Effects of calf rearing on cognitive and biological functioning: Recent results and future challenges

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1 animal welfare program Effects of calf rearing on cognitive and biological functioning: Recent results and future challenges Marina (Nina) von Keyserlingk and Daniel M. Weary

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4 g/d Feed intake during milk feeding phase Individual Pair Starter intake De Paula Vieira et al J. Dairy Sci. 93:

5 Weaning distress reduced when calves are pair housed Single Pair Vocalizations (no./2h period/d) Age (d) De Paula Vieira et al J. Dairy Sci. 93:

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7 Latency to start eating grain Time to start feeding after mixing is more rapid when previously pair housed De Paula Vieira et al J. Dairy Sci. 93:

8 Pair housing improves access to resources at mixing Time to start feeding after mixing is more rapid when previously pair housed De Paula Vieira et al J. Dairy Sci. 93:

9 Solid feed intake (kg/day) Feed intake after weaning and mixing Single Pair Days after mixing De Paula Vieira et al J. Dairy Sci. 93:

10 Individually housed calves gained less weight in the days right after mixing 2 Single Pair Weight gain (kg/day) Days after mixing De Paula Vieira et al J. Dairy Sci. 93:

11 Gains (kg/d) Calves housed with an older weaned companion gained more before and after weaning I I I I De Paula Vieira et al., J. Dairy Sci. 95:

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19 Correct no-go response Discrimination learning 100% 80% 60% 40% Social Housing Individual Indiviual Housing 20% 0% Number of sessions Meagher et al., 2015 PLoS ONE10: e

20 Effects of social rearing on cognition Initial Discrimination Positive approach for milk reward Negative do not approach; time-out Meagher et al., 2015 PLoS ONE10: e

21 Effects of social rearing on cognition Initial Discrimination Positive approach for milk reward Negative do not approach; time-out Reversal Positive approach for milk reward Negative do not approach; time-out Meagher et al., 2015 PLoS ONE10: e

22 Correct no-go response Reversal learning 100% 80% 60% Social Housing 40% 20% 0% Number of sessions Meagher et al., 2015 PLoS ONE10: e

23 Correct no-go response Reversal learning 100% 80% 60% Social Housing Individual Housing 40% 20% 0% Number of sessions Meagher et al., 2015 PLoS ONE10: e

24 What type of contact is needed?

25 Individual Late pair Early pair Group

26 At what age should we pair calves?

27 Percentage of calves Success in reversal task * Individual Late pair Early pair Group Treatment Meagher et al., PLoS ONE 10(8): e

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29 Latency to touch (s) Response to novel objects Individual Early pair Group Treatment Meagher et al., PLoS ONE 10(8): e

30 Average Intake (Kg DM) Early paired calves have higher intakes Early Pair Individual Late Pair Weeks Costa et al J. Dairy Sci. 98:

31 Key results from our research on social contact: Calves require social contact, and without contact show cognitive and other developmental deficits.but is seperating the cow from the calf sustainable in the long term?

32 What do you consider to be an ideal dairy farm and why are these characteristics important to you? n=453 Cardoso et al., J. Dairy Sci. 99:

33 animal welfare program

34 What do you consider to be an ideal dairy farm and why are these characteristics important to you? 100 % Reasons Milk quality Animal welfare and ethics n=453 Cardoso et al., J. Dairy Sci. 99:

35 What do you consider to be an ideal dairy farm and why are these characteristics important to you? % Cow 0 Emergent Themes n=453 Cardoso et al., J. Dairy Sci. 99:

36 What do you consider to be an ideal dairy farm and why are these characteristics important to you? An ideal dairy farm would..not treated with be..have one that access has to no 100 synthetic hormones or mistreatment pasture. of their 80 antibiotics - unless livestock. The ideal dairy farm puts the well-being of the animals above other considerations. This absolutely means, for necessary. example, 60 not separating a new-born % from the mother Cow 0 Emergent Themes Cardoso et n=453 al., J. Dairy Sci. 99:

37 Concerns and Values Ventura et al, PLoS ONE 11(5): e

38 Number of correct responses Participants (n=50) were largely unaware that cows and calves are routinely separated after birth Before 10 0 Does a cow have to have a baby to produce milk? When are calves routinely seperated from the cow?

39 Concerns Values Feed 72% Biological functioning Pasture/outdoors Behavior restriction Abuse Ventura et al, PLoS ONE 11(5): e % Affective Photo credit: CANFR on flickr creative commons states 56% Human care 66% Natural living

40 How confident are you that dairy cattle have a good life? Not confident Confident 28% 42% 30% Neutral BEFORE n=50 Ventura et al, PLoS ONE 11(5): e

41 Self guided tour: Calf management and housing, Canadian guidelines for on-farm animal care, A day in the life of the dairy cow, Cow health, Feeding, Reproduction General behaviour.

42 Number of correct responses Participants (n=50) were more knowledgeable about the dairy industry after the tour! Before After 10 0 Does a cow have to have a baby to produce milk? When are calves routinely seperated from the cow?

43 Overall, participants were more knowledgeable and were: Pleased to see a high level of attention and care to cattle Displeased about cow-calf separation and the lack of pasture/outdoor access Ventura et al, PLoS ONE 11(5): e

44 How confident are you that dairy cattle have a good life? Not confident Confident Not confident Confident 28% 42% 32% 24% 30% Neutral 44% Neutral n=50 BEFORE AFTER Ventura et al, PLoS ONE 11(5): e

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46 von Keyserlingk et al., J. Dairy Sci. 96 :

47 Responses Should dairy calves be separated from the cow within the first few hours after birth? 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Neutral No Yes Ventura et al., J. Dairy Sci. 96:

48 Should dairy calves be separated from the cow within the first few hours after birth? YES, because separating calves from cows at birth provides a means to break disease transmission Ventura et al., J. Dairy Sci. 96:

49 Ventura et al J. Dairy Sci 96: Should dairy calves be separated from the cow within the first few hours after birth? YES, because separating calves from cows at birth provides a means to break disease transmission NO, because early separation does not work in preventing disease; current methods of management still result in high levels of disease in dairy calves

50 Should dairy calves be separated from the cow within the first few hours after birth? YES, because it s better for both the calf and the mom to separate sooner because otherwise there is too much attachment, and it s very hard on the mother!

51 Ventura et al J. Dairy Sci 96: Should dairy calves be separated from the cow within the first few hours after birth? YES, because it s better for both the calf and the mom to separate sooner because otherwise there is too much attachment, and it s very hard on the mother! NO, because immediate separation causes trauma especially for the mother

52 Values: Share values (health and affect) but disagree on weighting Perceived facts: Early separation = less disease Early separation = less suffering Barriers: Lack practical methods for social housing Lack knowledge on positive effects of contact

53 Kathrin Wagner

54 Moving forward. Calves are motivated for social contact, and without contact show cognitive and other developmental deficits People expect humane care, appropriate hygiene, husbandry and high quality milk People place great emphasis on the natural living component: they see cows as being with her calf Less is known about effects of early separation on the cow, or how cow-calf groups can be practically managed. Science plays an important role in helping guide policy but practices that resonate with societal values will likely be more sustainable in the long term

55 Engage Apply Reflect Research

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57 Social complexity and calf development: The effects of a conspecific of similar age

58 Providing an older companion De Paula Vieira et al., J. Dairy Sci. 95:

59 Visits to the milk feeder (no./d/calf) Calves housed with an older weaned companion visited the milk feeder less often during weaning Calves of similar age Calves housed with an older weaned companion Experimental days De Paula Vieira et al., J. Dairy Sci. 95:

60 Starter intake (kg/ d/ calf) Starter intakes higher pre and post weaning for calves housed with an older companion Calves of similar age Calves housed with an older weaned companion Calf age (d) De Paula Vieira et al., J. Dairy Sci. 95:

61 Hay intake (kg/ d/ calf) Hay intake higher pre-weaning for calves housed with an older companion Calves of similar age Calves housed with an older weaned companion Calf age (d) De Paula Vieira et al., J. Dairy Sci. 95:

62 Gains (kg/d) Calves housed with an older weaned companion gained more before and after weaning I I I I De Paula Vieira et al., J. Dairy Sci. 95: