Study examines impact of milk quantities on calf play behavior

A master's thesis from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, examines how varying milk quantities affect the play behavior and social interaction of calves.

The study utilized motion sensors and video analysis to observe movement, object, and social play across different groups. Researchers compared homogeneous groups (all high or all low milk intake) with mixed groups. While initial observations suggested a suppression of play in calves receiving high milk amounts compared to those in high-intake homogeneous groups, subsequent video re-evaluations showed that calves in mixed high-intake groups exhibited play levels equal to or even higher than those in homogeneous high-intake groups. Movement-based play remained the most dominant form of interaction across all studied groups.