Intrinsic calf factors associated with the behavior of healthy pre-weaned group-housed dairy-bred calves.

ABSTRACT: Technology-derived behaviors are researched for disease detection in artificially-reared calves. Whilst existing studies demonstrate differences in behaviors between healthy and diseased calves, intrinsic calf factors (e.g., sex and birthweight) that may affect these behaviors have received little systematic study. This study aimed to understand the impact of a range of calf factors on milk feeding and activity variables of dairy-bred calves. Calves were group-housed from ~7 days to 39 days of age. Seven liters of milk replacer was available daily from an automatic milk feeder, which recorded feeding behaviors and live-weight. Calves were health scored daily and a tri-axial accelerometer used to record activity variables. Healthy calves were selected by excluding data collected 3 days eith

SUBMITTER: Riley BB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10435862 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature