Why are dairy cows separated from their calves?

Shortly after birth, calves are usually separated from the cow. There is a simple reason. But are there also alternatives to controversial practice?

The Separation from mother and calf is the rule in today’s milk cow husbandry. The reason: This is the only way to use the entire milk that would be intended by nature for the calf for human consumption. However, there are farmers who consciously choose so that the calves can spend the first months of life with their mothers.

An example is Mechthild Knösel. In the middle of the nineties, the farmer decided to introduce the mother -bound calf breeding on the Hofgut Rengoldshausen on Lake Constance. At that time it was an unusual step, but now many companies have followed up. However, there are still no regulations on how this system is to be implemented in detail.

Mother -bound rearing leads to healthier and fitter calves

In her company, Knösel has established the following procedure: the first few weeks in which the calves are still very unstable, they remain consistently with their mothers. As soon as you have gained strength, the cow is left to the herd for ever longer phases. Finally, follow three months in which the calf is only allowed to the mother twice a day for one hour. When the full separation from the mother is imminent, the farmer grants the animals a longer transition phase.

The positive effect: the calves get as much milk as they want and are lovingly cared for by their mothers. This leads to health and growth. “Our calves are very fit: When stopping the mother, they weigh an average of 200 kilograms and are therefore significantly more heavier than a normal milk calf at this time,” said Knösel.

Farmer does not immediately separate Kälber from the suckler cow: “For some it hits a nerve”

But there is also criticism of the mother -bound rearing: the psychological stress on the animals is higher if, in contrast to conventional attitude, mother and calf are only separated after months. However, Knösel does not see these problems on her farm, as she implements the changes for the animals very carefully. There are also other points and costs. Both do not accept Knösel.

The feeding of the calves takes over the suckler cow for her, so that the bottom line is even a time gain. The cost argument is usually feeding from the fact that cows that supply their calves give less milk. However, farmer Knösel points out that they save costs elsewhere: “Our calves are very robust. As a result, I need almost no veterinarian in the calf stable. Almost no operation can say that, because I know from experience from before and by colleagues that calf health is always a topic.”

According to Knösel, it is also due to the traditions in the thinking of many farmers that he has no longer switched to a mother -bound calf breeding. “Some defend themselves at the idea of ​​trying something like the mother -bound breeding at all. Then look for reasons why it cannot work.” Nevertheless, in the past 15 years, in which Knösel relies on this form of calf breeding, a lot has already happened: “I realize a clear contrast to the past than we were really in the niche with our way of raising the calves. Most farmers have already met the topic And for some it hits a nerve, ”she reports.

Mother -bound rearing in calves: the animal in focus

For the future of dairy cow husbandry, the farmer would like that the needs of the animals are more in focus when keeping. This follows a work with the animal and not against the animal. For the development of the mother -bound calf breeding, Knösel hopes that practical advisory structures will develop that make it easier for interested farmers to switch.

According to animal welfare organizations such as the World Animal Protection Society, funding programs are also necessary so that this animal -friendly method of calf breeding can be established more. As soon as a real market for milk consists of alternatives, consumers in retail can consciously choose. In times of courtes, this would also be an opportunity for smaller farms that can no longer keep up in the conventional area with the large dairy farms.

In order to improve the conditions in the many courtyards that have not yet decided on a mother -bound rearing, the animal rights activists are calling for a keeping regulation for dairy cows. Because so far there has been no such legal framework that would define minimum statutory standards for dairy cow husbandry.

A court list gives orientation

There is no reliable number of how many courtyards are already implementing the mother -bound calf breeding across Germany. However, the world animal protection company offers interested parties with its Uphill list One way to find companies in their own region that implement an alternative calf breeding and sell their milk directly on the farm or at weekly markets. The milk itself has long since received competition through replacement products.