The birth process and immediate post-birth management of dairy calves significantly affect their welfare and survival, with attention to colostrum, housing, and disease prevention being critical.
Dairy calf welfare begins at birth and is determined by a sequence of management decisions in the first hours and days of life. Adequate colostrum transfer is fundamental - calves that fail passive transfer face greater disease susceptibility and reduced welfare throughout their short lives. The mother-calf separation standard in dairy production causes acute distress to both animals, yet alternatives including extended suckling periods and calf-friendly dairying remain niche practices. Housing decisions that prioritize disease control through isolation deny calves the social contact that developing animals require. The welfare evidence increasingly supports paired or group housing as a welfare improvement achievable without compromising health outcomes.