7697: Suckling, a natural calf rearing system for organic dairy farms
(2006) Suckling, a natural calf rearing system for organic dairy farms . Paper presented at Joint Organic Congress, Odense, Denmark, May 30-31, 2006..
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Summary
Abstract - Maternal behaviour and contact between cow and calf is limited or absent in modern dairy systems due to the wide use of bucket feeding. This is also the case in organic dairy systems. An increasing number of individual farmers are not satisfied with the artificial bucket feeding system. In order to improve the welfare of their dairy cattle, a number of organic farms introduced suckling systems. On the dairy farms that make use of a suckling system calves are suckled by their mother or a nurse cow, for a duration that ranges from three days up to three months. We evaluated on-farm the growth and production of calves reared in a bucket feeding system or a suckling system. Suckling systems make better use of the growing potential of calves in the first months of their lives. A high weaning weight may result in a lower age at first calving and a higher weight at calving. Higher bodyweight at calving also has a positive effect on milk production in the first lactation .
| Document Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Subject Areas: | Animal husbandry > Production systems > Dairy cattle Animal husbandry > Health and welfare Animal husbandry > Feeding and growth |
| Research affiliation: | International Conferences > Joint Organic Congress 2006 > Theme 7: Development of livestock production systems |
| Total budget (Euro): | 0 |
| Orgprints ID Number: | 7697 |
| Contact: | Langhout, J. |
| Deposited On: | 09 May 2006 |
| EPrint Type: | Submit a paper or a poster to a conference |
| Published?: | Published |
| Type of presentation: | Paper |
| Peer Review Status: | Not peer-reviewed |
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