A survey on management of milk feeding, weaning and housing of conventional and organic dairy calves in Europe.

Abstract

Background: To safeguard dairy calf welfare, European legislative recommendations on milk feeding practices and minimum standards on housing of calves exist. However, studies providing a general overview of common practices on milk-fed calf rearing across European countries are sparse. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of current milk feeding and housing practices for dairy calves in conventional and organic herds across European countries. Forty-five respondents with extensive knowledge about dairy production and calf rearing from 25 countries and regions were invited to an online questionnaire regarding farm demographics, management of the newborn calves, milk feeding and housing practices of calves 1-4 weeks of age and 5-8 weeks of age, and weaning practices.

Results: A total of 21 respondents from 15 countries and regions responded to the survey. The survey suggests that in conventional herds most calves spent a limited time with the dam after birth (≤ 12 h) with longer durations found in organic herds (> 2 days). Calves 1-4 weeks of age are reported to be commonly housed in individual pens and fed 6-8 L/day in two daily feedings. In most countries and regions, less than 25% of the herds are reported to be practicing ad libitum milk feeding. In most countries and regions, teat buckets or teat bars are reported to be used for milk feeding. In countries and regions where open buckets or troughs are more common, access to permanently mounted artificial dry teats (dummy teats) was typically provided. Calves 5-8 weeks of age are reported to be predominantly group housed and fed 8-10 L/day in two daily feedings with once a day milk feeding occurring more frequently in calves within this age group. Weaning was reported to be most frequently initiated between 8 and 10 weeks.

Conclusions: Based on the respondents' evaluations the survey suggests that there are discrepancies between recommendations based on research and the current practices regarding milk allowance and feeding frequency, and weaning. Legislative or industry regulations on timing of separation from the dam, milk type, or weaning age are primarily implemented for organic production systems in a smaller proportion of countries.