** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT FARM ANIMAL WELFARE OFTEN FOCUSES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF PRE-WEANED ANIMALS, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION PAID TOWARDS SOCIAL HOUSING, PAINFUL PROCEDURES SUCH AS DISBUDDING IN DAIRY CALVES AND TAIL-DOCKING IN LAMBS, AND WEANING. AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS REAL-TIME LOCATION SYSTEMS, PROVIDE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND SOCIAL DYNAMICS IN GROUP-HOUSED ANIMALS THROUGH CONTINUOUS TRACKING OF SOCIAL INTERACTIONS. WE PROPOSE TO EXAMINE SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS AS AN EFFICIENT AND OBJECTIVE METHOD FOR ASSESSING AND PREDICTING THE WELFARE OF PRE-WEANED CALVES AND LAMBS. WE WILL INVESTIGATE: (1) HOW EARLY LIFE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES SHAPE AN INDIVIDUAL'S SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT; (2) HOW AN INDIVIDUAL'S POSITION IN THEIR SOCIAL NETWORK PREDICTS RESPONSE TO A PAINFUL PROCEDURE, AND HOW THIS RESPONSE CHANGES THEIR SUBSEQUENT POSITION IN THE NETWORK; AND (3) HOW AN INDIVIDUAL'S SOCIAL NETWORK POSITION PREDICTS THEIR RESPONSE TO WEANING. WE EXPECT THESE FINDINGS TO PROVIDE NOVEL INSIGHT INTO THE ABILITY TO PREDICT AND IMPROVE ANIMAL WELFARE THROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF SOCIAL INTERACTIONS. THIS RESEARCH WILL HELP TO (1) ADVANCE OBJECTIVE MEASURES OF ANIMAL WELFARE USING NOVEL, AUTOMATED TRACKING TECHNOLOGY, AND (2) SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRECISION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE WELFARE IN PRE-WEANED ANIMALS.