Page 328 - The Welfare of Cattle

ChaPter 26

Calf Welfare

Munashe Chigerwe
University of California

CONteNtS

Summary ........................................................................................................................................305
Maternity Pen Sanitation ...........................................................................................................305
Colostrum Management ............................................................................................................306
Separation of Calf after Birth ....................................................................................................306
Single Housing vs. Group Housing ...........................................................................................307
Weaning .....................................................................................................................................307
References ......................................................................................................................................308

SUMMarY

Several factors affect the well-being of dairy and beef calves. These factors include: housing,
the environment, nutrition, handling, transportation, health management such as vaccinations and
treatment of sick calves, management procedures such as tail docking, dehorning, and removal of
supernumerary teats, weaning, morbidity and mortality, and euthanasia. There are several peer-
reviewed literature and reviews addressing the above-mentioned factors. This chapter focuses on
the following specific factors affecting calf welfare:

1. Maternity sanitation
2. Colostrum management
3. Separation of calf immediately after birth
4. Single-calf housing vs. group housing
5. Weaning

Maternity Pen Sanitation

The calf contacts the environment for the first time during delivery. In dairy operations, des-
ignated group maternity pens are usually available for close-up cows. Within the maternity pen,
individual cow calving pens might be available. Thus, cows showing signs of impending labor
are moved from group maternity pens to individual maternity pens. The individual maternity pen
allows close supervision of parturition and the new born calf. In cow-calf operations, producers may
designate a calving pasture for close monitoring of cows during the calving season. The manage-
ment of the calving pen influences the level of exposure to infectious pathogens. Pathogens that
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