Individual vs. Pair Calf Housing

Individual calf housing became a popular management choice during the 1970s and 1980s. At the beginning of the 1990s, about 69% of dairy producers housed dairy heifer calves individually (34% used hutches, 22% used another facility, and about 13% used areas in cow barns) (NAHMS/APHIS, 1993). About 20 years later, about 70-75% of calves in the Northeast U.S. were raised and housed individually during the pre-weaning period (38% outside hutches, 32% inside hutches, 5% tie stall or stanchion), and 16% of calves were raised in groups (USDA/APHIS, 2016).

The main justifications for adopting individual calf care have been 1) to reduce the risk of disease transfer between calves, 2) to prevent sucking on each other, 3) to feed calves individually, and 4) to monitor calves better.

While individual housing did improve calf health, it came with some drawbacks.

Labor intensity increased as farm sizes increased. This was felt by producers who face adverse weather conditions, such as snowstorms. Calves’ social interaction was limited as well. Calves were deprived of social contacts and became deficient in social skills and had difficulties in coping with novel situations, as well as specific cognitive deficits.

In recent years, social types of housing have been gaining popularity – pair, small, or large groups of calves. These systems are more labor-efficient and are favored by the consumer.

Surveys done on calf housing in the future among 90 dairy health professionals and veterinarians indicate that most believe the majority of calves (over 70% ) will be housed either in pairs (28%) or small groups of three to eight calves (44%), and only 17% in individual housing. (Knauer V., 2022). Each of the housing systems has its advantages and limitations.

In general, producers are seeking easy, economical, and labor-efficient systems that would increase the longevity of the herd. On the other hand, calves seek companionship, social competence, and healthy environments free of fear, pain, and distress. (Knauer, 2022).

Individual housing provides personal attention for the calves and a good level of health during the pre-weaning period. But individual housing is labor-intensive, calves are deprived of socializing, and there is no social buffer for stressful situations. Calves can also be challenged with health issues during the post-weaning period.

Pair housing is like individual housing because it provides individual attention to the calves and a good level of health during the pre-weaning period. It is labor-intensive but can be implemented with relatively low capital costs. In pair housing, like in any social type of housing, calves socialize, are challenged with competition from their pair mates, improve cognitive development, improve social skills and emotional support during stressful procedures, decrease stress at weaning, and aid in easing anxiety and stress associated with separation from the dam at birth. The negative aspect of this system that is always pointed out is that calves can exhibit cross-sucking, thus increasing the risk of disease transfer and mastitis infections.

Benefits of Pair Housing

Across several studies, calves raised in pairs showed a higher daily gain by 0.1 to 0.4 lbs./day, with the majority of 0.3 lbs./day regardless of the amount of milk offered. At weaning, calves raised in pairs also reached higher body weight (BW) (198 lbs.) as opposed to calves raised individually (180 lbs.). At the end of 4 months of age (16 weeks), the pair-raised calves were about 17 lbs. heavier than individually raised calves. (Knauer et al, 2021).

Pair-housed calves consumed twice as much calf starter in more frequent meals during the fifth and sixth weeks of age before weaning, and continued to have greater starter consumption during weaning. (Miller-Cushon and DeVries, 2016).

Fuente et al. (2021) found that calves housed in pairs were more efficient in feed conversion as they consumed the same amount of dry matter per day as individually housed calves but had about 40% higher daily gain and 15% higher BW at the time of weaning.

After weaning and moving into the weaned calf pen, pair-raised calves tended to rest/lie down over three hours more than calves raised in individual housing. Individually raised calves spent much more time running around, vocalizing, and exploring the environment. Pair-raised calves adjusted socially to the weaning pen and to other calves in the group much quicker (Knauer et al, 2021).

Implementing Calf Paired Housing

Producers who desire to switch from individual calf housing to pair housing should review current practices. Growth data, mortality, scours, pneumonia, and other health issues, sanitation, bedding management, ventilation, water, and starter availability should be compared to common health management benchmarks and industry standards. If current calf management is insufficient, producers should consult with veterinarians or local Penn State Extension educators before they convert to social housing systems. Switching from individual to social housing can exacerbate strain already in the system.

Research suggests that calves should be paired during the first 3 weeks of life, and the desirable age difference between calves should be one to two weeks.

Earlier paired calves consume double the starter amount of grain as opposed to late paired calves (2.2 kg/d vs. 1.26 kg/d) and have higher daily gain (0.89 kg/d vs. 0.73 kg/d) over a period of 10 weeks (Costa et al, 2015). In contrast, calves paired at birth and at 3 weeks of age did not show any difference in starter consumption (Mahendran et al., 2021).

When taking adequate space into consideration for pair housing, a recommended resting space per calf should be at least 35 ft² (DCHA, 2019) or two hutches or two calf pens per pair (Knauer, 2021). Hutches can be modified either side-by-side or as a fence between two front-facing hutches. (Knauer, 2021)

Cross-sucking is a concern with pair or any group-style calf housing. Cross-sucking is defined as the sucking of one calf directed to the body of another (Jensen, 2003). It is considered a management problem and potentially associated with udder deformations, mastitis, blind quarters, and milk loss (Lidfors and Isberg, 2003, Knauer, 2021). Most of the cross sucking occurs 10-14 minutes after milk feeding (Knauer, 2022). Some strategies to minimize cross-sucking are to keep the calves occupied during this time to reduce the desire to cross-suck.

For example, using a slow-flow nipple as opposed to drinking out of a bucket increases feeding time by about 6 minutes (Knauer, 2022). Even after feeding, if the nipple is still available, the calf will suck on the nipple to fulfill its innate desire to suck as opposed to sucking on another calf.

Providing a barrier between calves during feeding time prevents them from switching bottles and reduces cross-sucking (Knauer, 2021)

There are numerous ways in which raising calves can be very successful. Pair housing is one of the social housing types that producers can implement on their farms with measurable benefits. With an increased focus on animal welfare, it is clear that pair housing can provide more health and social benefits for calves as opposed to individual housing. However, pair housing can also introduce new challenges for producers who are used to housing calves individually. When considering changes to your current calf protocols, be sure to weigh both pros and cons of any system that you plan to implement.

References

Alejos de al Fuente, I., et al. 2020. Contribution to animal welfare of dairy calves: housing in pairs. Abanico Veterinario. January-December 2020; 10:1-10.

Costa, J.H.C., Meagher, R.K., von Keyserling, M.A.G., and Weary, D.M. 2015. Early pair housing increases solid feed intake and weight gains in dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 98, Issue 9, September 2015, Pages 6381-6386

DCHA Gold Standards, 3rd Ed. 2020. Performance and production standards for dairy calves and heifers, from birth to freshening.

Miller-Cushon, E.K., and DeVries, T.J., 2016. Effect of social housing on the development of feeding behavior and social feeding preferences of dairy calves. J Dairy Sci. 2016 Feb;99(2):1406-1417.

Jensen, M.B., L. R. Duve, L.R., and D. M. Weary, D.M. 2015. Pair housing and enhanced milk allowance increase play behavior and improve performance in dairy calves. J. Dairy Sci. 98:2568–2575

Jensen, M.B. 2003. The effects of feeding method, milk allowance and social factors on milk feeding behaviour and cross-sucking in group housed dairy calves. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 80:191–206.

Knauer, W.A. Housing Calves in Small Groups: The Pros, Cons, and Best Practices. Hoards, Dairyman, May 2022.

Knauer, W.A. 2021. Paired housing of dairy calves: Current best practices and tips for success. AABP Proceedings, Vol. 54, No. 2.

Knauer, W.A., Godden, S.M., Rendahl, A.K., Endres, M.I., and Crooker, B.A. 2020. The effect of individual versus pair housing of dairy heifer calves during the preweaning period on measures of health, performance, and behavior up to 16 weeks of age. J. Dairy Sci. 104:3495–3507.

Lidfors, L., Isberg, L. 2003. Intersucking in dairy cattle—Review and questionnaire. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 80:207–231.

Mahendran S.A., Wathes, D.C., Booth, R.E., and Blackie, N., 2021. The Health and Behavioral Effects of Individual versus Pair Housing of Calves at Different Ages on a UK Commercial Dairy Farms. Animals (Basel). 2021 Mar; 11(3): 612.

Pempek J.A., Eastridge, M.L., Swartzwelder, S.S., Daniels,K.M., and Yohe, T.T. 2016. Housing system may affect behavior and growth performance of Jersey heifer calves. J Dairy Sci. 99: 569 – 578.

USDA/APHIS, Dairy Herd Management Practices Focusing on Preweaned Heifers, National Dairy Heifer evaluation Project, July 1993

USDA/APHIS Dairy 2014, Dairy Cattle Management Practices in the United States, February 2016