Abstract
Separation of the cow and calf shortly after birth is a common practice on commercial dairy farms around the world, but there are emerging concerns about this practice among citizens and other stakeholders. Continuous improvement of on-farm management practices in collaboration with dairy sector stakeholders increases the likelihood that farming systems evolve in a way that is consistent with societal expectations. Few commercial dairy farms provide extended cow-calf contact, and there is little understanding of how dairy farmers view this practice. This study examined the views of New Zealand dairy farmers toward providing cow-calf contact, particularly the barriers to adopting such a system in a seasonal-calving pasture-based dairy system. Standard farm practice in New Zealand is to remove the calf from the cow around 24 h (but could be up to 48 h) after birth. These conventional farmers (n = 63) were randomly selected from the database of all dairy farmers in New Zealand and telephone-interviewed using a semistructured interview format. Their responses to questions about providing cow-calf contact (defined as contact beyond the standard practice of 48 h) were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three major themes of concern were identified by these farmers about providing cow-calf contact as follows: (1) poor animal welfare, especially the risk of mastitis in the dam, inadequate colostrum for the calf, increased stress from delayed separation, and lack of shelter for calves while outdoors with the cow; (2) increased labor and stress on staff; and (3) system-level changes required, including infrastructure and herd management. Many of these concerns stemmed from challenges related to the nature of large-scale seasonal-calving pasture-based dairy systems, where a large number of calves are born in a short period of time and may be exposed to inclement weather in late winter in some areas. Several small-scale farmers (n = 4) providing cow-calf contact for longer than standard practice of 48 h were also interviewed; all permitted contact for at least 4 wk. These farmers also felt that animal welfare and health were important, and that this was promoted in their cow-calf contact systems. Concerns about colostrum and mastitis, for example, were not raised by these farmers, but they did agree that additional infrastructure and shelter were important considerations for cow-calf contact systems. Some conventional farmers expressed cognitive dissonance in that they theoretically preferred cow-calf contact but could not see it being realistic or practical to implement. Farmers currently providing longer cow-calf contact may be a useful resource for better understanding of how practical and economical cow-calf contact systems could be adopted on commercial pastoral dairy farms.
Highlights
Concern from the public is growing about where their food comes from, and welfare of farmed animals is a particular focus
We were interested in better understanding the views of New Zealand dairy farmers as they related to the practice of separating cows and calves after birth
We acknowledged that dairy farmers often experience externally-driven pressure to change farm practices in various areas, so this may have influenced their attitudes toward adoption of another value-laden management practice such as providing extended cow-calf contact
Summary
Concern from the public is growing about where their food comes from, and welfare of farmed animals is a particular focus. Providing reasons for why these practices occur on farms does not appear to resolve these concerns (Ventura et al, 2016; Cardoso et al, 2017). Public concern for farm practices has resulted in food retailers setting. Neave et al.: DAIRY FARMERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON PROVIDING COW-CALF CONTACT standards for their supply farms, such as the sourcing of only cage-free eggs for McDonald’s in the United States (Shields et al, 2017). The public’s lack of insight into routine dairy cattle management practices poses a risk to the sustainability of the industry if the practices do not align with societal values, especially regarding management that affects animal welfare (von Keyserlingk et al, 2013; Weary et al, 2016). Given that public opinion can become a major driver for industry changes, there is a need for the dairy industry to be engaged with all stakeholders, promoting transparency and proactive future planning in sustainable dairying
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
