Why Do Dairy Calves Cross-Suck Each Other: A Success Guide

The Neonatal Calf is Biologically Primed for Suckling

How often do we tend to forget that our dairy calves have a "normal" set of biological and behavioral patterns that they are highly motivated to perform? For many years, the dairy industry has weaned calves within a few months of age. However, the way we artificially raise dairy calves is quite different from how wild calves are raised. As an example, calves raised by their dam nurse more frequently in smaller meals, have ad libitum milk offered to them, and are weaned at much later ages than dairy calves [1]. Plus, limit-fed calves show signs of hunger when offered less than 8 L milk a day: they vocalized more often [2] and after feeding, they were more likely to suck any surface in their pen or each other [3]. This is because calves have a biological and behavioral motivation to suckle.

Although research and the experiences of progressive dairy producers have shown advantages of pair or group housing calves, these housing systems have frequently resulted in increased cross-sucking. Cross-sucking is a lifetime habit in cattle, and it is an abnormal behavior linked to management [4]. How can we manage calves to minimize this problem? 

Many of these recommendations apply whether calves are individual, pair, or group housed. 

See "Stop the Suck: Avoiding Cross-sucking with Automated Feeders" for specific management tips to reduce cross-sucking in calves fed by an automated milk feeder (AMF)

Management Recommendations to Limit the Development of Cross-Sucking in Calves

• Open bucket milk feeding calves is not advised as there is a high likelihood that calves will suck on each other or any surface after rapidly consuming their meal [3], [5].
• Feed more milk. From a nutritional perspective, feeding 8 L a day is highly recommended to increase the amount of milk available for growth, especially during the first weeks of life and during chilly weather [6].
• Feed more milk earlier. Calves will consume milk until satiated, and many calves consume 8 L per day by the end of the first week [1], [7].
• Slow down the milk flow in bottles!  It is common to see the nipple holes enlarged so that calves drink their meal quickly. This is not best for the calves as it increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia, and calves will re-direct their suckling to the pen if the meal disappears too quickly [7].
• Consider leaving the bottle in the holder for longer until the calf has satisfied their suckling "needs." Calves with teats removed too quickly redirect their suckling to other calves [7].
• Watch out for the interval between feedings. If one interval is longer than 12 hours, calf feeding behavior will be more intense due to extreme hunger [3]. "Noisy" bawling calves indicate hunger, and this is not biologically normal [2].
• Forage? Chopped grass hay, small grain hay, or straw gives calves something to chew on. While they eat minimal amounts each day, it is a preferred enrichment by calves over brushes, and other "toys" [8], and it may reduce rumen acidosis, and result in higher overall dry matter intake [9], [10]. We recommend a higher NDF hay to avoid restricting calf starter intake.
• Step-down weaning.  Abrupt weaning increases cross-sucking and leads to poor growth after weaning [11]. Feeding calves only once a day for a week prior to weaning is discouraged, as transitioning the gut across ≥ 2 weeks assists calves with consuming enough metabolizable energy from the calf starter to maintain efficient growth after weaning [12]
• When to pair or group house calves? Research indicates that calves adapt well to group or pair housing within 3 to 5 days of age. Once the calf has a vigorous appetite, it is time to transition from individual housing to pair or group housing. 

In summary, remember that calves thrive when they are fed more milk, more frequently. Cross-sucking is a problem when we try to impose management factors that reflect convenience rather than what works best for the calf. The keys to limiting or preventing cross-sucking are: 

• Feed more milk early in life to meet a calf’s nutrient requirements for growth. 
• Increase meal frequency and avoid long intervals between milk meals.
• Practice a step-down weaning plan. For individually fed calves, reduce milk per feeding and only introduce once daily feeding right before weaning. Ideally, weaning should occur over 10 to 14 days (about 2 weeks).

References

[1]  K. Rosenberger, J. H. C. Costa, H. W. Neave, M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, and D. M. Weary, "The effect of milk allowance on behavior and weight gains in dairy calves," J. Dairy Sci., vol. 100, no. 1, pp. 504–512, Jan. 2017, doi: 10.3168/jds.2016-11195.

[2]  T. J. Thomas, D. M. Weary, and M. C. Appleby, "Newborn and 5-week-old calves vocalize in response to milk deprivation," Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 74, no. 3, pp. 165–173, Nov. 2001, doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(01)00164-2.

[3]  A. De Paula Vieira, V. Guesdon, A. M. De Passillé, M. A. G. Von Keyserlingk, and D. M. Weary, "Behavioural indicators of hunger in dairy calves," Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 109, no. 2–4, pp. 180–189, Feb. 2008, doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2007.03.006.

[4]  N. M. Keil, L. Audigé, and W. Langhans, "Is Intersucking in Dairy Cows the Continuation of a Habit Developed in Early Life?," J. Dairy Sci., vol. 84, no. 1, pp. 140–146, Jan. 2001, doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(01)74462-1.

[5]  R. S. Salter, K. J. Reuscher, and J. M. C. Van Os, "Milk- and starter-feeding strategies to reduce cross sucking in pair-housed calves in outdoor hutches," J. Dairy Sci., vol. 104, no. 5, pp. 6096–6112, May 2021, doi: 10.3168/jds.2020-19380.

[6]  Committee on Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Division on Earth and Life Studies, and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Eighth Revised Edition. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2021, p. 25806. doi: 10.17226/25806.

[7]  J. Jung and L. Lidfors, "Effects of amount of milk, milk flow and access to a rubber teat on cross-sucking and non-nutritive sucking in dairy calves," Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 201–213, May 2001, doi: 10.1016/S0168-1591(01)00110-1.

[8]  C. Zhang, D. T. Juniper, and R. K. Meagher, "Effects of physical enrichment items and social housing on calves’ growth, behaviour and response to novelty," Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 237, p. 105295, Apr. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105295.

[9]   M. A. Khan, D. M. Weary, and M. A. G. Von Keyserlingk, "Hay intake improves performance and rumen development of calves fed higher quantities of milk," J. Dairy Sci., vol. 94, no. 7, pp. 3547–3553, Jul. 2011, doi: 10.3168/jds.2010-3871.

[10]   M. A. Khan et al., "Feeding forage or concentrates early in life influences rumen fermentation, metabolic response, immune function and growth of Wagyu × Friesian calves," Anim. Prod. Sci., vol. 60, no. 11, p. 1418, 2020, doi: 10.1071/AN18636.

[11]   P. P. Nielsen, M. B. Jensen, and L. Lidfors, "Milk allowance and weaning method affect the use of a computer controlled milk feeder and the development of cross-sucking in dairy calves," Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., vol. 109, no. 2–4, pp. 223–237, Feb. 2008, doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2007.01.015.

[12]  A. C. Welboren, L. N. Leal, M. A. Steele, M. A. Khan, and J. Martín-Tereso, "Performance of ad libitum fed dairy calves weaned using fixed and individual methods," Animal, vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 1891–1898, 2019, doi: 10.1017/S1751731119000181.