Disruption of established social bonds in cattle causes significant acute and chronic stress, with major welfare implications for management practices like regrouping and cow-calf separation.
Social bond disruption is an underappreciated welfare cost in modern cattle management. Frequent regrouping, common in dairy systems as animals move between management groups, causes repeated acute stress and prevents formation of stable affiliative relationships. Management approaches that stabilise social groups, introduce animals gradually, and minimise unnecessary movement between pens significantly reduce chronic social stress.