Study links higher milk intake to more play in dairy calves

Dairy calves given higher milk allowances may be more likely to choose play over food-seeking behavior, according to a new University of Bristol study published April 13, 2026, in Scientific Reports. In the study, researchers compared 20 calves fed either 12 liters of milk per day or 6 liters per day, which the authors described as a standard farm allowance, over a three-week period. Using a hole-board test with milk rewards, the team found calves on the lower allowance completed tasks faster and showed better recall when milk was at stake, while calves on the higher allowance were less engaged with the reward task and played more. The authors say the findings suggest hunger can suppress play and shift calves toward food-motivated behavior. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals working in dairy medicine and herd health, the study adds to a broader body of evidence that restricted milk feeding may affect not just growth, but welfare, affective state, and behavior. Earlier Bristol work found that reducing milk allowance impaired calves’ performance on cognitive tasks, and prior research and reviews have linked higher milk allowances with more play behavior and improved welfare-related outcomes. Together, the findings strengthen the case for looking at feeding plans, weaning strategies, and housing systems through both production and welfare lenses. (bristol.ac.uk)

What to watch: Expect more discussion around whether “standard” milk allowances and long intervals between feedings should be revisited as calf welfare metrics evolve. (bristol.ac.uk)