There is no doubt a lot of farmers will continue feeding whole milk this year rather than replacer, but is it worth going a step further and leaving calves at foot?

The average base price for milk across the co-ops at 3.3% protein and 3.6% fat is currently sitting at 34.3c/L including VAT.

That means a lot of farmer will not bother feeding milk replacer to calves and continue to feed whole milk.

But if that is the case, should farmers be leaving calves with maternal cows to drink from the source?

Calf at foot

It is standard routine on the majority of Irish dairy farms to separate cows and calves after birth.

There is a number of reasons for doing this, despite the scrutiny it may be subject to.

Calf welfare is a big one; we've all seen aggressive cows go to puck and kick their new-borns, with farmers having to step in and save them.

Separating the pair also reduces the risk of disease exposure, whether it is unseen mastitis or something more sinister such as Johne's.

By separating the calf, farmers can also promote sufficient colostrum intake to ensure the calf can build a healthy immune system and thrive, which is not always possible when at foot.

Early separation has always being considered as a more welfare-positive experience for the pair as it prevents the formation of the maternal bond between cow and calf.

The practice also allows for easier management of the cow within the herd, maintaining her welfare too.

But despite all of this, in recent years, some farmers have gone back to leaving calves at foot.

These farmers are experiencing less labour and increased growth pre-weaning, all while keeping the natural aspect of keeping calves at foot.

So if a farm was to ever try the practice, now may be the time while milk prices are bottomed out.

Studies

Teagasc previously carried out a study on the matter, with 54 cow-calf pairs balanced across three systems, full-time access, part-time access, and no access (control).

Following the trial, the researchers found that 26% of the calves left at foot full-time had to be removed from the system due to illness.

They also noted that calves left at foot, either full-time or part-time required more antibiotic treatment than the calves without access to their dam, as faecal and eye issues were more common in these groups.

The researches noted that labour at calving was higher when separating the pair, however calves that were left with the dam ended up requiring more labour in the long-run.

Milk production was also found to be lower throughout the year even after weaning.

Is it worth it?

The research suggests it is not worth it, as production levels drop, welfare costs rise, and no real labour is saved.

However, on the ground at farm level, some farmers are finding success in the method.

And considering every farm is different, it may be worth trying the practice with a small cohort of calves, progressing further if you find success.

Farmers who are considering taking up the practice should speak to a farm that already has the system in place to see how it is going and get advice.

If you do try it, disease management will need to be a lot stricter, a keen eye must be kept on the pair to ensure the calf does not get hurt by the cow, and colostrum intake must be managed.

Any farmers who do try it must also be very aware of their own health and safety, as the dam may become overly protective.

Finally, weaning must be done at a slow and steady pace, given the pair a week to 10 days to full separate.