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Cow-calf contact (CCC) systems offer behavioural and nutritional opportunities for dairy calves that are often restricted or altogether lacking in artificial rearing systems. However, research thus far has focused heavily on the short-term effects of providing CCC, and rarely on contact periods longer than 3 months. The aim of this thesis was to assess the behavioural development and productive performance of dam-reared dairy calves, from birth to the end of their first lactation. Calves were reared in 1 of 5 experimental trials; calves (12–26 per trial) had 3–6 months of full contact with their dams, after which they were weaned, separated, and managed with other youngstock on the research farm. To allow for comparisons of growth, fertility, and first-lactation milk yield, dam-reared heifers were matched on a 1:1 basis to farm-managed, artificially-reared heifers. During the preweaning rearing period, calves housed in a calf-driven system performed fewer but longer suckling bouts as they aged, while this change in suckling behaviours was not observed in calves housed with cow-driven CCC. Allosuckling (i.e., suckling on cows other than the dam) behaviour increased with age for all calves when housed indoors, and was more prevalent with cow-driven CCC. Additionally, dam-reared heifers grew at high rates (1.1–1.4 kg/d) during the contact period. In response to fenceline weaning at both 4 and 6 months of age, calves vocalised, reduced their lying time, increased their locomotor activity, and demonstrated growth checks. These responses were slightly stronger for 4-month-old calves but were overall not associated with time spent in close proximity to dams prior to weaning. Fertility-based measures appeared similar between dam-reared and artificially-reared animals, both prior to first calving and during the first lactation. Dam-reared animals produced less milk and had a poorer persistency during their first lactation; however, milk yield varied between individuals, which may be linked to differences in dam-calf contact management during rearing. This thesis provides evidence that extended periods (i.e., 3–6 months) of dam-calf contact facilitate high growth and expression of motivated suckling behaviours in calves prior to weaning, but may negatively influence long-term productive performance.

Nyckelord

cow-calf contact; dam rearing; calf management; heifer development; suckling; dam-calf bond; weaning distress; milk yield; fertility; dairy cattle; ko och kalv; uppfödning av kalvar; kalvskötsel; utveckling av kvigor; digivning; anknytning; avvänjningsstress; fertilitet; mjölkmängd; mjölkkor

Publicerad i

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae
2025, nummer: 2025:84
Utgivare: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU författare

UKÄ forskningsämne

Husdjursvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.54612/a.1tqqhpqsu1
  • ISBN: 978-91-8124-068-9
  • eISBN: 978-91-8124-114-3

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/142485