Familiarity, age, weaning and health status impact social proximity networks in dairy calves.

ABSTRACT: Social network analysis in dairy calves has not been widely studied, with previous studies limited by the short study duration, and low number of animals and replicates. In this study, we investigated social proximity interactions of 79 Holstein-Friesian calves from 5 cohorts for up to 76 days. Networks were computed using 4-day aggregated associations obtained from ultrawideband location sensor technology, at 1 Hz sampling rate. The effect of age, familiarity, health, and weaning status on the social proximity networks of dairy calves was assessed. Networks were poorly correlated (non-stable) between the different 4-day periods, in the majority of them calves associated heterogeneously, and individuals assorted based on previous familiarity for the whole duration of the study. Age signifi

SUBMITTER: Vazquez-Diosdado JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9908884 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature