate objects (2.10 versus 1.37) and abnormal cross-sucking behaviours (4.8 versus 3.1) were higher in group than individual systems of housing. But the time spent for idle standing and sleeping/lying activities were more in individual housing (33.7 versus 25.9). Rumination was observed as early age at the 2nd week of age, and preferably for more time in group housed calves. Group housed calves spent less time for milk sucking (s/l of milk) during all periods of observations with an average of 30.10 compared to 41.97 in individually reared ones. The rectal temperature, respiration and pulse rate were not affected by housing system or feeding schedules. Early learning and increase in solid

∗ Corresponding author. Present address: Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Regional Station, Palampur 176-061, HP, India. Tel.: +91-1894-230526; fax: +91-1894-233063. E-mail address: [email protected] (A. Sahoo). 1 Present address: Department of Animal Production and Management, Orissa Veterinary College, Bhubaneswar 751003, India.

0168-1591/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2004.01.006

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feed consumption, greater access to space and better social interaction elicit better welfare in group housed calves than the individual ones. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Rearing system; Behaviour; Physiological response; Crossbred calves

1. Introduction In India, calves are generally reared in groups in ordinary stall barns, and often in the same house along with their dams. Attempts are being made to reduce the high level of disease incidence and mortality by rearing exotic pure-bred calves in individual calf hutches (Thomas and Sastry, 1991). The preference for individual rearing stems from the idea that rearing calves individually results in lower disease incidence, reduction in behavioural problems and higher weight gain (Weary, 2002). When quantity and quality of animal’s environment are reduced there is an increased probability of developing abnormal behaviour which may be changed with the change of housing system, managemental practices and also animal to animal and man–animal interactions. Intensive management system particularly with respect to housing, feeding, disease control, etc. may modify animal’s abnormal behaviour but inferior environment may lead to deviation of normal behaviours like stereotyped movements in dairy cattle (Friend, 1991), tail biting in pigs (Scroder-Petersen and Simonsen, 2001), wood chewing in horses (Waters et al., 2002), etc. That is why optimum animal’s environment is of great importance. But, it is more apparent to say that group housing drastically reduce the labour and economics for feeding and housing management. Donaldson (1967) reported that calves raised together in groups of three were more dominant than individually raised calves. Current system of rearing calves in crates (individual rearing) results in poor welfare, but welfare is much better in well-managed group housing (Broom, 1991). In an earlier experiment, Maity and Tomer (1998a) found higher incidence of cross-sucking behaviour among (57%) group housed calves just after milk feeding at morning and evening. The incidence of milk stealing in a cow, which is observed to be an extension of cross-sucking behaviour in calves (Lidfors and Isberg, 2003) is reported most often by livestock farm owners that directly affect the output:input ratio. Further, calves reared in groups are reported to be more social confident and show less fear than calves reared in single boxes or isolation (Boe and Faerevik, 2003). In these scenarios, ethological analysis involving both nutritive and non-nutritive behaviour and physiological responses of individual and group housed calves was carried out to assess their comparative welfare in each system.

2. Materials and methods 2.1. Location and environment The experiment was carried out in the experimental calf shed of Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar (UP), at an altitude of 170 m above mean sea level in the northern planes of India (28.22◦ N and 79.24◦ E). The experimental period continued from

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mid-November to February the next year with an average temperature ranging from 15.8 to 24.6 ◦ C and a temperature humidity index (THI) at 61–71%. 2.2. Animals and treatment distribution Thirty-six (18 males and 18 females) crossbred calves (Bosindicus × Bostaurus) were reared under two types of housing (individual, I and group, G). The calves were randomly distributed in the two groups (18 calves each) on the basis of their birth weight as and when they were received from their dam. 2.3. Housing and feeding management The calves under individual housing were housed in well-ventilated clean and dry pucca shed (220 cm × 116 cm per calf) with individual stall partition (concrete wall) and separate feeding arrangement for the calf. Under group housing, a representative group of six calves was housed in three separate group pens (220 cm × 103 cm per calf) with feeding and watering facilities. The open paddocks provided to the calves were at the rate of 3 m2 per calf. The calves were fed with colostrum for first 3 days before allotting to standard milk feeding schedules of the farm (milk, 1/10th of body weight (BW) during 4 days to 4 weeks, 1/15th of BW during 5–6 weeks and then, 1/20th of BW to wean at 8 weeks of age). The milk was provided in a cleaned trough. Ad libitum calf starter and chaffed cereal green fodder was introduced from the second week and was continued till the end of the experiment (14 weeks). Fresh calf starter was offered just after morning milk feeding by replacing the leftover if any. Similarly, leftover of green was removed and fresh green fodder was offered usually after 2 h of offering calf starter. 2.4. Behavioural observations Behaviour of all the calves over a total of 4 h duration was recorded during 1 h prior and for similar duration after milk feeding both in the morning and evening at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age. The milk sucking time of the calves was also recorded by a stopwatch during milk feeding period. Behavioural activities of the calves were recorded for all the groups from a distance of 2–3 m without disturbing the day-to-day managemental activities. Instantaneous point sample (Tyler, 1979) on ongoing activities of each calf was noted down. Different behavioural activities, like solid feed consumption, standing and lying rumination, drinking of water, licking of inanimate objects (iron gates, pen wall, feeding trough, etc.) and cross-sucking of mouth, teat/testes, navel/prepuce, ear and other body parts, stereotypic activities (tongue rolling, sham chewing), play (jumping, pushing and butting with other calves), idle standing, lying, restlessness, grooming and self-licking were coded and recorded during the above periods. 2.5. Physiological responses Physiological responses in the order viz. respiration rate, pulse rate and rectal temperature were recorded fortnightly in the morning after the record of behavioural observations

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(8–9 a.m.). Respiration was noted from a distance, while the pulse rate was recorded at the middle coccygeal arteries. The animals were handled gently in a standing position with minimum disturbances. 2.6. Statistical analysis Data were analysed by two-way analysis of variance in a repeated measures linear model with the main effects of housing (I and G) as a fixed factor and the variable factors being observational inferences in pre- and post-milk feeding hours during morning and evening at different ages (2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks) as per the standard procedures described in Snedecor and Cochran (1989). However, for the comparison of milk sucking time and behavioural activities between morning and evening the data were subjected to square root transformations before analysis (Jensen et al., 1997). The transformed data were analysed by t-test and the results are presented in untransformed forms in the text.

3. Results Ethological analysis of calf performance (behavioural activities, min/h) during the total of 4 h, in pre- and post-milk feeding period in the morning and evening at different age of life are pooled with respect to rearing systems, and are presented in Tables 1 and 2. In addition to this, to study the behavioural activities during morning and evening of individually and group housed calves, the data are pooled and analysed separately and the attributes with significant findings are discussed in the text. 3.1. Nutritional activities 3.1.1. Solid feed consumption The solid feed (calf starter/green fodder) consumption time pre- and post-milk feeding periods was significantly higher in group housed calves than individually housed ones at most of the times. This was also reflected in significantly higher (P < 0.05) solid feed dry matter consumption (g per day) in group housed calves (399 ± 35) compared to that in individually reared ones (330 ± 33). In case of group rearing the activity time was more prior to than after milk feeding at all ages of growth (12.50 versus 9.17; 20.67 versus 17.69; 25.19 versus 18.58 and 33.31 versus 17.36 at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, respectively). In individual rearing, the above trend was not marked during early ages of life, and was then apparent at 6–8 weeks of age as that observed in group rearing. The difference in solid feed consumption time during morning and evening was not consistent and was relatively higher in the morning, particularly in group housed calves (21.00 versus 14.21). 3.1.2. Rumination Rumination was observed as early as at 2 weeks of age only in group housing system of rearing before milk feeding. During post-milk feeding period, it was observed in both the systems of rearing, but with a significantly more time of lying rumination in group housed calves. In general, the observations on rumination type revealed non-significant

Table 1 Behavioural activities (mean ± S.E.) of calves during 1 h pre-milk feeding period at different ages under individual vs. group housing Age (weeks) 2

4

I

6

8

Pooled mean

G

I

G

I

G

I

G

I

G

Nutritive behaviour (min/h) Solid feed consumption Standing rumination Lying rumination Drinking water

5.22 A ± 1.15 0.00 a 0.00 0.00

12.50 B ± 1.57 0.92 b ± 0.40 0.92 ± 0.60 0.28 ± 0.15

11.06 A ± 1.22 0.47 a ± 0.25 6.19 ± 2.09 0.00

20.67 B ± 2.38 2.39 b ± 0.87 5.47 ± 1.51 0.00

21.69 ± 2.00 0.89 ± 0.55 5.64 ± 1.60 0.00

25.19 ± 2.25 0.36 ± 0.23 8.17 ± 1.77 0.61 ± 0.18

24.42 a ± 2.36 0.36 ± 0.20 7.92 ± 1.75 0.00

33.31 b ± 2.58 0.00 4.83 ± 1.64 0.33 ± 0.18

15.60 ± 2.81 0.43 ± 0.24 4.94 ± 1.65 0.00

22.92 ± 3.11 0.92 ± 0.51 4.85 ± 1.47 0.30 ± 0.14

Non-nutritive behaviour (min/h) Licking and cross-sucking Licking inanimate objects

1.19 A ± 0.34

3.69 B ± 0.76

2.67 ± 0.66

2.89 ± 1.01

2.06 ± 0.52

1.17 ± 0.30

0.42 A ± 0.20

2.33 B ± 0.51

1.58 ± 0.48

2.52 ± 0.61

2.50 B ± 0.69 0.00 0.00 0.36 A ± 0.16 2.86 a ± 0.72

0.31 A ± 0.16 0.33 ± 0.20 0.56 ± 0.22 5.00 B ± 0.99 6.20 b ± 1.06

1.75 B ± 0.51 0.00 0.00 0.86 ± 0.26 2.61 ± 0.53

0.14 A ± 0.11 0.33 ± 0.21 0.61 ± 0.31 1.50 ± 0.49 2.58 ± 0.54

1.81 B ± 0.65 0.00 0.00 0.58 ± 0.32 2.39 ± 0.72

0.03 A ± 0.03 0.42 ± 0.20 2.42 ± 1.07 0.31 ± 0.18 3.18 ± 1.10

0.36 ± 0.22 0.00 ± 0.00 0.00 0.36 b ± 0.15 0.72 ± 0.24

0.11 ± 0.09 0.08 ± 0.06 1.22 ± 0.58 0.06 a ± 0.06 1.47 ± 0.59

1.60 B ± 0.50 0.00 0.00 A 0.54 ± 0.17 2.14 ± 0.52

0.15 A ± 0.08 0.29 ± 0.11 2.20 B ± 0.52 1.72 ± 0.80 3.36 ± 0.88

0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00

0.05 ± 0.03 0.00

0.00 0.00

0.06 ± 0.06 0.00

0.05 ± 0.06 0.00

0.06 ± 0.06 0.00

0.01 ± 0.01 0.00

0.04 ± 0.03 0.00

0.28 ± 0.17 10.47 ± 1.37 9.56 a ± 2.15 0.00 0.42 ± 0.15 0.53 ± 0.18

0.00 9.17 ± 1.64 16.33 b ± 2.30 0.00 0.17 ± 0.17 0.47 ± 0.20

0.01 A ± 0.01 16.02 ± 2.86 16.14 B ± 0.94 0.77 ± 0.49 0.49 ± 0.18 1.87 ± 0.64

0.41 B ± 0.11 13.31 ± 2.44 8.82 A ± 1.43 0.49 ± 0.36 0.46 ± 0.17 1.59 ± 0.50

Cross-sucking Mouth Teat/testis Navel/prepuce Ear and other body parts Total Stereotypes Tongue rolling Sham chewing Social behaviour Play Idle standing Lying Restlessness Grooming of body Self-licking

0.03 ± 0.03 27.72 ± 2.30 15.97 B ± 2.86 2.33 ± 0.81 0.36 ± 0.26 4.31 ± 0.77

0.31 ± 0.14 23.82 ± 2.60 6.36 A ± 2.55 1.83 ± 0.57 0.11 ± 0.06 3.06 ± 0.61

0.00 A 16.58 ± 2.11 16.92 b ± 2.97 0.69 ± 0.34 0.67 ± 0.19 2.14 ± 0.42

0.50 B ± 0.19 11.83 ± 1.18 10.42 a ± 2.77 0.14 ± 0.07 0.94 ± 0.23 2.11 ± 0.50

0.00 10.61 ± 1.62 15.33 b ± 2.36 0.06 ± 0.04 0.75 ± 0.28 0.58 ± 0.17

0.56 ± 0.23 7.14 ± 0.86 8.94 a ± 1.84 0.00 0.36 ± 0.17 0.67 ± 0.19

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Attributes

Means bearing different letters in a row between housing systems differ significantly—A, B: P < 0.01; a, b: P < 0.05. I, individual housing system; G, group housing system.

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Table 2 Behavioural activities (mean ± S.E.) of calves during 1 h post-milk feeding period at different ages under individual vs. group housing Age (weeks) 2

4

I

G

6

8

Pooled mean

I

G

I

G

I

G

I

G

Nutritive behaviour (min/h) Solid feed consumption Standing rumination Lying rumination Drinking water

5.33 A ± 1.76 0.92 ± 0.41 0.14 a ± 0.14 0.00

9.17 B ± 1.21 0.39 ± 0.17 2.92 b ± 1.39 0.03 ± 0.03

13.81 ± 1.87 1.22 ± 0.87 1.72 ± 1.12 0.00

17.69 ± 2.25 1.25 ± 0.49 1.69 ± 0.81 0.00

13.69 a ± 1.77 1.11 b ± 0.56 3.67 ± 1.03 0.00

18.58 b ± 1.82 0.00 a ± 0.00 4.28 ± 1.54 0.04 ± 0.03

20.19 ± 1.75 1.61 b ± 0.74 7.25 ± 1.81 0.00

17.36 ± 1.59 0.00 a ± 0.00 5.08 ± 1.42 0.00

13.25 ± 2.33 1.21 ± 0.31 3.19 ± 1.35 0.00

15.70 ± 1.96 0.41 ± 0.28 3.49 ± 0.99 0.02 ± 0.02

Non-nutritive behaviour (min/h) Licking and cross-sucking Licking inanimate objects

1.03 a ± 0.62

1.94 b ± 0.31

1.94 ± 0.62

1.86 ± 0.43

1.11 ± 0.42

0.97 ± 0.36

0.58 a ± 0.25

1.92 b ± 0.52

1.16 ± 0.38

1.67 ± 0.31

3.56 B ± 0.85 0.00 0.00 0.11 A ± 0.07 3.67 A ± 0.85

0.42 A ± 0.16 0.75 ± 0.28 2.44 ± 0.58 5.72 B ± 0.87 9.33 B ± 1.03

4.25 B ± 0.52 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 1.00 a ± 0.57 5.25 ± 0.58

0.33 A ± 0.11 0.94 ± 0.42 2.03 ± 0.60 2.89 b ± 0.56 6.19 ± 0.76

3.83 B ± 0.46 0.00 0.00 0.67 a ± 0.30 4.50 ± 0.50

0.19 A ± 0.09 1.69 ± 0.62 1.22 ± 0.54 1.56 b ± 0.41 4.66 ± 0.77

2.53 B ± 0.48 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.14 ± 0.08 2.67 a ± 0.48

0.86 A ± 0.25 0.53 ± 0.24 3.33 ± 1.20 0.31 ± 0.12 5.03 b ± 0.96

3.54 B ± 0.47 0.00 a 0.00 A 0.48 A ± 0.26 4.02 a ± 0.50

0.45 A ± 0.15 0.98 b ± 0.32 2.25 B ± 0.58 2.62 B ± 0.81 6.30 b ± 0.93

0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00

0.00 0.00

0.11 ± 0.11 0.00

0.00 0.00

0.06 ± 0.06 0.00

0.00 0.00

0.28 ± 0.28 0.00

0.00 0.00

0.11 ± 0.10 0.00

Cross-sucking Mouth Teat/testis Navel/prepuce Ear and other body parts Total Stereotypes Tongue rolling Sham chewing Social behaviour Play Idle standing Lying Restlessness Grooming of body Self-licking

0.00 a 22.25 ± 1.82 23.69 B ± 2.65 0.11 ± 0.05 0.19 ± 0.11 2.66 ± 0.59

0.33 b ± 0.15 20.44 ± 2.23 12.33 A ± 2.23 0.28 ± 0.13 0.08 ± 0.05 2.75 ± 0.37

0.00 16.25 ± 1.89 16.69 b ± 2.63 0.03 ± 0.03 0.86 ± 0.28 2.22 ± 0.48

0.14 ± 0.09 19.44 ± 2.02 8.86 a ± 2.22 0.08 ± 0.05 0.36 ± 0.17 2.31 ± 0.59

0.00 15.50 ± 2.36 19.33 ± 3.02 0.00 0.47 ± 0.14 0.64 ± 0.23

0.53 ± 0.28 14.72 ± 2.06 15.03 ± 2.59 0.00 0.44 ± 0.16 0.69 ± 0.24

0.00 15.06 ± 2.60 12.11 ± 2.21 0.08 ± 0.06 0.28 ± 0.10 0.44 a ± 0.17

0.53 0.18 10.56 ± 1.57 17.72 ± 2.42 0.00 0.39 ± 0.16 1.14 b ± 0.32

Means bearing different letters in a row between housing systems differ significantly—A, B: P < 0.01; a, b: P < 0.05. I, individual housing system; G, group housing system.

0.00 a 17.26 ± 1.92 17.96 ± 1.92 0.06 ± 0.03 0.45 ± 0.16 1.49 ± 0.48

0.38 b ± 0.13 16.29 ± 2.13 13.48 ± 2.12 0.09 ± 0.07 0.32 ± 0.11 1.72 ± 0.44

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difference between the housing systems in subsequent periods. The calves preferred rumination while lying than standing during all periods of study. In both systems of housing, the calves had significantly higher rumination time in evening (13.10) compared to morning (4.97). The lying rumination showed an increasing trend with the age of calf. 3.1.3. Drinking of water A few number of group housed calves exhibited drinking of water during the 1 h pre- and post-milk feeding period and none in individually housed ones. 3.2. Non-nutritional activities 3.2.1. Licking and cross-sucking 3.2.1.1. Licking of inanimate objects. The time involved in licking of inanimate objects was significantly (P < 0.01) more in G than I both during 1 h before (3.69 versus 1.19) as well as after milk feeding (1.94 versus 1.03) at 2 weeks of age. During 4th and 6th week, the gap between G and I was minimised (P > 0.05), which became significant at 8 weeks of age. In both the systems of rearing the activity remained prominent up to 4 weeks of age and then declined over the course of the experiment. Further, the activity was more during morning than evening at all periods of observations, prominent being in individual systems of rearing (2.05 versus 0.70). 3.2.1.2. Abnormal inter-sucking or cross-sucking behaviour. In addition to licking of inanimate objects the individually reared calves tried to reach out for the mouth and ear of adjacent calves above the partitioning wall to satisfy their hunger for sucking. The cross-sucking of mouth both during pre- and post-milk feeding period was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in individually housed calves than group housed calves at almost all the study periods. On the other hand, sucking of ear and other body parts was significantly higher in group than individually housed calves. The order of cross-sucking in individual housing was mouth followed by ears sucking, while in group housing the order was ear > navel > teat/testis > mouth sucking. The pooled mean of cross-sucking time between I and G was 2.14 versus 3.36 and 4.02 versus 6.30 during 1 h pre- and post-milk feeding, respectively. The trend was synonymous at all periods of observations with higher cross-sucking after milk feeding than before. The total time spent for cross-sucking was more in the morning than that in the evening in both the systems of rearing, the difference being significant (P < 0.05) in individually reared calves. 3.2.2. Stereotypes 3.2.2.1. Abnormal tongue rolling. The abnormal tongue rolling was absent at 2 weeks, observed only in group housing at 4 and 6 weeks, and in both housing types at 8 weeks of age. The overall activity time in group housing was relatively more during post- than pre-milk feeding period (0.11 versus 0.04). 3.2.2.2. Sham chewing.

This activity was not noticed during the period of observation.

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3.2.3. Social behaviour 3.2.3.1. Play. It was observed only in group housing during both pre- and post-milk feeding period at all ages of life under study. A solitary observation of play in individual housing was noticed during pre-milk feeding period at 2 weeks of age. 3.2.3.2. Idle standing. This was the predominant activity covering about 40% of time at 2 weeks of age both during pre- and post-milk feeding period and then declined with the aging of calf in both the groups. The calves under individual housing spent relatively more time (P > 0.05) in idle standing. In almost all the periods, the time spent in idle standing was significantly more in morning than evening in both the systems of rearing, viz. 21.87 versus 11.41 in individual, and 18.53 versus 11.07 in group housed calves. 3.2.3.3. Lying. The lying time of the calves was significantly higher in I than G at almost all the periods of recording except at 8th week of age during 1 h after milk feeding. The lying time was significantly more in evening, showing almost double the time involvement than that in the morning irrespective of housing and age with an average value of 22.26 versus 11.84 in individually housed calves and 15.05 versus 7.25 in the later. 3.2.3.4. Restlessness. Average restlessness time in both the I and G was more during prethan post-milk feeding at 2 weeks of age, declined steadily, and disappeared at 8 weeks of age. The restlessness time in morning was significantly more than evening in both individual as well as group housing at two (2.25 versus 0.19 in I and 1.64 versus 0.47 in G) and four (0.72 versus 0.00 in I and 0.19 versus 0.03 in G) weeks of age. Thereafter, the restlessness behaviour diminished and observed only in the morning hours of individually housed calves. 3.2.3.5. Grooming of body. The grooming activity of calves was seen for relatively more (P > 0.05) time under individual than group housing systems of rearing in various age groups, particularly during post milk feeding period (0.45 versus 0.32). Morning and evening time’s recordings had no significant bearing on this activity. 3.2.3.6. Self-licking. There was no significant effect of housing system on overall selflicking time during both pre- and post-milk feeding periods. Observations during morning and evening periods showed an opposite trend with the housing systems, viz. calves under individual housing spent more time in the morning revealing significant difference at four (2.86 versus 1.50) and six (1.03 versus 0.19) weeks of age, while under group housing, the activity was more during evening. The time involved in this activity showed a decreasing trend with the advancement of age. 3.3. Milk sucking time Average time required for sucking of milk/skim milk from plastic bucket under different treatments is presented in Table 3. The milk sucking time (s/l of milk) decreased with the advancement of age showing highest time of 60.97 s during morning in individually housed calves at 2 weeks and lowest, 24.97 s in the evening in calves housed in groups at 8 weeks of age. The milk sucking time of group housed calves was significantly less than individually

Observation period (weeks)

2 4 6 8 Pooled mean

Morning

Evening

Overall

I

G

I

G

I

G

Morning

Evening

60.97 b ± 7.76 42.25 ± 4.16 35.22 ± 3.51 35.24 ± 5.52

38.02 a ± 5.05 31.21 ± 5.47 25.48 ± 3.77 26.76 ± 3.32

50.43 ± 6.44 39.63 ± 4.42 37.80 b ± 4.20 34.26 b ± 3.92

38.82 ± 5.62 30.56 ± 4.88 25.01 a ± 3.01 24.97 a ± 2.76

55.70 ± 7.13 40.94 ± 4.29 36.51 ± 3.87 34.75 ± 4.79

38.42 ± 5.34 30.88 ± 5.18 25.24 ± 3.41 25.86 ± 3.05

49.50 ± 4.96 36.73 ± 3.51 30.35 ± 2.67 31.00 ± 3.25

44.63 ± 4.32 35.10 ± 3.33 31.40 ± 2.77 29.61 ± 2.49

43.42 ± 5.48

30.37 ± 4.49

40.53 ± 4.85

29.84 ± 4.24

41.97 ± 5.18

30.10 ± 4.37

36.89 ± 3.69

35.19 ± 3.30

Means bearing different letters in a row with respect to housing differ significantly (P < 0.05). I, individual housing system; G, group housing system.

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Table 3 Systems of rearing affecting fortnightly milk sucking time (s/l) of calves

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Table 4 Fortnightly rectal temperature (◦ F), respiration rate (counts/min) and pulse rate (counts/min) of calves reared under individual and group housing systems Fortnight

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Rectal temperature

Respiration rate

Pulse rate

I

G

I

G

I

G

102.36 ± 0.10 102.18 ± 0.11 101.60 ± 0.11 102.24 ± 0.09 102.16 ± 0.10 101.51 ± 0.10 101.54 ± 0.14

102.19 ± 0.09 102.21 ± 0.11 101.93 ± 0.18 102.29 ± 0.14 102.06 ± 0.14 101.58 ± 0.11 101.47 ± 0.16

31.72 ± 0.95 30.33 ± 0.86 23.44 ± 0.93 28.56 ± 1.09 30.89 ± 1.52 23.44 ± 0.93 25.11 ± 1.12

30.33 ± 0.79 29.89 ± 0.73 25.17 ± 1.36 29.44 ± 1.21 29.67 ± 0.94 24.28 ± 0.94 25.33 ± 1.08

89.44 b ± 0.63 78.61 ± 1.08 79.28 ± 1.03 79.61 ± 1.39 79.33 ± 1.25 79.72 ± 1.38 79.94 ± 1.30

80.33 a ± 1.00 78.22 ± 1.15 80.33 ± 1.37 80.39 ± 1.45 80.39 ± 1.48 79.94 ± 1.21 79.89 ± 1.34

Means bearing different letters in a row with respect to housing differ significantly (P < 0.05). I, individual housing system; G, group housing system.

housed ones at all observation periods. The overall time spent by a calf for sucking 1 l of milk in individual versus group housing system was 55.70 versus 38.42 at 2 weeks of age, which reduced to 34.75 versus 25.86 at 8 weeks of age. There was no significant difference in milk sucking time of calves at morning and evening. 3.4. Physiological responses The physiological response with respect to respiration rate, pulse rate and rectal temperature of the calves are presented in Table 4. The data on rectal temperature and respiration rate were similar in both the housing systems. However, the pulse rate showed an isolated case of variation with higher rate in individual compared to group housing systems of rearing during the recordings at first fortnight (89.44 versus 80.33) and thereafter, the values remained more or less similar at 78–80 pulse/min.

4. Discussion 4.1. Nutritive behaviour The increase in frequency and duration of visit to feeding trough/manger by a calf during pre-weaning life is considered to be supportive to early rumen development and early weaning program. An increase in solid feed consumption time in group housed calves in the present study elicits the fact for an economic early weaning program, which will spare milk for human consumption. The increased activity time in the morning was possibly due to long feeding intervals between evenings to morning. Yadav and Gupta (1985) found that animals under loose housing spent more time on eating than under tie stall but Richard et al. (1988) did not observe any difference in eating concentrate between individual and group reared calves. Chua et al. (2002) attributed the reason of growth check post-weaning in individually housed calves compared to pair-housed ones to an increased feed intake in the later. The calves were not adapted to solid feed in the initial access period, which they learnt

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latter and spent more time in consuming the solid feed with the advancement of age. Group activity and socialisation helped the calves to learn faster, and thus spent comparatively more time in solid feed consumption than the individually reared ones. A higher incidence of lying rumination activity at early age (2 weeks) in group housed calves was indicative of earlier development of rumen. Swanson and Harris (1958) observed rumination in calves before reaching 3 weeks of age and reported the full form and time similar to that of adult at 6–8 months of age. Rumination while lying was observed to be a temporary break from feed consumption, and as was evident, the standing rumination in group housed calves decreased in 6 and 8 weeks of age with the former remaining indifferent due probably to increase in solid food consumption time compared to that under individually housed calves. A higher rumination activity in the evening was in concurrent with higher lying period soon after evening milk feeding. Hafez (1975) was of the opinion that the peak period of rumination was shortly after the fall of night and thereafter declined steadily and it increased again in dawn. The drinking of water that observed only in group housed calves may be symbolising to an act of socialisation, where calves try to copy the act of others and thereby learn, which was obviously absent in individually housed calves. 4.2. Non-nutritive behaviour 4.2.1. Licking and cross-sucking The initial licking activity may be attributed to inadequate stimuli or coping with the frustration by licking alternative objects to sucking teats. The decline thereafter was most likely replaced by an increase in solid feed consumption and rumination, occupying a significant proportion of its time. Amongst the non-nutritive behaviour, licking of inanimate objects and cross-sucking are considered to be detrimental to overall production and health of the animals. The ingestion of non-feed particles like, soil, metallic oxides, hair, skin, etc. due to licking or sucking have direct effect on stomach upset/blockade, and on absorption leading to other health anomalies and also, hair loss and inflammation of the sucked body parts of the exposed calf (Broom, 1991; Redbo, 1992). Extension of cross-sucking activity may result in milk stealing, termed as inter-sucking in cows with the consequence of a drastic negative effect on production (Lidfors and Isberg, 2003). Contrary to the present observation, Fraser (1980) and Philips et al. (1999) were of the view that pathological mouthing of inedible environmental items is characteristics of individually penned calves, which cannot suck each other. However, reaching of mouth by calves in adjacent cubicles increased oral sucking in individual (5.14 versus 0.60) housing system, and this was also seen as a means to satisfy their urge for sucking. An increase in cross-sucking of mouth after milk feeding is presumably, because of stimulated temporary persistence of sucking behaviour due to contact with milk. The navel sucking and teat or testes sucking were confined to group housing only as the calves in individual housing could not get access to these body parts. Lidfors (1993) reported that most of the cross-sucking in group housing was directed towards mouth and ears (35–38%), scrotum (15%) and the rest towards prepuce, throat and other body parts. Whereas, Margerison et al. (2003) observed most of the cross-sucking directed at the inguinal region (78%), then the ear (8%), the mouth (6%), the throat (3%), the navel (2%), and other areas (4%). Sambraus (1984) observed mutual-sucking in the

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order of sucking of scrotum followed by ears and prepuce. A significantly more (P < 0.05) cross-sucking in calves just after morning and evening milk feeding was similar to that observed by Maity and Tomer (1998b). A decreased cross-sucking behaviour with advancement of age was very well in agreement with Sambraus (1984). An increase in nutritive behaviour with a concomitant decrease in non-nutritive types is considered as better welfare of animals. Margerison et al. (2003) suggested that food ingestion could provide a replacement stimulus for decrease in cross-sucking activity in calves. de Passille (2001) observed non-nutritive sucking even after a heavy milk meal suggesting a larger stimulatory effect of milk ingestion, and therefore, calves should be allowed to satisfy their need to suck by leaving the teat buckets available after the meal and thereby reducing the chances they would suck one another. Various manipulation strategies to reduce this behaviour were, by providing concentrate immediately after milk feeding (Vossebeld, 1988; Maity and Tomer, 1998a), by increasing salt content of ration (Philips et al., 1999), by tying during milk feeding (Jana and Nautiyal, 1993), or by providing some pacifier-like rubber tube or teat in the shed (Kopp et al., 1986; de Passille, 2001). The sucking motivation lasts for approximately 10–15 min after it has been stimulated by the ingestion of milk (Lidfors, 1993) and thus, suitable manipulation for prolonging the sucking time, seemed to be an useful approach (Jensen, 2003). According to Kondo et al. (1989), sufficient space is of greater importance than group size in order to reduce the occurrence of agonistic behaviour in calves. In the present study, the space allocation of >2 m2 per calf in group housing system was above the EC’s minimum space allowance recommendation (Council Directive 97/2/EC, 1997). 4.2.2. Stereotypes The performance of highly repetitive, stereotyped behaviours has been shown to help animals cope with chronic environmental stressors containing little or unvaried stimulation (Friend, 1991), and may be indicative of reduced welfare (Waters et al., 2002). In the present study, the stereotypic activities observed were very minimal in both the groups (0.01–0.08 min/h) and thus had little bearing on animal performance/welfare. Similar observation in both the housing systems was also reported by Wilson et al. (1999). But Seo et al. (1998) observed more tongue playing in calves housed in individual pen than that in group. The oral stereotyped tongue rolling was attributed to frustration due to confinement, artificial suckling, qualitative and quantitative feed restriction (Redbo, 1992; Sato et al., 1994), forced weaning (Seo et al., 1998), etc. Sham chewing was rare and observed to be at a very low frequency (Wilson et al., 1999). 4.2.3. Social behaviour Play in calves was noticed in the form of locomotor play like jumping and social play like pushing and butting each other. The significant activity in group housed calves was thus an indication of better welfare. Lawrence (1987) reported that play is a good indicator of better animal welfare in captive animals. Less opportunity for socialisation and limited space in individual pen did not facilitate for play by the calf. This also forced the calf to stand idle compared to group housed ones. Jensen et al. (1998) reported that calf in single pen tended to be less active than in group. An increased lying time in individually housed calves may be cumulative to all above factors. Additionally, the negative influence on time spent in eating

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activity, and above all, a decrease DM consumption in individually housed calves may be accredited to less opportunity of learning through socialisation as that observed in group housed calves. The higher lying time during the evening observation period is suggestive of calf desire to take rest at night. Restlessness is a combination of different activities like frequent mounts, butting and pushing on pen gates or walls, jumping with a tendency of competitiveness etc. initiated with the sound of milk pails or by calf calls from neighbouring pen. Increased restlessness during pre-milk feeding hours may be suggestive of calf’s ingestive drive for feed. Comparatively more activity in the morning may be attributed to long intervals from evening to next morning feeding time. According to Reinhardt (1980), each animal in a herd prefer a definite partner and social licking was a means by which all order of animals in herd develop a social bond of friendship. A relatively more grooming activity in the present study may be seen as means to satisfy socialisation, the opportunity for which was altogether absent in individually housed calves. Since the trend in cattle production moves towards larger production units, group housing systems seemed to be economically viable due to less space and labour consumption, and in many ways, also involves improvement of welfare by allowing full social interactions and greater access to space (Weary, 2002; Lidfors and Isberg, 2003). Rearing calves in small groups (6–8 calves) with the provision for satisfying their need to suck minimises agonistic behaviour (licking, cross-sucking, etc.) and improves calf health, performance and social behaviour (Kung et al., 1997; Weary, 2002; Boe and Faerevik, 2003; Jensen, 2003). 4.3. Milk sucking time The results indicated that increased speed of milk intake with the advancement of age was mainly due to rise of milk intake per mouth movement and was not related to the frequency of mouth movement. Shuji and Ito (1998) reported that the amount of milk intake per mouth movement increased according to age of calves until weaning. Similar findings of decrease in milk sucking time with respect to age have been reported by several authors (Kale et al., 1992; Lidfors, 1996). Quicker milk sucking time throughout the periods of observation in group housed calves was indicative of faster learning due to socialisation, and also a sense of competitiveness than the individually reared calves. However, the calves were not provided with the opportunity to compete for the milk allowances, which generally considered detrimental for the welfare (Jensen, 2003), as they were fed separately in limited amounts. 4.4. Physiological responses The alterations in body temperature and respiration rate are observed to be within the normal range and may attribute to some physiological and environmental changes, viz. metabolic heat requirement at early age, rumen development, environmental temperature and humidity. Similar non-significant effect of housing on rectal temperature and respiration rate has also been reported by Shukanov (1992). Jensen et al. (1997) observed more heart rate in individually housed calves and suggested that individually reared calves are more

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fearful when introduced to a new social situation or a new environment. Boe and Faerevik (2003) opined that calves reared in groups are more socially confident and show less fear than calves reared in single boxes or in isolation. A sense of fear to such external situation of handling while recording of pulse at early age (2 weeks) in individually housed calves might have increased their pulse rate, which probably masked in group housed calves due to social togetherness. Climatic stress which generally influences the physiological parameters was not there (THI, 61–71%) during the course of experiment.

5. Conclusion Based on ethological analysis of calves assessed in terms of increased time spent by the calves in eating of concentrate/fodder with increased DM consumption, early rumination, less time spent for idle standing and lying activities, full social interaction and greater access to space in group housing reflects better welfare as compared to that in individual housing.

Acknowledgements The author is thankful to the Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India, for providing necessary facilities for conducting this investigation.

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