The effect of irregular feeding times on the behaviour and growth of dairycalves

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of predictable vs. u npredictable management routines on the behaviour, production and health of dairy calves. Three different feeding schedules for milk-fed dairy calves were compared. All calves received milk twice a day, and had free access to concentrate, hay and water. Three groups of 12 calves (divided on two tria ls) were exposed to one of the following treatments from the age of 5 days to 9 weeks: group C (control) received milk at the same time every day, at 0700 and 1400. Group OD (occasional deviation) received the milk at the sam e time every day except on treatment days, one in week 5 and one in week 8, where they were fed 3 h later. Group IR (irregular schedule) received milk at irregular times throughout the experimental period. The first daily fee ding took place between 0600 and 1300 and the second one between 1300 and 2 100. When the calves were 5 and 8 weeks old, the behaviour of eight calves from each group was videorecorded for two days (48 h). The following behavi our was recorded: frequency and duration of lying bouts and frequency of co mfort behaviour (defined as licking or scratching own body), eating, drinki ng, other oral behaviour and extending the head through the feeding barrier (HTB). The milk and concentrate consumption of the calves was measured and the calves were weighed weekly. Diseases were recorded. The results showed that at the age of 5 weeks, the calves in group IR diffe red from the control group C by performing more eating behaviour both on th e control day (27.5 vs. 15.5; p < 0.05) and the treatment day (28.8 vs. 18. 3; p < 0.05). At the age of 8 weeks, no differences were found in the behav iour between groups IR and C. When the OD calves were 5 weeks old, they res ponded to the delayed feeding by increasing drinking behaviour (14.5 vs. 9. 0; p < 0.05). When they were 8 weeks old, they showed increased frequency o f comfort (195 vs. 122; p < .05), eating (37.5 vs. 27.9; p < 0.05) and HTB behaviour (19.8 vs. 7.4; p < 0.001) on the treatment day compared to the co ntrol day. The IR group did not respond to the same treatment except for a slight increase in drinking behaviour (9.6 vs. 6.5; p < 0.05) at the age of 8 weeks. No differences were observed in the frequency or length of lying bouts, nor health or production parameters between the three groups. It is concluded that a predictable feeding schedule may not be very importa nt for milk-fed dairy calves. However, when the calves are customised to pr edictable feeding times, occasional deviations from that schedule may cause frustration when their expectations are not fulfilled. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.