The hypothesis of reduced social activity of early lactating dairy cows when transferred postpartally to a separated barn section (S, group size 9.3 SD 2.1) vs. to a barn section of the main lactating herd (H, group size 130.1 SD 57.9) was tested. Social interactions of 12 cows in S and 14 cows in H were directly observed during the first three hours after transfer. Results (mean frequency per cow and hour) for S-cows vs. H-cows: fewer non-agonistic interactions (S=15.1 +/- 5.4; H=31.1 +/- 4.5, P=0.01), thereof sniffing (S=13.0 +/- 5.1; H=29.0 +/- 4.2, P=0.007), a tendency of less threatening (S=2.8 +/- 1.2; H=5.2 +/- 1.0, P=0.07) and numerically fewer agonistic interactions (S=6.3 +/- 2.6; H=10.3 +/- 2.2, P=0.15). The reduced activity level found may indicate a less social stress level for early lactating dairy cows being transferred to a separated barn section with small group size-findings that are of distinct importance for these cows which are additionally physiologically challenged.