Characterizing social networks and influence of early-life social housing in weaned heifers on pasture.

Dairy cattle are gregarious animals that are commonly managed in social groups, yet group-level social dynamics remain underexplored in weaned heifers. We characterized activity and social networks after weaned heifers had been raised in social groups on pasture for approximately 2 mo and examined effects of preweaning social housing. Holstein heifers raised in individual pens (n = 17) or paired pens (n = 20; 10 pens of 2) were mingled between treatments and grouped (10-11 heifers/group; total of 4 groups observed) on pasture following weaning (8.

Long-term effects of preweaning social housing on response to a social and housing transition in pregnant heifers.

Dairy cattle are routinely managed in social groups and subject to various management and social transitions, yet conventional approaches to rearing dairy calves limit social experience during early weeks of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term effects of dairy calf social housing on behavioral responses observed in pregnant heifers following social regrouping and introduction to a novel housing environment. Holstein heifers were raised during the milk-feeding period (provided 8 L/d milk replacer) in either individual housing (IH; n = 20) or pair housing (PH; n = 20 pens; 1 focal heifer/pen) and subsequently identically managed in groups on pasture from 9 wk of age.