Comparing gradual debonding strategies after prolonged cow-calf contact: Stress responses, performance, and health of dairy cow and calf

• Published in: Applied animal behaviour science Vol. 253; p. 105694
• Main Authors: Wenker, Margret L., van Reenen, Cornelis G., Bokkers, Eddie A.M., McCrea, Kirste, de Oliveira, Daiana, Sørheim, Kristin, Cao, Yanran, Bruckmaier, Rupert M., Gross, Josef J., Gort, Gerrit, Verwer, Cynthia M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2022
• Subjects: accelerometers; Animal and Dairy Science; Animal welfare; barns; Behavioral Sciences Biology; calves; dairy cows; Etologi; fearfulness; health status; Holstein; humans; Husdjursvetenskap; mechanical harvesting; milk; milk yield; Mother-bonded rearing; Sensor data; Separation; Suckling; Weaning; weight gain; Suckling; Animal welfare; Mother-bonded rearing; Separation; Sensor data; Weaning
• ISSN: 0168-1591; 1872-9045; 1872-9045
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105694

We assessed effects of two-step debonding strategies in calf rearing systems with different types of prolonged cow-calf contact (CCC) on stress responses, health and performance of dairy cows and calves. Forty-eight Holstein Friesian cow-calf pairs had either: 1) full contact including suckling, whe...