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

We assessed effects of two-step debonding strategies in calf rearing systems with different types prolonged cow-calf contact (CCC) on stress responses, health and performance dairy cows calves. Forty-eight Holstein Friesian pairs had either: 1) full including suckling, where was reduced before weaning via fence-line separation at day 49 (FC-FS) (n = 10); 2) contact, 56 by fitting calves a nose-flap (FC-NF) 3) partial (calves were housed pen adjacent to the cow area allowing physical initiative dam but no suckling), moving box from wall prevent (PC-BW) 6); 4) week after away 63 (PC-AW) 12); 5) removed directly birth barn), weaned (NC) 10). Between weeks 7–10, we physiological parameters, weight gain, status calves, plus general activity patterns based accelerometer sensor data before, during interventions. Additionally, subjected four consecutive behavioural tests (i.e. open field, novel object, voluntary human approach involuntary test) prior permanent 70 their responses video recordings assess fearfulness. Machine-harvested milk yields evaluated 6–12. Data analyzed (generalized) linear mixed models. Throughout period, FC-NF an impaired growth rate (P 0.02). In 6–9, FC-FS lower machine-harvested than PC-BW, PC-AW, NC ? 0.01). found differences responsiveness tests, except that exhibited more solitary play events compared PC FC object test 0.002). Overall, our results imply CCC showed low debonding, whereas abrupt seemed most stressful. yield recover once weaned. More research into improve process is warranted. • Debonding may cause distress calf. Calves minimal debonding. nose-flaps negatively impacted CCC. Following CCC, weaning.