Context

In modern dairy farming, the cow and calf are separated, typically within the first 24h after birth. The primary reason for this practice is that it allows cows to enter the milking herd and maximises the amount of milk available for sale. In addition, it is generally thought early cow-calf separation reduces exposure of young calves to disease carried by adult cows and that separating cows from calves makes handling the two groups of animals easier. Commercial practice and research has shown that this early separation, before a strong bond has formed, is less traumatic for both cow and calf than separation after a few days. However, there is growing concern about this early separation of cow and calf amongst the public across the world. A number of scientific studies have shown that the public find early calf separation problematic. In addition, there has been a great deal of media attention questioning the practice and highlighting alternatives. In addition, there is also a major issue about the how to deal with the male dairy-bred calves produced. It is not widely known that when there is no market for these calves, they may be culled shortly after birth. These practices represent a major reputational risk for the dairy industry. Rainton Farm, in Galloway, runs a innovative system which addresses both these issues: calves are kept with cows for 5 months after birth and the male calves are reared on the farm for beef. The products are largely sold into a market at a premium. Demand for ethically-produced products is experiencing substantial market growth, which suggests that Scottish dairy farmers could be benefiting.