The potential of suckling systems in calf rearing in Dutch organic dairy farming: practical implementation and live weight development

J.P.T.M. Wagenaar and J. Langhout

Abstract
Efficiency, both in terms of feed cost and labor input, and minimizing the risk of disease transmission are the key features of calf rearing in modern dairy farming.

In the Netherlands, there is little difference in calf rearing methods between conventional and organic dairy farms. Calves are separated shortly after birth. They are bucket fed and raised according to a housing concept that reduces contact with animals of other age groups.

An increasing number of farmers and consumers are dissatisfied with the current calf rearing approach. Maternal behavior, cowcalf bonding and social learning are absent. Suckling systems are a promising alternative: calves are nursed by their mothers, suckled with milk. Calves also learn to eat roughage at a younger age, have social contact with other calves and cows, and have enough space to exercise and play. Suckling systems are not only about the wellbeing of calves and consumers’ perception. They should be economically feasible and deliver healthy, well-developed and easy-to-handle dairy cows.

This article presents the practical achievements reached by farmers who introduced a suckling system. In order to assess the potential of suckling systems in modern organic dairy farming, from the middle of 2002 information was gathered from ten dairy farms already using suckling systems in calf rearing. This was done with in-depth interviews and farm visits. The main aim of this exercise was to construct a framework for future research activities.

Following this, detailed information was collected on four farms where suckling systems were being introduced. Between late 2002 and 2006, farmers’ experiences and technical results were systematically monitored. Small–scale, on-farm experiments were carried out to support system development.

In 2004, an on-farm experiment was initiated in which three different calf rearing methods (suckling, bucket feeding with respectively tank milk and milk replacer) were compared. Out of the four farms being monitored, three participated in this trial. The rearing systems were evaluated in terms of liveweight development and animal health status.

Monitoring
The monitoring period yielded a wide range of practical results and experiences. The following parts of the article will highlight the most important practical issues: choice of suckling system; housing requirements; weaning methods; animal health; calf development; weaning; rearing cost and herd dynamics. All of these determine the direction in which suckling systems at individual farms develop.

Introduction of a suckling system as an alternative calf rearing method affects many aspects of animal keeping at a dairy farm. Important criteria for successful implementation are farm set-up and farmers’ attitude. Not all individual farms offer the right set-up and conditions to introduce a suckling system. On the other hand, not every farmer is capable of successfully implementing a suckling system.

Suckling systems require different management inputs from farmers and additional observation skills. Farmers partly hand over the care of their calves to the cows and, by doing so, they have to accept a different level of control over an important part of farm operations. Suckling systems make better use of the growing potential of calves between birth and weaning. This youth growth is based on a ration of milk and is compatible with feeding strategies on extensive conventional and organic farms. Suckling systems do not always easily comply with existing rules and regulations regarding animal health and food safety. If there are no indications that animal health or food safety are at risk, there is no reason not to opt for a suckling system.

Trial
Up to weaning (90 days), suckling calves had a higher growth rate compared to calves that had been bucket fed on tank or milk replacer. Average liveweight at weaning was 136 kg, 101 kg and 95 kg (suckling, bucket fed tank milk and milk replacer respectively). Average pre-weaning growth rate of suckled calves was 1.080 kg per day vs. 0.658 kg per day for bucket fed calves (tank milk) and 0.630 kg per day (artificial milk). Rearing method (P<.001) and farm (P<0.01) had a significant effect on preweaning growth and LW at 90 days (weaning age). Rearing method had no clear significant effect on growth between 90 and 365 days. LW at 365 days, however, did differ significantly between rearing methods.

In conclusion, it may be stated that advantages of suckling systems outweigh the extra costs. If there are no indications that animal health or food safety are at risk, there is no reason not to opt for a suckling system. Suckling systems can be designed in such a way that they fit the farm’s specific conditions and can be tailored to meet the wishes, needs and limitations of a farmer. Still, housing arrangements, optimum length of the suckling period and good weaning practices need further research.

 

Louis Bolk Institute, Department of Animal Production, Driebergen, the Netherlands
Website: www.louisbolk.nl
E-mail: j.wagenaar@louisbolk.nl

 

From Proceedings of the 1st IFOAM International Conference on Animals in Organic Production
© IFOAM, August 2006, posted here with permission.

 

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Posted August 2007