Better Together: Social Calf Housing Strategies

Tuesday, October 6 · 10:00 AM EDT

Globally, expectations have been increasing for housing pre-weaned dairy calves in pairs or groups. We will discuss the various research-demonstrated benefits of social calf housing. We will also review some common challenges producers may face when transitioning to pair or group rearing, and research-based solutions for addressing them. 

Jennifer Van Os is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Van Os received her PhD in Animal Behavior from the University of California-Davis then conducted postdoctoral research in the Animal Welfare Program at the University of British Columbia. She joined the Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences at UW-Madison in 2018. The research in her lab focuses on understanding, evaluating, and improving the welfare of dairy animals. The goal of her extension program is to promote best practices in management and housing to help the dairy industry adapt as our scientific knowledge about animal welfare continues to grow.