The welfare of dairy calves from birth to weaning is a major concern, with maternal separation, social isolation, and disease being the primary challenges.
Immediate separation causes acute grief responses in cows and calves both — vocalisation, pacing, and failure to eat. Individual housing prevents social play and contact behaviour essential to calf development. Inadequate colostrum management causes failure of passive immunity and increased disease risk. Respiratory disease in crowded, poorly ventilated calf housing causes pneumonia. Extended maternal contact or automated milk feeders providing social contact significantly improve welfare during the rearing period.