Empirical assessment of feeding and husbandry challenges between early-separation and cow-calf contact rearing systems in southern Germany

ABSTRACT The interest in rearing dairy calves within cow-calf contact (CCC) systems, allowing full (all calves) and partial (some calves) contact, is increasing, driven by growing societal criticism of the early separation of cow and calf after birth. This empirical study aimed to examine the differences between existing early-separation systems (ESS), dairy cow-calf contact systems for some calves (CCS), and dairy cow-calf contact systems for all calves (CCA). An online survey of farmers in Germany was conducted to describe the status quo, identify future challenges, and highlight research gaps. First, a comprehensive questionnaire with 22 open and 26 closed questions was developed. All participants answered partly the same questions (12 open and 15 closed), but specific questions varied according to the rearing system. Only fully completed questionnaires were included in the statistical analysis. After the descriptive analysis, a generalized linear model was applied to examine differences among the 3 rearing systems (ESS vs. CCS vs. CCA). Additionally, Spearman rank correlations were calculated within CCS and CCA. Feeding practices differed between the rearing systems. On 78.6% of farms with CCA and 62.5% of farms with CCS, calves received colostrum directly from the udder, whereas this was the case on only 3.12% of farms with ESS. In CCS and CCA, monitoring the reported intake of colostrum or whole milk by calves was identified as a major transition challenge. Farmers (CCA and CCS) ensured that suckling calves had sufficient milk primarily by regulating the amount of milk retained in the udder. In ESS, participants observed that object-sucking of calves occurred more frequently than in CCA (11.7% ± 1.59% vs. 0.95% ± 0.53% of calves). The participating farms stated greater occurrence rates of health and management issues in CCA compared with ESS, including problems with milk ejection (11.8% ± 3.99% vs. 3.25% ± 0.64% of cows). Farmers (CCA) also observed that cows exhibited increased vocalizations and more frequent movement after separation from the calves. Similarly, participants reported that calves also showed more vocalizations and decreased performance following separation after a longer contact period between cow and calf. Perceptions of transition challenges varied depending on prior assumptions (ESS) or hands-on experience in CCC systems (CCS and CCA). These responses highlight the need for further research to develop practical solutions for the main reported challenges, to ensure a smooth transition without negative effects on cow and calf health and welfare.