Learning and locomotor behaviour study of dairy calves kept in group housing

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of gender, and sire on learning and locomotor behaviour of calves. The study included 40 dairy calves (23 males and 17 females) which descended from 3 sires. The maze learning ability tests were performed at the age of 15 weeks, open field tests were conducted at 16th and 25th weeks. At the maze tests, males were less movable than females (P<0.05) and their total time of standing in maze was also higher compared to heifers (P<0.05). Heifers took shorter time to run across the maze than bulls in both days (P<0.05). Significant differences were found in sire lineages assessment of maze behaviours, especially on time standing in the first part of maze (P<0.001), time of maze traversing on the second day (P<0.01). During open field tests at 16th and 25th weeks of age heifers were more mobile. Sire lineage effect was manifested in the number of grid crossing and movement time during the first test (P<0.05) at the age of 16 weeks. At the age of 25 weeks significant differences were displayed in number of grid crossing for the first test (P<0.05) and in movement time on the 2nd day (P<0.05). The results of used behavioural tests indicated that speed of traversing the maze and locomotor behaviour are affected by the gender and sire lineage of calves.