Social Housing |
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Cattle are social animals. Keeping them alone results in changes in their behavior. These changes depend on the age of the animal. In the case of milk-fed calves, individually housed animals are more fearful of novel items and unfamiliar calves compared to pair- or group-housed calves. Group housing can improve growth and social interactions in calves.
Which animals to assess:
Evaluate milk-fed calves based on the sampling guidelines.
How to assess:
Calves must be housed in pairs or groups (either of peers or adults) by 8 days of age. Tethering in proximity to other animals is not acceptable.
Birth dates on ear tags, body size, and wet hair can be used to determine calf age.
Birth dates on ear tags, body size, and wet hair can be used to determine calf age.
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Acceptable
This calf is newly born, based on the wet coat
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Unacceptable
This calf is older than 8 days
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There is currently no repeatability test for this measure.