Gradual weaning of 3-month-old calves from foster cows in dairy production.

When calves are reared by cows, separation can be stressful, and it is often advised to use gradual weaning to minimize this stress. In foster cow systems, one gradual weaning method is to remove the foster cows, one by one, from the cow-calf group. The response to one-by-one removal of foster cows of 32 calves housed in 5 groups was studied.

Dairy cows' motivation to nurse their calves.

When weaning offspring, female mammals limit nursing opportunities. This study aimed to investigate whether imposing a gradual reduction in daily contact time, by separating cows from their calves as an attempt to stimulate weaning, reduced dairy cows' motivation to nurse their calves. For seven weeks, 84 Holstein-Friesian cow-calf pairs were housed with either full-time (23 h contact/d), part-time (10 h contact/d), or no contact.

Maternal behavior of dairy cows and suckling behavior of dairy calves in different cow-calf contact conditions.

Cow-calf contact has been suggested as an alternative to the common practice of early separation of dairy cow and calf. Increasing cow-calf contact poses challenges by reducing the machine milk yield and increasing separation stress. Part-time cow-calf contact may prove more feasible than full-time contact for farmers but may affect the maternal behavior of the cows.

Invited review: The effect of weaning practices on dairy calf performance, behavior, and health-A systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the literature assessing the effects of weaning practices on performance, behavior, and health of dairy calves. Only published, peer-reviewed articles written in English and specifically assessing the effects of weaning treatments on dairy calves were eligible for inclusion. Studies had to include 2 or more treatment groups that addressed at least one of 4 interventions: weaning age (i.

Do calves hide after birth? Postpartum behavior of dairy calves and their dams housed in individual calving pens.

Under near-natural conditions, domesticated dairy calves hide the first days after birth before cow and calf join the herd. In commercial dairy production, an opportunity to seclude from the herd after parturition is rarely given. This study aimed to investigate the effect of providing a covered area in an individual calving pen on maternal and neonatal calf behavior.

Behavior of calves reared with half-day contact with their dams.

Dam-calf contact has been suggested to improve animal welfare in dairy calves, but practical and economical concerns have led to interest in half-day contact between cows and their calves. However, little is known about the behavioral effects of half-day contact compared with whole-day contact. The present study investigated the behavior of 45 dairy calves housed with their dams in either a whole-day system (cows only away twice daily for milking) or a half-day system (cows away from afternoon milking until after morning milking the next day).

Behavioral responses of dairy cows and their calves to gradual or abrupt weaning and separation when managed in full- or part-time cow-calf contact systems.

There is growing interest in managing cow and calf together for a prolonged period, but concerns remain about how best to wean and separate the cow and calf to minimize stress. One approach is to progressively reduce suckling opportunity over time, as in nature. There is also interest in part-time contact (suckling for part of the day) to improve milk yield for the farmer and potentially reduce stress at weaning and separation.

Do cows see the forest or the trees? A preliminary investigation of attentional scope as a potential indicator of emotional state in dairy cows housed with their calves.

A positive mood in humans tends to broaden attentional scope while negative mood narrows it. A similar effect may be present in non-human animals; therefore, attentional scope may be a novel method to assess emotional states in livestock. In this proof-of-concept exploratory study, we examined the attentional scope of dairy cows housed with their calves either full-time, part-time (during daytime only), or with no calf contact (enrolled  = 10 each).

Comparing weaning methods in dairy calves with different dam contact levels.

Allowing the dam to rear her calf is an alternative practice in the dairy industry where cow and calf may gain welfare benefits from performing natural and highly motivated behaviors. However, this system has been linked to an increased separation and weaning response. Reducing the daily dam-calf contact time may be a way to prepare the calf for weaning and separation.

Effects of feed energy density, daily milking frequency, and a single injection of cabergoline on behavior and welfare in dairy cows at dry-off.

Drying off dairy cows may challenge animal welfare due to high milk yields. A total of 111 loose-housed Holstein cows yielding >15 kg/d of milk were included in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design during dry-off to investigate the effects of reduced feeding level (normal vs. reduced energy density), reduced milking frequency (twice vs.

Welfare of dairy cows.

This Scientific Opinion addresses a European Commission's mandate on the welfare of dairy cows as part of the Farm to Fork strategy. It includes three assessments carried out based on literature reviews and complemented by expert opinion. Assessment 1 describes the most prevalent housing systems for dairy cows in Europe: tie-stalls, cubicle housing, open-bedded systems and systems with access to an outdoor area.

Welfare of calves.

This Scientific Opinion addresses a European Commission request on the welfare of calves as part of the Farm to Fork strategy. EFSA was asked to provide a description of common husbandry systems and related welfare consequences, as well as measures to prevent or mitigate the hazards leading to them. In addition, recommendations on three specific issues were requested: welfare of calves reared for white veal (space, group housing, requirements of iron and fibre); risk of limited cow-calf contact; and animal-based measures (ABMs) to monitor on-farm welfare in slaughterhouses.

Effects of feeding level and milking frequency on behavior of dairy cows before dry-off.

Drying-off may challenge the welfare of especially high-yielding dairy cows. In this study, 119 loose-housed Holstein cows yielding ≥20 kg milk/d were enrolled in a 2 × 2 factorial design aiming to investigate effects of changes in diet energy density and daily milking frequency on behavior. The last 7 d before the dry-off day, cows were milked either twice or once daily, and were fed either a lactation diet or the same diet diluted with 30% barley straw, both offered in individual bins for ad libitum intake.

The effect of hides and parity on behavior of periparturient dairy cows at pasture.

Under natural conditions, most parturient cows seek visual cover or seclude themselves from the herd when calving becomes imminent. Studies on calving site selection of dairy cows housed indoors show that predominantly older and dominant cows calve in secluded areas. This study aimed to investigate whether cows distance themselves further from herd members under spacious outdoor conditions and whether artificial hides on a pasture motivate cows to seek visual isolation from the herd.

Hay provision affects 24-h performance of normal and abnormal oral behaviors in individually housed dairy calves.

Dairy calves often perform abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) including tongue rolling and nonnutritive oral manipulation (NNOM) when opportunities to perform feeding behaviors are restricted. Many US dairy farms limit access to milk, a well-studied risk factor for ARBs. However, farms also commonly do not feed forage to young calves, and the motor patterns of oral ARBs resemble those necessary for acquiring and chewing solid feed.

A survey on management and housing of peri-parturient dairy cows and their calves.

Housing and management around the time of calving impact dairy cow behaviour, health and welfare, but little is known about current practice. The aim was to provide an overview of current calving practice and the study describes the main calving housing and management based on replies to an online questionnaire by 42 dairy cattle experts in 28 countries, or regions, in Europe, Canada and USA. The survey suggests that in the majority of countries and regions included in this study, dairy cows typically calve in indoor calving facilities; either individual pens, group pens or a system where the cow is moved from a group pen into an adjacent individual pen before calving.

Invited review: Freedom from thirst-Do dairy cows and calves have sufficient access to drinking water?

The importance of drinking water for production and animal welfare is widely recognized, but surveys and animal welfare assessment schemes suggest that many dairy calves and dairy cows do not have sufficient access. Limit milk-fed calves drink more water than calves fed milk ad libitum, but ad libitum milk-fed calves also require access to drinking water, as milk does not meet the animal's requirement for water. At hot ambient temperatures and when calves are sick, access to water is especially important and should be provided at all times.

Effects of feeding level, milking frequency, and single injection of cabergoline on feed intake, milk yield, milk leakage, and clinical udder characteristics during dry-off in dairy cows.

Abrupt and gradual dry-off strategies by reducing feeding level (normal vs. reduced energy density), reducing milking frequency (twice vs. once daily), and administration of a dopamine agonist after last milking (i.

Assessing response to dry-off in dairy cows kept outdoors using spontaneous behaviours and infrared thermography-a pilot study.

We used spontaneous behaviours to assess response to dry-off involving abrupt dietary and milking frequency changes, followed by regrouping, after the last milking in 15 clinically healthy Holstein-Frisian cows kept outdoors. Moreover, we explored the potential of infrared thermography to detect eye temperature variations possibly induced by dry-off. On days - 1, 0, 1 and 2 relative to dry-off, we recorded whether cows vocalised during feed delivery; ate fresh feed within 5 min; and mean maximum eye temperature at approximately 1 h after feed delivery.

Methodology for experimental and observational animal studies in cow-calf contact systems.

In this Research Reflection we describe a common standpoint on suitable methodology for controlled and observational studies in cow-calf contact systems in dairy production. Different methods to assess behaviour, health and production in cow-calf contact systems are outlined. Knowledge and experience from researchers working in this field supplement scientific literature whenever relevant.

Methodological terminology and definitions for research and discussion of cow-calf contact systems.

Due to increasing public concern regarding separation of the dairy cow and calf within the first days after birth, alternative systems, where cows and calves stay in contact for an extended period, are receiving increasing interest from a broad array of researchers and other stakeholders. With more research in the area, there is a risk of inconsistencies emerging in the use of terminology. To create a better consensus in further discussions, the aim of this Research Reflection is to provide definitions and propose a common terminology for cow-calf contact in dairy production.

Invited review: Lying time and the welfare of dairy cows.

Adequate time lying down is often considered an important aspect of dairy cow welfare. We examine what is known about cows' motivation to lie down and the consequences for health and other indicators of biological function when this behavior is thwarted. We review the environmental and animal-based factors that affect lying time in the context of animal welfare.

Dairy cows with mild-moderate mastitis change lying behavior in hospital pens.

In dairy production, mastitis is a major problem affecting animal welfare, productivity, and economy. Hospital pens are typically not used for cows with mastitis, except for severe cases involving recumbency. This field trial included 47 cows from three Danish herds followed for 8 d, of which days 1-5 involved the experimental housing.

The effect of milk feeding strategy and restriction of meal patterning on behavior, solid feed intake, and growth performance of male dairy calves fed via computer-controlled milk feeders.

Dairy calves are often offered milk allowance at a flat rate during the first 6 wk of life, although an initial high allowance followed by a stepwise reduction (step-down strategy) may correspond better to the calves' nutritional needs. The amount of milk offered per feeding is typically constant. However, during natural suckling, the daily number of milk meals (suckling frequency) declines with age, which may reflect increased consumption of solid feeds.

Dairy cows fed a low energy diet before dry-off show signs of hunger despite ad libitum access.

Drying-off is one important management step in commercial dairy farms and consists of ceasing milk production artificially at a specific point in time, generally 2 months before the next calving. Drying-off typically comprises dietary changes as well as gradual or abrupt changes in daily milking frequency, which may challenge the welfare of high-yielding cows. This study investigated the isolated and combined effects of different feed energy densities (normal lactation diet versus energy-reduced diet, both offered ad libitum) and daily milking frequencies (twice versus once) on the feeding motivation of dairy cows on two separate days prior to dry-off (i.