[Lying behavior and space requirements of German Schwarzbunt fattening calves in box stalls].

In German Black Pied calves the height of wrist and length of body was measured and the want of space in lying situation in relation to height of wrist in different stadiums of age was calculated. For this relation was obtained the factor of 0.7, that means that 70 p.c. of the height of wrist are wanted by calves at the end of fattening (up to 250 kg) for lying. A totally extended behaviour in lying is kept during 1.6 and 0.9 p.c. of the length of day by calves which are offered an unlimited, limited space (boxes) respectively. More than 60 p.c. of the phase of this behaviour are lasting less than two minutes. Based on this behaviour found out and on the body measures this quotient seems to be justified as critical value for the minimum want of space in single boxes. As maximum width of a box 80 to 85 cm were calculated up to an age of 25 weeks. The length of the boxes should be related to the length of body and 45 cm more. This means for the found body measures a minimum length of about 180 cm. A higher value would correspond more to a species-related keeping of veal calves than a greater width of the box.