dairy cow with calf in field

Performance and Behavioural Effects of Separating Dairy Cows and Their Calves at Birth

Michael Steele

Published:  19/07/2019    in:  Knowledge Summaries
Views
193
Full Text:
90
PDF:
39



dairy cow with calf in field
Abstract
PICO question

In Dairy Cows and Calves separated at birth vs. suckled with the mother, are there any behavioural and performance effects on both cow and/or calf?

Clinical bottom line

Calves allowed to suckle from their mothers show stronger behavioural bonds at weaning and appear to gain more weight (at weaning) than separated and automatically fed calves. However, due to the milk yield loss and subsequent favourable weight gains after weaning from ad lib suckling, automatically fed groups make separation at birth a preferable economic decision.


Open AccessPeer Reviewed
Keywords


Full Text:

Full Text PDF


Click to see References Click to hide References
References

  1. Coffey, M.P., Hickey, J. & Brotherstone, S. 2006. "Genetic aspects of growth of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows from birth to maturity." Journal of Dairy Science 89 (1): 322–329. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72097-5

  2. Costa, J.H.C., von Keyserlingk, M.A.G. & Weary, D.M. 2016. "Invited Review: Effects of group housing of dairy calves on behavior, cognition, performance and heatlh." Journal of Dairy Science 99 (4): 1–15. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-10144

  3. Duffield, T.F., Lissemore, K.D., McBride, B.W. & Leslie, K.E. 2009. "Impact of hyperketonemia in early lactation dairy cows on health and production." Journal of Dairy Science 92 (2): 571–580. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2008-1507

  4. Flower, F.C. & Weary, D.M. 2001. "Effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf: 2. Separation at 1 day and 2 weeks after birth." Applied Animal Behavioral Science 70 (4): 275–284. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(00)00164-7

  5. Grondahl, A.M., Skancke, E.M., Mejdell, C.M. & Jansen, J.H. 2007. "Growth rate, health and welfare in a dairy herd with natural suckling until 6-8 weeks of age: a case report." Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 49 (1): 16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-49-16

  6. Hotzel, M.J., Cardoso, C.S., Rosalindo, A. & von Keyserlingk M.A.G. 2017. "Citizens' views on the practices of zero-grazing and cow-calf separation in the dairy industry: does providing information increase acceptability?" Applied Animal Behaviour Science 100 (5): 4150–4160. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11933

  7. Jaster, E.H. 2005. "Evaluation of quality, quantity and timing of colostrum feeding on immunoglobulin G1 absorption in Jersey calves." Journal of Dairy Science 88 (1): 296–302. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(05)72687-4

  8. Jensen, M.B. 2011. "The early behaviour of cow and calf in an individual calving pen." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 134 (3–4): 92–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2011.06.017

  9. Johnsen, J.F., Ellingsen, K., Grondahl, A.M., Boe, K.E. & Lidfors, L., Mejdell C.M. 2015. "The effect of physical contact between dairy cows and calves during separation on their post-separation behavioural response." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 166: 11–19. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2015.03.002

  10. Jones, C. & Heinrichs, J. 2011. Early Weaning Strategies. Accessed January 25, 2019. https://articles.extension.org/pages/10862/early-weaning-strategies#How_Early_Can_Calves_Be_Weaned.3F

  11. Kisak, P., Broucek, J., Uhrinkat, M. & Hanus, A. 2011. "Effect of weaning calves from mother at different ages on their growth and milk yield of mothers." Czech Journal of Animal Science 56 (6): 261–268.

  12. Lee, H.J., Khan, M.A., Lee, W.S., Yang, S.H., Kim, S.B., Kee, K.S., Ha, J.K. & Choi, J.K. 2009. "Influence of equalizing the gross composition of milk replacer to that of whole milk on the performance of Holstein calves." Journal of Animal Science 87 (3): 1129–1137. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2008-1110

  13. Marchant-Forde, J., Marchant-Forde, R.M. & Weary, D.M. 2002. "Responses of dairy cows and calves to each other's vocalisations after early separation." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 78 (1): 19–28. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(02)00082-5

  14. McArt, J.A.A., Nydam, D.V. & Oetzel, G.R. 2012. "Epidemiology of subclinical ketosis in early lactation dairy cattle." Journal of Dairy Science 95 (9): 5056–5066. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2012-5443

  15. Perez, O., Jimenez de Perez, N., Poindron, P., Le Neindre, P. & Ravault, J.P. 1985. "Mother-young relations and prolactin response to mammary stimulation in the cow: influence of milking and free or fettered suckling." Reproduction and Nutritional Development 25 (4A): 605–618.

  16. Roth, B.A., Barth, K., Gygax, L. & Hillmann, E. 2009. "Influence of artificial vs. mother-bonded rearing on sucking behaviour, health and weight gain in calves." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 119: 143–150. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.03.004

  17. ShinJae, R. 2013. "Vocalization and behavior of Holstein cows and calves after partial and complete separation." Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Pecuarias 26 (1): 24–29.

  18. Stehulova, I., Valnickova, B., Sarova, R. & Spinka, M. 2017. "Weaning reactions in beef cattle are adaptively adjusted to the state of the cow and the calf." Journal of Animal Science 95 (3): 1023–1029. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas2016.1207

  19. 2014. "NAHMS." APHIS. Accessed Jan 14, 2019. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahms/dairy/downloads/dairy14/Dairy14_dr_PartI.pdf.

  20. Valnickova, B., Stehulova, I., Sarova, R. & Spinka, M. 2015. "The effect of age at separation from the dam and presence of social companions on play behaviour and weight gain in dairy calves." Journal of Dairy Science 98 (8): 5545–5556. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2014-9109

  21. von Keyserlingk, M.A.G. & Weary, D.M.,. 2007. "Maternal behavior in cattle." Hormones and Behaviour 52 (1): 106–113. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.03.015

  22. Wagner, K., Barth, K., Palme, R., Futschik, A. & Waiblinger, S. 2012. "Integration into the dairy cow herd: long term effects of mother contact during the first 12 weeks of life." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 141 (3–4): 117–129. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2012.08.011

  23. Wagner, K., Seitner, D., Barth, K., Palme, R., Futschik, A. & Waiblinger, S. 2015. "Effects of mother versus artificial rearing during the first 12 weeks of life on challenge responses of dairy cows." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 164: 1–11. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2014.12.010

  24. Weary, D.M. & Chua, B. 2000. "Effects of early separation on the dairy cow and calf. 1. Separation at 6 h, 1 day and 4 days after birth." Applied Animal Behavioural Science 69 (1): 177–188.

  25. Windsor, P.A. & Whittington, R.J. 2010. "Evidence for age susceptibility of cattle to Johne's Disease." The Veterinary Journal 184 (1): 37–44. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.01.007




Refbacks
  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2019 Michael Steele

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Made possible through a project grant from the RCVS Council.

RCVS