Providing social contacts and objects for nibbling moderates reactivity and oral behaviors in veal calves (1997)

Veissier, I., Chazal, P., Pradel, P. et al.

Abstract

Calves kept in isolation displayed more startled reactions. Calves without objects spent more time nibbling at the feeding grille, licking their lips and tongue-rolling. Depriving calves of social contacts increases behavioral reactivity, probably because there are no peer animals through which reactions can be moderated, and the lack of adequate objects to nibble promotes self-directed activities.