Research into extended nursing programmes for dairy calves shows welfare benefits for both calves and cows, challenging the standard practice of immediate separation.
Early separation of dairy calves from their mothers is one of the most ethically contested practices in mainstream dairy farming. Both cow and calf show distress responses at separation: cows vocalise persistently for days, and calves show behavioural indicators of distress and reduced immune function. Extended nursing programmes delay and sometimes significantly reduce this distress, producing calves that are healthier, more socially competent, and better able to cope with subsequent welfare challenges. The economic case for extended nursing is also strengthening as evidence accumulates for reduced medication costs and improved lifetime productivity. The barriers are logistical and cultural rather than fundamentally economic.