Effects of low temperatures on microclimate, clinical status, and behaviour of calves under different housing systems

Authors

• Mykhailo Matvieiev National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1281-9032
• Tetyana Dyman Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6428-1476
• Oleksandr V. Borshch Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5174-1309
• Andriy Getya National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4747-9261
• Oleksandr O. Borshch Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8450-2109
• Nataliia Nedashkivska Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9888-5000
• Lesia Bondarenko Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4927-876X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.179890

Keywords:

cold stress, individual hutches, bioclimatic indices, feeding behaviour, faecal quality, respiratory diseases

Abstract

Objective of this study was to investigate the effects of low ambient temperatures (–14.2 °C) on microclimate, behaviour, and welfare indicators of calves housed in individual hutches located either outdoors under shelters or indoors in a lightweight prefabricated building (indoor vs. outdoor housing). Research was conducted on a dairy farm in Ukraine using Holstein calves. Air temperature in hutches located indoors was 4.8 °C higher (p < 0.001), while wind speed was 4.2 km h⁻¹ lower (p < 0.001) compared with outdoor hutch placement. Calves housed indoors had a significantly higher skin temperature (+2.7 °C; p < 0.001). Also, these calves spent more time standing (+15 min day^-1; p < 0.01), moving (+7 min day^-1; p < 0.001), and drinking water (+4 min day^-1; p < 0.01). However, the duration of concentrate intake and the total time spent inside the individual hutches were longer in calves housed outdoors under shelters (+9 min, p < 0.05; and +17 min, respectively). Better average faecal scores were observed in calves housed outdoors (+0.04; p < 0.05).