Performance and Health of Dairy Calves Using Different Types of Commercial Housing1

Three housing types for neonatal dairy calves were compared on a commercial 1500-cow dairy in central California. Three types of housing were: 2.0 × 1.0 × 1.0 m wooden hutch; 2.0 × 1.0 × 1.3 m thermolded opaque polymer hutch with an outdoor pen 1.4 × 1.8; and 2.0 × 1A × 1.3 m molded opaque polyethylene hutch with an outdoor pen 1.7 × 1.5 m. Effects of type of housing on grain intake, growth, stress indices, and health from birth through 6 wk of age were studied from August through October. Results from 29 Holstein heifer calves showed no differences (P>0.05) in grain intake and average daily gain regardless of housing type. Red blood cell count, white blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit showed no (P>0.05) housing effects and were within normal ranges. The stress parameters of cortisol and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio showed temporal effects (P<0.01) but not a housing effect.