Situation und Ursachen von gegenseitigem Besaugen bei Kälbern in Gruppenhaltung

Summary

Non-nutritive sucking such as cross-sucking, inter-sucking and sucking and licking parts of the pen is an oral abnormal behaviour shown by calves. This study examines factors affecting non-nutritive sucking behaviour in organic group-housed Austrian Fleckvieh calves (n=37 farms), focusing on non-weaned calves under 8 weeks of age. Factors associated with sucking on housing equipment and inter/cross-sucking were at least partly different thus pointing at different underlying motivations.