Effects of hay grass level and its physical form (full length vs. chopped) on standing time, drinking time, and social behavior of calves

Accepted Manuscript Effects of hay grass level and its physical form (full length versus chopped) on standing time, drinking time, and social behavior of calves Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman, Xia Chuanqi, Su Huawei, Cao Binghai PII:

S1558-7878(17)30120-X

DOI:

10.1016/j.jveb.2017.06.004

Reference:

JVEB 1064

To appear in:

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

Received Date: 17 February 2017 Revised Date:

26 April 2017

Accepted Date: 15 June 2017

Please cite this article as: Aziz ur Rahman, M., Chuanqi, X., Huawei, S., Binghai, C., Effects of hay grass level and its physical form (full length versus chopped) on standing time, drinking time, and social behavior of calves, Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2017), doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2017.06.004. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT Original full length paper Effects of hay grass level and its physical form (full length versus chopped) on standing time, drinking time, and social behavior of calves Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman ab, Xia Chuanqi a, Su Huawei a, Cao Binghai a* State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China

RI PT

a

Agricultural University, Beijing, China b

SC

Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

M AN U

For correspondence: *Prof. Dr. Cao Binghai, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University,Beijing 100193, China. Tel/Fax: +86-10-62814346; E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]*, Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman and Xia Chuanqi contributed equally Abstract

Two 73 day experiments were done on growing calves to evaluate the effect of different forage particle

TE D

length of hay grass on standing time, drinking time and social behavior. Hay grass level was changed by increasing and decreasing forage to concentrate ratio (F:C). Hay was the only source of fiber in the diet. In experiment 1,F:C were fed at full length (FL) hay in the total mix ration (TMR): low F:C (50%

EP

forage) with FL, high F:C (65% forage) with FL. In experiment 2, calves were fed the same TMR with same ingredients and nutrient composition but differing in particle length of hay: treatments were lower

AC C

F:C (50% forage) with short length (SL), higher F:C (65% forage) with SL. At the end of 2nd montha one week of adaptation period was provided to allow adjustment of social and feeding behaviour with pen-mates. Four color cameras supported with infrared anti nozzle technology were used to record standing, drinking and and social behavior. In experiment 1, treatment and hour interaction was found for standing time (P<0.05). Longer standing time was observed for the 9th hour after feed delivery. Animals with low F:C showed longer standing time as compare to high F:C (P<0.05). Social behavior was altered with hour of observation (P<0.05). Social activity was highest during the 1st to 3rd and 9th

1

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT hour after feed delivery. In experiment 2, standing time was affected by hour of observation in both treatment groups (P<0.05). Drinking water intake was affected by dietary treatment (P<0.05). Longest drinking time was observed in the low F:C group. Social activity was highest during 1st to 2nd and 9th hour after feed delivery (P<0.05). This study suggests that forage level should be carefully considered

RI PT

to promote normal behavior and positive welfare especially during the growing phase of fattening calves.

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

Keywords: hay grass level, hay particle size, standing time, social behavior

AC C

28

2

28

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Introduction

Animals for meat production are intensively raised by offering concentrate and fiber sources

30

from crop residues (Artioli et al., 2015; Muhammad et al., 2015). Concentrate intakes supply energy

31

for growth (Hill et al., 2008) and forage intake alongside concentrate improves efficiency of feed

32

(Coverdale et al., 2004), the rumen environment of growing animals (Khan et al., 2011) and can

33

reduce expression of abnormal behaviors (Muhammad et al., 2015).

RI PT

29

The provision of concentrate and forage enhances the intake of concentrate component at the

35

time of feeding before consuming forage in growing heifers (Devries and von Keyserlingk, 2009). It

36

has been documented that inadequate intake patterns may lead to improper nutrient intake (Devries and

37

von Keyserlingk, 2009), lowered ruminal pH, and ultimately enhance the risk of ruminal acidosis

38

(Beauchemin et al., 2002). The ruminal acidosis prevent the normal display of natural behaviours such

39

as eating and chewing, alter lying patterns, and stimulate the development of abnormal oral behaviours

40

(Artioli et al., 2015; Selemani and Eik, 2016). It is documented in literature that forage particle length

41

(FPL) can effect feeding patterns in dairy cows (Maulfair and Heinrichs, 2013) and sorting. Sorting

42

activity can cause intake of nutritional imbalance feed (Muhammad et al., 2015). Greater forage

43

particle length (FPL) can influence sorting (Maulfair and Heinrichs, 2013), feeding time, chewing time

44

and reduce non-nutritive oral behaviours of animals (Muhammad et al., 2015)

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

34

It is well established that ruminant animals forage intake (Muhammad et al., 2015), and feeding

46

behavior (Rustas et al., 2010; Muhammad et al., 2015) are influenced by the forage and concentrate

47

amount and also by FPL. It is generally considered that restricted forage intake are insufficient in

48

preventing the development of stereotypical behavior (Webb et al., 2012). Stereotypic behaviors in

49

cattle includes excessive oral manipulation of trough, bucket, and pen structures; tongue playing and

50

rolling; sham chewing; and grazing of the coat of other animals (Webb et al., 2012; Miller-Cushon et

51

al., 2013; Muhammad et al., 2015). Therefore, most of the behavioral studies to date have focused on

52

the effect of forage supplementation, particle size, and amount of forage and concentrate on the

AC C

45

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

performance and overall behavior of animals (Redbo and Nordblad, 1997; Broom and Fraser, 2007;

54

Muhammad et al., 2015; Suarez-Mena et al., 2015). To our knowledge no previous study has been

55

conducted to check the forage level and particle size effect on feeding pattern, stereotypic and social

56

behavior of growing Chinese Holstein claves after feed delivery. We evaluated the influence of forage

57

level by changing forage to concentrate ratio (F:C) at different FPL on drinking time, standing time

58

and social behavior of growing Chinese Holstein claves after feed delivery.

59

Materials and Method

61

Animals were managed by following the principles and specific guidelines of the State Key

SC

60

RI PT

53

Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing.

63

M AN U

62

Experiment 1: Effect of forage concentration at full length of grass Fourteen weaned calves of variable body weight (Mean ± SD: 176.91 ± 40.78kg) were used in

65

the first experiment. Calves were housed separately and free moving space (approximately 2x6 m) was

66

given. Bamboos were used to partition calves from each other in such a way that they could still

67

physically contact each other. Calves were divided into two groups. Two treatments were given: 1)

68

lower F:C (50% forage) at full length (FL) of grass hay, and 2) higher F:C (65% forage) at FL of

69

forage. Concentrate was formulated by using, corn (58%), soybean meal (27%), wheat bran (12%),

70

calcium carbonate (2%), Ca(HPO4)2 (1%), and NaCl (1%). Dry matter content (DM), crude protein

71

(CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents of total mix ration (TMR)

72

at lower F:C were 91.10 %, 12.05, 62.81, and 23.10 respectively. While, DM, CP, NDF, and ADF of

73

TMR at higher F:C were 91.32 , 10.33, 66.17, and 28.15 respectively. Total mix ration was offered ad

74

libitum (minimum 5% refusal was maintained) and offered at 8:00 h and 17:00 h of the day. Daily

75

fresh feed samples were taken for laboratory analysis. At the end of 2nd month partitions were removed

76

in such a way that two groups of seven calves were established per treatment. A week long adaptation

77

period was provided to animals to enable them to adjust to social linkages and feeding behavior with

AC C

EP

TE D

64

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

their pen mates. DH-CA-FW48J color cameras supported with infrared anti nozzle technology were

79

used to record video. Four cameras were used and each camera was installed at specific height

80

(approximately 4 m from the floor) to observe each group, and every group was monitored for six

81

days. Nine hours of data (from 8:00 h to 17:00 h of day) from the recorded video were used to analyse

82

the frequency of standing time, drinking time and social behavior. Definitions of the behaviors

83

observed are provided in Table 1. Data were originated from the video using a scan sampling method

84

(Webb, et al., 2012; Miller-Cushon et al., 2013). Three-minute scan sampling procedure was used to

85

record any activity. Activities which were recorded were standing time, drinking time and social

86

behavior. Allogrooming and butting was measured as a social behavior as described in previous

87

research (Faleiro et al., 2011). Social behavior was considered when allogrooming or butting was done

88

by calves at any scan. Total time for given behavior was estimated by total scan obtained for given

89

behavior multiplied by three (Endres et al., 2005).

90

Experiment 2: Effect of forage concentration at short length of grass

M AN U

SC

RI PT

78

Fourteen weaned calves of body weight (Mean ± SD: 136.59 ± 26.14kg) were used in the

92

second experiment. Calves were raised separately and divided by bamboo using the same experimental

93

design as experiment one. Low F:C (50% forage) with short length (SL) of hay grass, high F:C (65%

94

forage) with SL of hay were used as treatments. Concentrate formulation and chemical composition

95

was the same as described in experiment one except for the FPL of hay. Short length of hay was

96

achieved by using a total mix ration mixer. Hay grass was chopped in TMR mixer at 1900 r.p.m for

97

twenty minutes to get short particle sizes ie more than 50% forage particles measured 19 mm on the

98

screen.

99

Chemical and Statistical analysis

AC C

EP

TE D

91

100

Samples were analyzed for DM (135 °C; AOAC, 2000; method 930.15), NDF with α-amylase

101

(heatstable) and sodium sulphite (Vansoest et al., 1991), ADF (AOAC, 2000; method 973.18), and CP

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

(AOAC, 2000; method 990.03). Statistical analyses were identical in both experiments. Data for

103

standing time, drinking time and social behavior were summarized on an hourly basis for each calve

104

on each F:C both on FL and SL particle size. Differences among F:C in drinking time, standing time

105

and social behavior over a 9-h period were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (v. 9.1, SAS

106

Institute Inc. Cary, NC, USA, 2008) treating hour as a repeated measure. The model included the fixed

107

effects of hour, F:C level, and hour by F:C level interaction, and the random effect of replicate. The

108

variance-covariance error structure was first-order autoregressive, according to the best fit with

109

Schwarz’s Bayesian information criterion. All values reported are least squares means. Significance

110

was declared at P ≤ 0.05.

SC

RI PT

102

M AN U

111

Results

113

In experiment 1

114

Treatment and hour interaction was found for standing time (P<0.05). Longest standing time was

115

observed on 9th hour after feed delivery and animals which were on low F:C showed a longer standing

116

time compared to high F:C (Fig. 1). Shortest standing time was observed in the first hour after feed

117

delivery (Fig 1). Drinking water intake was not affected by dietary treatment, hour and treatment and

118

hour interaction (P>0.05) (Fig. 2).

119

Social behavior was affected by hour of observation (P<0.05), with the highest level of social activity

120

recorded between the 1st and 3rd hours after feed delivery and one hour before evening feed delivery

121

(Fig. 3). Animals which were on low F:C animals showed more social activities during this period of

122

time (Fig. 3).

123

In experiment 2

124

Standing time was affected by hour and in both treatments trends for increasing standing time was

125

observed (P<0.05). The first increase was observed from the 1st to 3rd hour after feed delivery (Fig. 4).

126

The second increase was observed from the 7th to 9th hour after feed delivery (Fig. 4). For both trends

AC C

EP

TE D

112

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

animals which were on low F:C showed longer standing time (Fig. 4). Drinking water intake was

128

affected by dietary treatment (P<0.05). The longest drinking time was observed in the low F:C group

129

(Fig. 5).

130

Social behavior was affected by the hour of observation (P<0.05), with social activity longest during

131

1st to 2nd hour after feed delivery and one hour before evening feed delivery in both treatments (Fig. 6).

132

Animals which were on low F:C showed more social activities during this period of time (Fig. 6).

133

Discussion

134

Standing data were coincident in the two experiments, with longer standing times recorded for low F:C

135

animals, for the last few hours after feed delivery. animals in the second experiment demonstrated a

136

trend for longer standing during the 1st to 3rd hour after feed delivery, which was not significant.

137

DeVries et al. (2007) stated that a higher intake rate of the low forage diet is present during the time

138

period following feed delivery due to high sorting activity in stall fed dairy cows. In situations where

139

animals are consuming low forage diet in a highly competitive environment, dominant animals may be

140

rapidly consuming increased amounts of fermentable carbohydrates and low amounts of physically

141

effective fiber. This prevents subordinate animals from feeding and they demonstrate more standing

142

behaviours without doing other activities and may be forced to access feed at a later time. It seems that

143

the higher standing time reported in the 2nd experiment during 1st to 3rd hour after feed delivery at low

144

F:C level was only due to higher competition. However, a higher standing time at the 9th hour at low

145

F:C before evening feed delivery in both experiments was perhaps an indicator of calves waiting for

146

fresh feed. Traditionally, animals devote a large part of their day time on grazing, (Hafez, 1975) so it

147

could be claimed that higher time spent on standing without doing any specific activity at low F:C may

148

be as a result of calves trying to involve in grazing activity without a desirable, available forage

149

source. Furthermore, it has also been predicted that standing without doing any specific activity may

150

be an indicator of feed searching behavior due to hunger (D'Eath et al., 2009). In the current research,

151

calves were given ad libitum access to TMR to prevent hunger. Nevertheless, hay grass may possibly

AC C

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

127

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

not have been an appropriate feedstuff and, thus, calves may have continued to search for alternative

153

feed sources. Increased inactive standing time may enhance the susceptibility to claw horn lesions,

154

which have the potential to cause pain and discomfort, leading to reduced mobility and lameness

155

(Chapinal et al., 2009; Faleiro et al., 2011). Therefore, standing time in the current study suggests that

156

welfare of the calves may decrease as forage level decreased.

157

Water intake time increased with decreasing the forage concentration in the second experiment. Lower

158

forage levels may require more water requirements to increase the digesta flow which ultimately

159

enhance the water intake time. These results agree with previous research summarized by Lascano and

160

Heinrichs (2011) who reported that voluntary water intake increase with the low forage diet.

161

Furthermore, recent studies also provide the evidence that greater water intake observed at low forage

162

level (Suarez-Mena et al., 2015; Muhammad et al., 2016).

163

Social behavior was recorded when a calf was licking or nosing a neighboring calf with the muzzle, or

164

butting. Time spent in performing social behaviors in both experiments was increased at low F:C. Our

165

findings concur with those of Faleiro et al. (2011) that time spent in performing social behaviors

166

increases when fiber level decreases by removing straw from the feed. Faleiro et al. (2011) further

167

reported that increases in social behaviour occur mainly as a result of more time spent in allogrooming,

168

although each component of social activity was not registered. We postulate that increases in social

169

behavior in our study were also due to allogrooming. Allogrooming in cattle is an important behavior

170

pattern with functional significance for the formation and maintenance of social bonds, the

171

stabilization of social relationships (Sato et al., 1993) and a good indicator of general health or

172

thriftiness (Albright and Arave, 1997). However, extreme grooming for longer periods of time could

173

also be considered as poor welfare or a sign of stress as shown in other species (Uvnas-Moberg, 1998).

174

Longer time spent in social behavior was particularly evident during the active feeding times ie first

175

few hours after feed delivery and one hour before evening feed delivery, this was also the case for

176

stereotypic behaviors (supplementary Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). Stereotypies consist of a few simple

AC C

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

152

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

movements that are repeated in the same way over and over again, although they seem to lack any

178

function in the context in which they are performed (Faleiro et al., 2011). These so-called stereotypic

179

behaviors consist of a repeated tongue playing and rolling; excessive oral manipulation of trough,

180

bucket, and pen structures; and self-grooming in calves (Webb et al., 2012; Miller-Cushon et al., 2013;

181

Muhammad et al., 2015). Chewing activity is associated with the stereotypic behaviors, higher levels

182

of chewing activity can reduce expression of stereotypic behaviors (Faleiro et al., 2011). The hourly

183

data of our adjacent published study (Muhammad et al., 2016) on stereotypic behavior found

184

(supplementary Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) that less stereotypic behaviors occurred during the 1st to 5th hour in

185

the 1st experiment, and the 1st to 4th hour in the 2nd experiment after feed delivery in high F:C animal.

186

This was due to higher chewing activity in calves during this period of time (supplementary Fig. 3 and

187

Fig. 4). If this is the case, a lower chewing activity of high F:C during the 6th to 8th hour in the 1st

188

experiment and during the 5th to 7th hour in the 2nd experiment after feed delivery (supplementary Fig.

189

3 and Fig. 4) should enhance the stereotypic behaviors in both experiment but our results provide

190

evidence that reverse happened. Our results indicate that chewing alone does not control the

191

expression of stereotypic behaviors. In our study the only fiber source provided was hay and hay may

192

not have been a desirable feedstuff and, thus, the use of hay as sole source of fiber might cause

193

abomasal damage. Animals probably do not like to eat hay as sole source of fiber but here it was the

194

only source for animal to fulfill their fibrous needs, so they have no choice but to eat it. It has been

195

reported in previous studies that maize silage pellets, straw, and grains have been associated with

196

abomasal damage (Mattiello et al., 2002; Brscic et al., 2011). Proposed factors involved in the etiology

197

of abomasal damage in beef and veal calves include the abrasive action of coarse feed stuffs

198

(Katchuik, 1992; Mattiello et al., 2002). Stereotypic behavior occurred during the 6th to 8th hour in the

199

1st experiment and during the 5th to 7th hour in the 2nd experiment after feed delivery in high F:C diet,

200

which might result in abomasal damage. As in our adjacent paper (Muhammad et al., 2016) the results

201

here revealed that regardless of dietary treatment stereotypic behavior occurred in both experiments

AC C

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

177

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

with low and high forage diets, indicating that calves suffered some welfare problems. It is important

203

to emphasize that the peaks of stereotypic behavior were also observed at the 9th hour after feed

204

delivery in both experiments and corresponded with the peaks of standing time. The increased

205

standing time and stereotypic behavior observed at the 9th hour after feed delivery in both experiments

206

supports that animals were attempting to engage in grazing behavior without desirable forage and

207

showing frustration at the available forage source. In the current study, animals were given ad libitum

208

access to feed to prevent hunger therefore the frustration demonstrated may be due to the availability

209

of a forage source. However, hay may not have been a desirable feedstuff and, thus, the animals may

210

have continued to show stereotypic behavior after feeding.

211

Conclusion

M AN U

SC

RI PT

202

Irrespective of dietary treatment, allogrooming and stereotypic behavior occurs in group

213

housed calves. The frequency of stereotypical and standing time behaviours in the current study

214

suggest that welfare of calves may improve as forage level increase. The current study results suggest

215

that offering alternative forage sources should be considered carefully to promote normal behavior and

216

positive welfare especially when a sole source of forage is fed as the fiber component of the diet in the

217

growing phase of fattening calves.

218

Acknowledgements

AC C

219

EP

TE D

212

220

The authors are grateful to undergraduate and graduate students at research station for their

221

help during sample collection. Particularly, we are thankful to master students, Yang Yong Zai, and

222

Wang Chang Shui, for their assistance. We also acknowledge the financial support received from

223

National Beef Cattle Industry and Technology System, Beijing, China.

224

Conflict of Interest

225

No conflict of interest exits in the submission of this manuscript, and manuscript is approved by

226

all authors for publication. I would like to declare on behalf of my co-authors that the work described

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

227

is original research that has not been published previously, and ever not under consideration for

228

publication elsewhere

229

Ethics/Permission Animals were managed by following the principles and specific guidelines of the State Key

230

Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing.

232

Author’s contributions

RI PT

231

Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman carried out the experiment, finished data analysis, and drafted the

234

manuscript. Xia Chuan Qi participated in the experiments and helped with data collection and analysis.

235

Su Huawei and Binghai Cao conceived the experiment and finished the manuscript. All authors

236

approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

237

References

238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266

AOAC., 2000. Official Methods of Analysis. 17th Ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Gaithersburg, MD, USA. Albright, J. L., Arave, C. W., 1997. The behaviour of cattle. CAB international, Wallingford, UK. Artioli, L. F. A., Moriel, P., Poore, M. H., Marques, R. S., Cooke, R. F., 2015. Decreasing the frequency of energy supplementation from daily to three times weekly impairs growth and humoral immune response of preconditioning beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 93, 5430-5441.10.2527/jas.2015-9457 Beauchemin, K. A., Maekawa, M., Christensen, D. A., 2002. Effect of diet and parity on meal patterns of lactating dairy cows. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 82, 215-223 Broom, D., Fraser, A., 2007. Abnormal behaviour 1: stereotypies. Domestic animal behaviour and welfare, 226234 Brscic, M., Heutinck, L. F. M., Wolthuis-Fillerup, M., Stockhofe, N., Engel, B., Visser, E. K., Gottardo, F., Bokkers, E. A. M., Lensink, B. J., Cozzi, G., Van Reenen, C. G., 2011. Prevalence of gastrointestinal disorders recorded at postmortem inspection in white veal calves and associated risk factors. J. Dairy Sci. 94, 853863.10.3168/jds.2010-3480 Chapinal, N., de Passillé, A. M., Weary, D. M., von Keyserlingk, M. A. G., Rushen, J., 2009. Using gait score, walking speed, and lying behavior to detect hoof lesions in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 92, 43654374.http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2115 Coverdale, J. A., Tyler, H. D., Quigley, J. D., Brumm, J. A., 2004. Effect of various levels of forage and form of diet on rumen development and growth in calves. J. Dairy Sci. 87, 2554-2562 D'Eath, R. B., Tolkamp, B. J., Kyriazakis, I., Lawrence, A. B., 2009. 'Freedom from hunger' and preventing obesity: the animal welfare implications of reducing food quantity or quality. Anim. Behav. 77, 275288.10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.10.028 DeVries, T. J., Beauchemin, K. A., Keyserlingk, M. A. G. v., 2007. Dietary forage concentration affects the feed sorting behaiour of lactating cow. J. Dairy Sci. 90, 5572–5579.10.3168/jds.2007-0370 Devries, T. J., von Keyserlingk, M. A. G., 2009. Short communication: Feeding method affects the feeding behavior of growing dairy heifers. J. Dairy Sci. 92, 1161-1168.10.3168/jds.2008-1314 Endres, M. I., DeVries, T. J., von Keyserlingk, M. A. G. Weary, D. M., 2005. Effect of feed barrier design on the behavior of loose housed lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 88, 2377–2380. Faleiro, A. G., Gonzalez, L. A., Blanch, M., Cavini, S., Castells, L., de la Torre, J. L. R., Manteca, X.,

AC C

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

233

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

Calsamiglia, S., Ferret, A., 2011. Performance, ruminal changes, behaviour and welfare of growing heifers fed a concentrate diet with or without barley straw. Animal 5, 294-303.Doi 10.1017/S1751731110001904 Hafez, E. S. E., 1975. The Behaviour of Domestic Animals. Baillière Tindall. Hill, T. M., Bateman, H. G., II, Aldrich, J. M., Schlotterbeck, R. L., 2008. Effects of the amount of chopped hay or cottonseed hulls in a textured calf starter on young calf performance. J. Dairy Sci. 91, 26842693.10.3168/jds.2007-0935 Katchuik, R., 1992. Abomasal Disease in Young Beef-Calves - Surgical Findings and Management Factors. Can. Vet. J. 33, 459-461 Khan, M. A., Weary, D. M., von Keyserlingk, M. A. G., 2011. Hay intake improves performance and rumen development of calves fed higher quantities of milk. J. Dairy Sci. 94, 3547-3553.10.3168/jds2010-3871 Lascano, G. J., Heinrichs, A. J., 2011. Effects of feeding different levels of dietary fiber through the addition of corn stover on nutrient utilization of dairy heifers precision-fed high and low concentrate diets1. J. Dairy Sci. 94, 3025-3036.http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2010-3831 Mattiello, S., Canali, E., Ferrante, V., Caniatti, M., Gottardo, F., Cozzi, G., Andrighetto, I., Verga, M., 2002. The provision of solid feeds to veal calves: II. Behavior, physiology, and abomasal damage. J. Anim. Sci. 80, 367-375 Maulfair, D. D., Heinrichs, A. J., 2013. Effects of varying forage particle size and fermentable carbohydrates on feed sorting, ruminal fermentation, and milk and component yields of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 96, 30853097.10.3168/jds.2012-6048 Miller-Cushon, E. K., Bergeron, R., Leslie, K. E., Mason, G. J., DeVries, T. J., 2013. Effect of feed presentation on feeding patterns of dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 96, 7260-7268.10.3168/jds.2013-7013 Muhammad, A. U., Xia, C. Q., Cao, B. H., 2016. Dietary forage concentration and particle size affect sorting, feeding behaviour, intake and growth of Chinese holstein male calves. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 100, 217-223.10.1111/jpn.12349 Redbo, I., Nordblad, A., 1997. Stereotypies in heifers are affected by feeding regime. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 53, 193-202.Doi 10.1016/S0168-1591(96)01145-8 Rustas, B. O., Norgaard, P., Jalali, A. R., Nadeau, E., 2010. Effects of physical form and stage of maturity at harvest of whole-crop barley silage on intake, chewing activity, diet selection and faecal particle size of dairy steers. Animal 4, 67-75.Doi 10.1017/S1751731109990887 Sato, S., Tarumizu, K., Hatae, K., 1993. The influence of social factors on allogrooming in cows. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 38, 235-244.http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(93)90022-H Selemani, I. S., Eik, L. O., 2016. The effects of concentrate supplementation on growth performance and behavioral activities of cattle grazed on natural pasture. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 48, 229232.10.1007/s11250015-0935-z Suarez-Mena, F. X., Lascano, G. J., Rico, D. E., Heinrichs, A. J., 2015. Effect of forage level and replacing canola meal with dry distillers grains with solubles in precision-fed heifer diets: Digestibility and rumen fermentation. J. Dairy Sci. 98, 8054-8065.10.3168/jds.2015-9636 Uvnas-Moberg, K., 1998. Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interaction and emotions. Psychoneuroendocrinology 23, 819-835 Vansoest, P. J., Robertson, J. B., Lewis, B. A., 1991. Methods for Dietary Fiber, Neutral Detergent Fiber, and Nonstarch Polysaccharides in Relation to Animal Nutrition. J. Dairy Sci. 74, 3583-3597 Webb, L. E., Bokkers, E. A. M., Engel, B., Gerrits, W. J. J., Berends, H., van Reenen, C. G., 2012. Behaviour and welfare of veal calves fed different amounts of solid feed supplemented to a milk replacer ration adjusted for similar growth. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 136, 108-116.10.1016/j.applanim.2011.12.004

AC C

267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

311 312

Fig. 1. Hourly averages - Standing time (min) in growing Chinese Holstein male calves fed full length

313

hay with lower forage to concentrate ratio (F:C) (50% forage) and higher F:C (65% forage). Data are

314

averaged over 6 d for 7 animals on each treatment. Error bars indicate standard error.

RI PT

315

Fig. 2. Hourly averages - Drinking water (min), in growing Chinese Holstein male calves fed full

317

length hay with lower forage to concentrate ratio (F:C) (50% forage) and higher F:C (65% forage).

318

Data are averaged over 6 d for 7 animals on each treatment. Error bars indicate standard error.

SC

316

319

Fig. 3. Hourly averages - Social behaviour (min) in growing Chinese Holstein male calves fed full

321

length hay with lower forage to concentrate ratio (F:C) (50 % forage) and higher F:C (65% forage).

322

Data are averaged over 6 d for 7 animals on each treatment. Error bars indicate standard error.

M AN U

320

323

Fig. 4. Hourly averages -Standing time (min) in growing Chinese Holstein male calves fed short length

325

hay with lower forage to concentrate ratio (F:C) (50 % forage) and higher F:C (65% forage).

326

Data are averaged over 6 d for 7 animals on each treatment. Error bars indicate standard error.

EP

327

TE D

324

Fig. 5. Hourly averages - Drinking water (min) in growing Chinese Holstein male calves fed short

329

length hay with lower forage to concentrate ratio (F:C) (50 % forage) and higher F:C (65% forage).

330

Data are averaged over 6 d for 7 animals on each treatment. Error bars indicate standard errorb

331

AC C

328

332

Fig. 6. Hourly averages - Social behaviour (min) in growing Chinese Holstein male calves fed short

333

length hay with lower forage to concentrate ratio (F:C) (50 % forage) and higher F:C (65% forage).

334

Data are averaged over 6 d for 7 animals on each treatment. Error bars indicate standard error.)

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Chewing

Animal having its head in the feeder and being Activity engaged in chewing Chewing was defined as mastication movements Activity other than eating either animal is standing or laying

M AN U

Activity Eating

SC

RI PT

Table1. Behavior Definitions Behavior Description Category Posture Body elevated from floor and weight supported by Posture Standing legs and without doing any specific activity like (eating, chewing, walking, fighting, running, licking any surface, tongue rolling, consuming wood shavings, butting, and rubbing any surface) Brisket in contact with floor with no chewing, licking Posture Lying any surface, tongue rolling, consuming wood shavings, and rubbing any surface with head was performed by animals

Stereotypic behavior Tongue playing1

AC C

EP

TE D

Tongue playing/rolling; repeatedly turning, rolling or Abnormal unrolling tongue extended outside or inside mouth Abnormal Oral manipulation of Licking, nibbling or sucking trough 2 trough Abnormal Oral manipulation of Licking, nibbling, or sucking portions of pen 3 pen Tongue is extended and shifted across own body Abnormal Groom4 repeatedly Social licking, and nosing coat or other part of another calf Social Allogrooming in the pen with the muzzle When the animal pressed any body part of another Social Butting calf with its head or thigh 2, 3, 4, behavior were collectively considered as oral manipulation 1, 2, 3, 4 behavior were collectively considered as stereotypic behavior

AC C

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

AC C

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

AC C

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

AC C

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

AC C

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

AC C

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

Highlights

EP

TE D

M AN U

SC

RI PT

Regardless of level of hay grass, calves show allogrooming and stereotypic behavior Higher levels of hay grass improve welfare of calves Chewing can overcome the stereotypic behavior to a degree

AC C

• • •