By Andi Anderson
Thinking about switching to social housing for calves but unsure where to start? Dr. Jennifer Van Os from the University of Wisconsin-Madison shares practical insights to guide the transition to pair or group rearing systems.
Social housing benefits calves both physically and behaviourally. Behavioural gains include more play, better social development, stronger stress resilience during weaning, and improved learning. Physically, calves tend to consume more solid feed, gain weight faster, and may be better protected from cold stress.
To implement social housing successfully, farmers must consider calf health, facility design, and behavior management.
Key health goals include:
- Mortality rate below 3%
- Morbidity (illness) rate under 10%, ideally 5%
- Good colostrum management and regular testing for passive immunity
- Vaccination programs suited to herd health
Facilities should address:
- Whether to modify or rebuild housing
- Indoor vs. outdoor environments
- Housing types: pair hutches, super hutches, pens
- Feeding system improvements
- Proper ventilation and hygiene
When it comes to behavior, one concern is cross-sucking, which can harm other calves. Van Os recommends:
- Feeding 8–10+ quarts of milk daily
- Gradual weaning based on solid feed intake
- Using slow-flow nipples and pacifiers
- Designing feeding areas to reduce competition
- Employing lock-up systems to lower stress
Group size and pairing tips:
- Start pairing by 2 weeks of age
- Groups should have no more than 2 weeks’ age range
- Minimum 30 sq ft per calf of dry bedding space
- Fence-line contact isn’t equal to full contact for development
Social housing also builds consumer trust, aligning calf care practices with public expectations for animal welfare. As more people ask where their food comes from, practices like these help farming earn continued support.
Photo Credit: istock-emholk
Categories: Michigan, Education