The Science Behind Separating Cows and Calves at Birth

Progressive Dairy

Dairy calves are born in a maternity pen, where they can interact with their mothers. Shortly after

birth and the calf is licked dry, dairy farmers choose to separate cows and calves to ensure proper

health and safety practices are being followed.

Have you ever wondered why most farmers choose to separate dairy cows and calves at birth?

You are not alone. There is less than two percent of the American population that is connected to

agriculture. Now more than ever, the public wants answers to why certain practices occur on the

farm to justify supporting animal production.

The first priority of dairy farmers is to provide safe and delicious products to consumers while

providing the best care possible to their animals and land. Although every farm is different, the

mission and values of each remain the same; to ensure that the environment is safe and healthy

for both dairy cows and calves. It takes proper nutrition, clean living conditions, and access to

medicine when needed to raise cattle, but it all starts at birth.

Farmers move expecting dairy cows to a separate pen with clean bedding and plenty of space to

give birth. Maternity pens allow farmers to observe the calving process and assist if needed.

Each day, the pen is cleaned to remove manure and add fresh bedding to reduce the risk of

cleanliness-related issues. A few other benefits of a maternity pen are fans to keep cows cool,

provide plenty of access to clean drinking water, space for a veterinarian to perform check-ups,

and equipment to support cattle.

Once a calf is born, the mother licks off the coat until it is dry. The cow and calf spend a short

amount of time together before they are separated. The cow is brought to the parlor to be milked

and given extra calcium for post-birth diseases and illnesses. The first milk to come out of a cow

that recently gave birth is called colostrum. Colostrum is very important to making sure a calf

gets a great start to life because it is filled with antibodies and vitamins, which help them gain

strength and energy as well as fight off possible diseases.

The calf is moved to its own pen that is freshly cleaned and bedded. Dairy calves are born with

virtually no immune system and are susceptible to diseases. Some of the diseases that calves can

contract at birth are scours, pneumonia, and Johne’s. Scours are caused by infectious bacteria

from poor quality colostrum and a wet environment. Pneumonia is common after weather

changes and stressful situations. Johne's is a disease that is caused by nursing on teats that are

contaminated with manure. They are also very fragile when they are born. If a cow were to step

on a calf, it could result in broken bones or death.

On the other hand, dairy cows can also be susceptible to diseases if the calf nurses without

proper cleaning. Mastitis is the most common disease that affects dairy cattle in the United

States. It can occur when a calf nurses on dirty teats and bacteria gets inside, but can also be

caused by cold weather, wet bedding, and lack of essential vitamins. There is a decrease in milk

production and milk fat content when cows and calves are raised together.

Milk Means More

A dairy farmer is giving attention to a young calf while cleaning the pen. This photo was taken

shortly before the pen was fed milk replacer and grain. Calves love to interact with people by

licking, jumping, and following them around.

The easiest way for someone to understand the process of separating cows and calves at birth is

to think of a farm as a daycare. The cow needs to go to work to make money to feed her calf. In

other words, she has to milk, eat, and rest for most of the day. The calf is brought to a place

where someone can watch, feed, and care for it; similar to daycare. The farmer can be considered

a babysitter or daycare worker because they are in charge of taking care of the calf while the

mother is working. The careful care provided by the farmer allows the calf to grow healthy and

strong. Once the calf grows up and has her own baby, she will join the mother in the workforce.