HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Arave, C. W. Articles by Walters, J. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Arave, C. W. Articles by Walters, J. L.

Effect of Early Rearing Experience on Subsequent Behavior and Production of Holstein Heifers¹

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences Department, Utah State University, Logan 84322

ABSTRACT

Sixty-seven heifer calves were assigned at birth to one of four rearing treatments: 1) groups of six, 2) individual hutch, 3) isolation, and 4) isolation with handling (10 min daily interaction with calf feeder). Calves were on the same diet and except for group calves were in 1.2 x 2.4-m hutches. Group calves were in open shed housing with 3m²/calf. Calves were weaned at approximately 10 wk and then assimilated into regular herd routine. An open field test of 3 min for each calf was conducted on 3 consecutive days at weaning. Samples for blood plasma glucocorticoids were taken before and after open field testing. Forty-eight heifers milked twice daily completed 305-day lactations. There were no differences in weaning weight or average daily gain to weaning. Group calves urinated and defecated more during open field tests, but number of vocalizations was not different. There was a signifiant rise of glucocorticoids for all calves, but treatment effects were nil. Cows reared in isolation (treatments 3 and 4) produced significantly more milk (922 kg 3.5% fat-corrected milk), had a 1205 kg advantage in relative milk, but were not different from group or individually reared cows in relative milk fat. A hypothesis to explain these results is proposed.

¹ Journal Article No. 3011, Utah State University Agricultural Experiment Station. This research was a part of Regional Research Project NC-119, Improving Dairy Herd Management Practices.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. J. C. Phillips The Effects of Forage Provision and Group Size on the Behavior of Calves J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2004; 87(5): 1380 - 1388. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]