Calf measures for dairy research

It could be deemed a back to the future experiment as researchers have initiated a survey into leaving dairy calves with their mothers as the practice of separating calves from their dams within 24 hours of bir th has been accepted for the past century.

T h e p r o j e c t , l e d b y researchers at S cotland’s Rural College, will investigate the cow-with-calf system where calves are kept with their mothers for up to five months. Currently, there are significant barriers to farmers considering running such a system, including understanding the full economic costs of keeping cows with calves, finding markets for the product, cow and calf health benefits and environmental outcomes.

The researchers are looking for volunteer farms interested in operating a cow-with-calf dair y system for the sur vey. They aim to establish how such a system performs in terms of human, animal, environmental and financial health, as well as carr ying out an economic analysis of the system at a farm level looking at factors such as calf growth, cow longevity and animal health. The survey will help researchers build the evidence base around cowwith-calf dairying systems as well as gauging what support farmers need to move to this practice.

T h e s u r v e y w i l l h e l p researchers build the evidence base around cowwith-calf dairying systems and gauge what suppor t farmers need to move to this practice. Part of this will include what business models and marketing channels are available for those dairying with the new system. The research also hopes to highlight pitfalls and animal health considerations specific to cow/calf management.