Animal welfare and cow-calf contact-farmers’ attitudes, experiences and adoption barriers

Abstract

While separating the calf from the dairy cow shortly after birth is common practice around the world, stakeholders have conflicting perspectives on whether this practice is harmful or beneficial for the animals' welfare and production. Therefore, we wanted to explore farmer's perceived barriers to and experiences with keeping cow and calf together the first few weeks after birth. The aim of this study was to explore Norwegian farmers' experiences with cow-calf contact and the perceived barriers to adopt this rearing system. To collect farmer's experiences and opinions we used a survey including a stratified sample of 1038 dairy farmers. Farmers were stratified according to geography, gender and conventional versus organic farming. In addition, the researchers had access to interviews with 13 farmers who practice cow-calf contact. The farmers' responses to questions about providing cow-calf contact, defined as contact beyond 14 days, were analyzed using factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results show that while only about 2.8% of Norwegian farmers practice cow-calf contact today, up to 15.3% want to have or plan to start with this practice. The main barriers to adopt cow-calf contact is poorer financial performance, layout of the cowshed and separation distress. Perceived barriers depend on the farmers' degree of production orientation, attitude towards cow-calf contact, the intention to stay in dairy, and whether the farm is run conventional or organic. Separation distress is also a main reason to discontinue cow-calf contact. Those who practice cow-calf contact experience increased weight gain on calves, better calf health and higher farmer wellbeing, while separation distress is the most prominent disadvantage. Farmers who plan for or want to have cow-calf contact are younger and have slightly smaller farms and share many of the same attitudes towards cow-calf contact as do those who practice it. The study also shows that cow-calf contact is an issue which evokes strong emotions among farmers.