Cattle form strong social bonds with herd members, and abrupt separation - of cows from calves, or adults from established groups - causes measurable distress that can persist for days.
Social bonds in cattle are real and meaningful. Disrupting them - as happens routinely through early calf separation, regrouping and sales - causes documented suffering. While management requirements sometimes necessitate separation, the distress can be reduced by gradual separation, maintaining visual or auditory contact where possible, and minimising unnecessary regrouping.