ABSTRACT
What are the consequences for the calves of the reduced opportunity for social contact when housed individually? It seems that individually housed calves may not develop the social skills necessary to cope with group living later on, being either more or insufficiently aggressive, or more fearful of other calves. Calves that have been reared individually appear to be more fearful of unfamiliar calves (Jensen et al., 1997; Jensen et al., 1999). Other research has indicated that individual housing of dairy heifers reduced their ability to compete within groups later on (Broom and Leaver, 1978). In general, use of individual housing for un-weaned calves does influence how calves react to other calves, but we have little knowledge of how individual housing has long-term effects on social behaviour that significantly affect the calves’ welfare.
