The objective of this research was to determine if confinement of 8-day-old calves for varying lengths of time is associated with an increase in motivation to perform locomotor behaviours. Forty-eight Holstein heifer and bull calves were used in a factorial arrangement with tow crossed factors. Factor A was housing with two levels (individual confinement versus group pens) and factor B was hours in confinement with four levels (6, 12, 24, and 48 h). Individual confinement was in 1.06 m X 1.06 m pens, while group pens had a 3.68 m X 6.09 m outside run and a 3.68 m X 6.09 m covered area that also contained a 3.68 m X 2.44 m area bedded with wood shavings. The calves were placed on treatment when they were 8 2 days of age. At the end of the treatments, a blood sample was taken for plasma cortisol determination and lymphocyte counts and the calves were open-field tested for 5 min. Walk, trot, distance traveled and behaviours performed while standing during the open-field test were higher in the calves kept in group pens, but were not influenced by hours in treatment. Valves confined for 48 h had greater incidences of kicking and falling. Lymphocyte count was lower in the calves confined for 12 h, but there was not a trend across hours in confinement that indicated a consistent effect. Housing or hours in treatment did not affect canter, buck, buck-kick, rear, stumble, vocalization and cortisol concentrations. The interaction between hours in treatment and housing was not significant for any of the variables tested. This study suggested that 2 days may not have been enough time for the effects of close confinement to influence motivation in young calves, or that calves averaging 8 days of age may be too young to display increased motivation for lomotor activity. Confinement of such young calves actually inhibits locomotor activity in open-filed tests.