Kalvens beteende i olika uppfödningssystem
The purpose of this literature review was to investigate how the rearing systems influence the behaviour of dairy calves. Calves are social animals that form groups within the herd where play and social licking between calves are important social activities. Suckling is a complex behaviour and essential for the calf's survival. In the modern rearing systems the calf is usually separated from its mother soon after birth. Calves are then kept in individual pens, group pens or, more rarely, with a foster cow. Feeding system often depends upon housing system and calves in single pens are often feed through buckets or a bucket with a nipple. In group pens calves can be fed in the same manner or trough an automatic calf feeder with nipple. These types of housing systems disregard the calf's natural behaviour and suckling pattern. Due to this abnormal behaviours such as cross-sucking or non-nutritive sucking are common. The conclusion from this literature review is that in regard to the calf's welfare the most appropriate way of housing is with its mother or a foster cow.