The behavioural reactions to humans and the behavioural and physiological responses to handling and short transport were assessed following exposure to different stockperson behaviour and housing conditions. There were 64 male calves studied. Half the calves were housed individually, and the other half were housed in pairs. In both housing conditions, half the calves received minimal human contact, while the other half were stroked for 90 s per day after milk meals. Following the treatments, it was observed that pair-housed calves took longer to interact and interacted less often than individually housed calves. Human contact with the calves resulted in the calves interacting longer with an unfamiliar person, showing less withdrawal responses when approached, loading easier onto a truck, and having lower heart rates than calves that had received minimal human contact. It took longer and was more difficult to load pair-housed calves onto a truck than individually housed calves. However, pair-housed calves had lower heart rates than individually housed calves during transport. There were no interactions found between housing conditions and human contact. Pair housing resulted in calves that were more difficult to handle and more wary of humans, compared to individual housing. Positive human contact resulted in calves that were easier to handle due to their decreased fear of humans.