It has been suggested that the integration of automatic feeding systems into calf rearing programmes has the potential to improve calf behaviour, growth and the associated labour. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the effects of automatic and manual feeding systems on calf health, behaviour, growth and labour. A population of 60 dairy heifer calves was used: 44 Holstein-Friesian (HF) and 16 HF x Jersey (JE), balanced for birth weight (33 ± 4.1 kg), birth date (26 January ± 3.2 days) and breed. The experiment was a randomised block design including two treatments; i) automated calf feeding system (AFS) and ii) manual calf feeding system (MFS). Each treatment was replicated once, so a total of four balanced groups of 15 heifer calves were created. Milk replacer was offered at a rate of 6 L per calf/day (reconstitution rate 15%), with fresh water, ad-libitum concentrates and hay offered from three days old. Calves were weaned based on weight (90 kg for HF and 85 kg for HF x JE). Total labour input/day was consistently less for AFS compared to MFS (-00:01:06 per calf/day). Automatic feeding systems had a higher labour requirement for health inspections and training to the system (+00:00:15 per calf/day and +00:02:06 per calf/day, respectively), on a per calf basis, compared to MFS. The MFS-calves had an increased likelihood of experiencing faecal scores > 0 (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.009; Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.463 – 2.759). The MFS-calves were also more likely to defecate and urinate (OR= 1.450; CI = 1.080-1.945), eat (OR= 1.281; CI = 1.140 – 1.439) and socially interact (OR= 1.300; CI = 1.111 – 1.521), compared to standing. There was no difference in number of days from birth to weaning (80.8 days) and weight at weaning (92.9 kg); average daily gain in both the pre (81 days) and post weaning (79 days) periods was similar between the two treatments (0.74 and 0.70 kg/day, respectively). Patterns for behaviours such as lying and playing were similar and low levels of abnormal behaviours were found in both treatments. Calves in both treatments exhibited good health and normal behavioural patterns as well as similar growth rates. Thus, when managed appropriately, the saving of labour is a distinct advantage automated feeding systems have over their manual counterparts when rearing group-housed calves..

已经提出，将自动饲喂系统集成到小牛饲养程序中具有改善小牛行为，生长和相关劳动的潜力。因此，本研究的目的是比较自动和手动饲喂系统对小牛健康，行为，生长和劳动的影响。使用了60头小母牛犊牛：44头荷斯坦-弗里斯牛（HF）和16头HF x泽西（JE），平衡了出生体重（33±4.1 kg），出生日期（1月26日±3.2天）和品种。实验是包括两种治疗的随机区组设计。i）自动犊牛饲喂系统（AFS）和ii）手动犊牛饲喂系统（MFS）。每个处理重复一次，因此总共创建了15个小母牛犊牛的四个平衡组。每头小牛/天提供6 L的代乳品（复原率15％），随意从三天前开始的精矿和干草。犊牛根据体重断奶（HF为90公斤，HF x JE为85公斤）。与MFS相比，AFS每天的总劳力投入始终较少（每只小牛/天为-00：01：06）。与小牛相比，自动饲喂系统对系统进行健康检查和培训的人工要求更高（分别为每只小牛/天+00：00：15和每只小牛/天+00：02：06） MFS。MFS犊牛出现粪便评分> 0的可能性增加（赔率（OR）= 2.009；置信区间（CI）= 1.463 – 2.759）。MFS犊牛也更可能排便和小便（OR = 1.450； CI = 1.080-1.945），进食（OR = 1.281； CI = 1.140 – 1.439）和社交互动（OR = 1.300； CI = 1.111 – 1.521） ，比起站立。从出生到断奶的天数没有差异（80。8天）和断奶时的体重（92.9公斤）；两种处理之间（断奶前（81天）和断奶后（79天）的平均日增重相似（分别为0.74和0.70千克/天）。躺卧和玩耍等行为模式相似，两种治疗均发现低水平的异常行为。两种疗法中的小牛均表现出良好的健康状况和正常的行为方式，并且具有相似的增长率。因此，当进行适当管理时，节省人工是自动饲喂系统相对于人工饲养牛群具有的相对优势。躺卧和玩耍等行为模式相似，两种治疗均发现低水平的异常行为。两种疗法中的小牛均表现出良好的健康状况和正常的行为方式，并且具有相似的增长率。因此，当进行适当管理时，节省人工是自动饲喂系统相对于人工饲养牛群具有的相对优势。躺卧和玩耍等行为模式相似，两种治疗均发现低水平的异常行为。两种疗法中的小牛均表现出良好的健康状况和正常的行为方式，并且具有相似的增长率。因此，当进行适当管理时，节省人工是自动饲喂系统相对于人工饲养牛群具有的相对优势。