Abstract Under natural conditions cows and their calves live together. In dairy practice, calves are separated from their mothers within hours after birth and then housed individually. This study investigated the effects of the presence of the dam during the colostrum feeding period and subsequent group housing during early ontogeny on reproduction, milk performance and locomotion at first lactation as well as on longevity in female dairy cattle. Forty female calves were allocated to 1 of 4 treatments according to a 2 × 2 factorial design. The treatments were with or without mother during the 4 days after birth and either single housing or housing in groups of 4 calves between 1 and 8 weeks of age. Thereafter all calves were managed according to routines of the farm until they became primiparous lactating cows. Data about locomotion, milk yield, milking duration and body weight were collected every milking. Information about calving, inseminations, pregnancy and departure of the animal from the herd/group were added to records. We predicted that females raised with early mother contact and group housing will have higher performance as dairy cows. None of the seven performance variables was affected by either the age of separation from the dam or by the type of housing 8 weeks of life. The results indicate that neither provision of maternal care for a few days nor group housing for the duration of milk feeding bring any advantage or disadvantage for later performance in female dairy cattle.

中文翻译：

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早期社会经历不影响雌性奶牛的第一次泌乳生产性状、寿命或对群体变化的运动反应

摘要 在自然条件下，奶牛和小牛生活在一起。在乳业实践中，小牛在出生后数小时内与母亲分开，然后单独饲养。本研究调查了在初乳喂养期间母牛的存在和随后的早期个体发育期间的群体饲养对繁殖、泌乳性能和第一次泌乳时的运动以及雌性奶牛寿命的影响。根据 2 × 2 因子设计，40 头雌性小牛被分配到 4 个处理中的 1 个。在出生后的 4 天内，无论是否有母亲，在 1 至 8 周龄之间单独饲养或以 4 只小牛为一组进行治疗。此后，所有小牛都按照农场的常规进行管理，直到它们成为初产泌乳奶牛。关于运动、产奶量的数据，每次挤奶收集挤奶时间和体重。有关产犊、授精、怀孕和动物离开畜群/组的信息被添加到记录中。我们预测，在早期与母亲接触和集体饲养的情况下饲养的雌性将作为奶牛具有更高的性能。七个性能变量中的任何一个都不受与大坝分离的年龄或寿命 8 周的住房类型的影响。结果表明，在喂奶期间提供几天的母体护理和集体饲养都不会对雌性奶牛的后期生产带来任何优势或劣势。我们预测，在早期与母亲接触和集体饲养的情况下饲养的雌性将作为奶牛具有更高的性能。七个性能变量中的任何一个都不受与大坝分离的年龄或寿命 8 周的住房类型的影响。结果表明，在喂奶期间提供几天的母体护理和集体饲养都不会对雌性奶牛的后期生产带来任何优势或劣势。我们预测，在早期与母亲接触和集体饲养的情况下饲养的雌性将作为奶牛具有更高的性能。七个性能变量中的任何一个都不受与大坝分离的年龄或寿命 8 周的住房类型的影响。结果表明，在喂奶期间提供几天的母体护理和集体饲养都不会对雌性奶牛的后期生产带来任何优势或劣势。