Calves behaviour in individual calving pens during first 24 hours of life
2002
Uhrincat, M. | Broucek, J. | Hanus, A. | Kisac, P. | Mihina, S. (Vyskumny Ustav Zivocisnej Vyroby, Nitra (Slovak Republic))
Continuous observations of 21 Holstein calves, born in individual calving pens A 3x3 m; B 4.5x4.5 m a C 4.5x6 m were made during first 24 h post partum. The time spent lying; licking the cow and suckling were evaluated as a sum of minutes in hourly intervals. Time to first head lifting, standing attempt, successful standing and first contact with udder were observed also. Calves were observed in lateral recumbency 1% of the time only. Maximum of the lying time spent animals during first hour post partum (51.3 - 58.3 min.). Calves from the biggest box C suckled earlier than calves from smaller boxes, but only 38% of calves suckled first during 4 h post partum. In the biggest box the occurrences of first activities were earlier too (head lifting 1.4 plus and minus 1.0 min., standing attempt 8.0 plus and minus 8.1 min., successful standing 57.4 plus and minus 23.2 min., contact with udder 73.6 plus and minus 21.7 min.). It is difficult to make conclusion concerning the effect of calving pen size on behavioural of newborn calves because of no significant statistically differences among groups
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