Well-fed calves more likely to play, study finds
Calves that were fed less had better recall to complete the maze, while well-fed calves were more engaged with play.
New research from the University of Bristol has explored how hungry animals will choose to sacrifice play to prioritise finding food.
The study, which focused on a group of calves, discovered that those which were well-fed were more likely to engage with play.
Researchers observed two groups of ten calves which were fed different amounts daily. One group was fed 12 litres of milk while the other was fed six litres – the normal amount on dairy farms.
Each group of calves was then asked to find some milk in a maze.
The calves which had been fed less were found to have better recall, and were quicker to complete tasks for a milk reward. Meanwhile, calves which were fed more appeared more engaged with playing than with the maze task.
The study is said to be the first to prove that hungry animals will prioritise finding food over taking part in play. Researchers say the findings have expanded their understanding of how hunger might suppress other competing motivations and emotions.
It is expected that this research will inspire further investigation into how animals prioritise conflicting behaviours and incentives. This might be particularly beneficial for the welfare of farm animals, which may have limited opportunity to express certain behaviours.
Ben Lecorps, senior lecturer and animal welfare scientist at the University of Bristol Veterinary School, said: “The key takeaway for dairy farmers is that the standard milk allowance for calves may disrupt other important behaviours, which indicate that they may experience hunger.
“The research suggests feeding calves more may not only be beneficial as it suppresses hunger, but also because it contributes to the expression of other important behaviours like play.”
While the two groups were given a different milk allowance over the three week period, all the calves went without food for 16 hours before being tested. This was in-line with normal farm feeding practices, where calves are fed at 8am and 4pm.
Dr Lecorps added: “Despite this long period without milk, calves fed more still prioritised playing. This tells us a lot about how much play matters for them.”
The full study can be found in the journal Scientific Reports.
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