Abstract

ALEJOS-DE LA FUENTE, Isidro et al. Contribution to animal welfare of dairy calves: housing in pairs. Abanico vet [online]. 2020, vol.10, e115.  Epub May 07, 2021. ISSN 2448-6132.  https://doi.org/10.21929/abavet2020.28.

To evaluate the productive and behavioral response of pair-housed nursing Holstein calves, 30 calves from one week of age until weaning (8 weeks of age) were used and randomly distributed in two treatments: treatment 1 pair-housed calf (T1, n=10); treatment 2 single-housed calves (T2, n=10). No significant difference (p>0.05) was found between treatments in initial weight (IW, T1=38.18 vs. T2=39.58, evidencing homogeneous groups) and total dry matter consumption (TDMC, T1=56.84 vs. T2=56.85, kg). However, calves housed in pairs (T1) showed significantly better results in final weight (FW, T1=75.28 vs. T2=65.74, kg), total weight gain TWG, T1=37.10 vs. T2=26. 16, kg), daily weight gain (DWG, T1=0.66 vs. T2=0.46, kg) and feed conversion (FC, T1=1.53 vs. T2=2.17), compared to individually housed calves. It concluded that paired calves showed greater productive response and lower frequency of stress-indicative behaviors compared with individually housed calves.

Keywords : animal welfare; housing; productivity; behavior; Holstein calves.