Activity, oral behaviour and slaughter data as welfare indicators in veal calves: a comparison of three housing systems

A study was conducted to compare activity, oral behaviour and slaughter data of veal calves kept in three different housing systems: (1) individual housing (IH) where calves are kept in individual crates; (2) group housing (GH) where calves are kept in individual crates during the first 8 weeks and thereafter in groups of five to seven individuals, and (3) Peter's Farm(R) (PF) a housing system where calves are kept in large groups fed via an automatic feeding station. Six commercial farms with Holstein-Friesian bull calves for each housing system were selected (n = 18). Behavioural observations were done at weeks 2, 3, 6, 12 and 24 after arrival of the calves at the farm to measure time budget in the morning and 30 min after feeding, and 24 h activity. All farms were assessed by the animal needs index (ANI) at week 12. The 24 h activity pattern of calves in IH and in GH showed peaks around feeding time. activity of calves in PF was distributed equally over the day. Calves in PF were standing less and lying more (P < 0.001), showed less oral behaviour (P < 0.001) and less self-grooming (P < 0.01) than calves in IH and GH. The first 30 min after feeding, oral behaviour was observed in all three housing systems; the first 10 min mostly calf-directed oral behaviour. Slaughter data showed that hair balls in the rumen were found most in III, less in GH, and least in PF (P < 0.001). I-Ib concentration in the blood was highest in PF calves (P < 0.001). No differences were found with regard to abomasal ulcers, tongue damages and adrenal gland weight. PF had a better score on the ANI than IH and GH (P < 0.01). Significant correlations were found between the ANI and some behavioural and slaughter data. Overall, the measured parameters gave some indication that welfare has improved in PF during the first 6 weeks of life. At a later age, these parameters indicated that in PF a similar welfare existed as in IH and GH. Food but not housing conditions seems to be the determinative factor at that age. IH and GH were not different for many parameters. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.