Alojamento e Aleitamento de Bezerros Leiteiros: Revisão Sistemática

Dairy calf housing, which can be done individually or collectively, as well as milking, whether with whole milk or milk replacer, significantly influences animal performance and health. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a systematic literature review to evaluate the effects of housing type and milking regime on dairy calf performance. The search was conducted in the Google Scholar database using the descriptors "milk calves" or "milk calf" and "feeding management" or "housing," considering publications in Portuguese from 2014 to 2024. Seventeen scientific articles addressing different types of dairy calf housing and milking were selected. Most studies (59%) were conducted in southern Brazil, reflecting the strong presence of dairy cattle farming in this region. Regarding housing type, 63.2% of studies analyzed individual systems, while 36.8% addressed collective housing. Regarding feeding type, 55% of studies used artificial feeding with milk replacer, while 45% adopted natural feeding, administered directly by the cow. The results indicate that both housing systems require intensive animal care. Individual housing can facilitate health control, while collective housing favors the social behavior of calves. Furthermore, milk replacer feeding has shown the potential to promote greater weight gain, provided it is carried out with proper management and quality products. It is concluded that the type of housing and feeding considers the structural conditions of the property, production objectives, and animal welfare, both of which are determining factors for the performance of dairy calves.