| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this study was to describe play behaviours of calves in three different management systems during a play test using straw as a play-object. Thirty-six Norwegian Red calves were divided into two batches, with one group of six calves from each of three treatments included in each batch: Minimal: Housed individually until 26 ± 3 d of age and then moved to a group pen with 5 other calves, fed 7L milk/d; Cow-calf-contact: Housed with the dam and 5 other cow-calf pairs, no restriction to milk; Enriched: Housed in a group of 6 calves and no restriction to milk (consumed on average 12 L milk/d). Group allocation was based on birthdate to minimize age differences within a group. At 52 ± 4 d of age, pairs of calves from the same treatment were habituated to an arena for 30 min. The following day, the same pairs were subjected to the arena for a straw play test. Play behaviour was recorded for 10 min after provision of straw. All calves played, but low duration of straw play was recorded. Enriched and minimal calves appeared to be more similar in locomotor play behaviour and appeared to play more than cow-calf-calves. Cow-calf-calves and enriched calves appeared to explore the environment more. In conclusion, positive welfare in CCC, EC and MC systems should be further investigated. | |
