摘要 : 60 crossbred calves were selected to study the effect of different feeding management practices on their abnormal inter-sucking behaviour. The animals were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 15 each and kept in loose pens and given ... 展开 60 crossbred calves were selected to study the effect of different feeding management practices on their abnormal inter-sucking behaviour. The animals were randomly assigned to 4 groups of 15 each and kept in loose pens and given chopped green fodder ab. lib. The control group of calves were given concentrate mixture before feeding of milk in the morning and evening. The calves were tethered individually and fed milk, and then let loose immediately afterwards. Calves in group 2 (TI) were fed milk as in the control group, but concentrate was given just after milk feeding. Calves in group 3 (T II) were fed concentrates as in the control group, but were tethered separately for 20 min after milk feeding before being let loose in the pen. Calves in group 4 (T III) were tethered for 20 min as in T II, and were then given concentrates as in T I. Inter-sucking behaviour was recorded continuously for 2 h after milk feeding in the morning and evening for 5 days in each group. Abnormal sucking of the appendages of pen-mates after milk feeding decreased to 33.33, 20.00 and 13.33% of control values in T I, T II and T III respectively. The time (s/h) and frequency (number/h) of abnormal sucking behaviour was lower (P<0.01) in T I, T II and T III compared withcontrols. The average duration of abnormal sucking was 397.94, 76.52, 46.65 and 60.00 s/frequency in controls, T I, T II and T III respectively. It is concluded that abnormal sucking behaviour in group-penned weaned calves can be controlled by adoptingappropriate feeding management practices. 收起