Weaning is one of the most stressful events in the lives of young livestock, requiring careful management to minimize welfare impacts.
Weaning represents a fundamental disruption for young animals — the simultaneous loss of maternal nutrition, social bond, and familiar environment. Abrupt weaning, which is standard practice in most commercial livestock systems, causes acute distress that is measurable in vocalization rates, activity patterns, and cortisol profiles. Beyond acute distress, weaning stress suppresses immunity and increases vulnerability to disease in the weeks following separation. Management strategies including gradual weaning, fence-line contact between mothers and young, social housing of weanlings in stable groups, and provision of high-quality feed can meaningfully reduce welfare impacts.