Human contact enrichment improves dairy calf welfare

Researchers from the University of Florida demonstrated that socialisation with other calves and a human touch – even for as little as 5 minutes at a time – can improve the welfare of dairy calves. Research shows dairy calves are active around the time of milk feeding and often perform non-nutritive oral behaviours, particularly during weaning. Conventional rearing practices for dairy calves involving routine social isolation and restricted opportunities for natural feeding behaviour have