Farmers’ experiences of implementing cow-calf-contact systems on organic dairy farms

Most people are unaware of the common practice of separating dairy cows and calves shortly after birth, and when informed, often have a negative view of this practice. To better reflect the natural behavior of cows and calves, some dairy farms are developing alternative systems that allow longer contact between cows and calves than the conventional separation immediately after birth. Such cow-calf-contact (CCC) systems are not widespread but are becoming increasingly important to farmers. The main objective of this work was to descriptively explore the implementation strategies of successful CCC systems on dairy farms and to detect possible drivers and barriers as perceived by the farmers interviewed. To this end, we visited 19 farms in southern Germany that had been running CCC systems for at least 2 years and interviewed them using a standardised questionnaire. We found a wide range of CCC systems with implementation methods varying considerably from farm to farm. Animal welfare considerations and reduced workload were the main drivers for implementation. The interviewed farmers perceived challenges in the separation process and space requirements in their barns. The success, i.e. transitioning to a CCC system and operating it for a longer period, seemed to depend on the farmer's conviction, creativity and management skills to overcome the perceived barriers. The further development of calf rearing should consider societal interests which are increasingly demanding for improved animal welfare.