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<p>The activity of calves depends mainly on the way they are housed and not on their age. Because compromised welfare early in life may affect the profitability of future production, calves need to be fed colostrum after birth because their digestive tract is not physiologically active. Calves nurse their dams 7 times per day on average (for up to 70 minutes in total). Weaned calves are generally fed twice per day. Calves have the strongest sucking need between 4 and 5 weeks of age. Several-day-old calves that are housed in separate pens and artificially fed, spend around one-fifth of the day foraging or eating. Cattle have well-developed sense organs. The animals use their senses for foraging, spatial orientation, and social contacts. Cattle normally walk, and trot when frightened. Young calves often indulge in galloping, kicking with hind legs. During disease, the behaviour of calves considerably differs from normal. They respond differently to the environment, their appetite decreases, with changes in thirst, and sometimes in external appearance. Inadequate welfare levels lead to abnormal forms of behaviour, which are reflected in problems adapting to the environment</p> |
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