CalfComfort: Nurturing positive welfare in calves

Projektleitung an der Vetmeduni

Rault, Jean-Loup

Geldgeber

The Research Council of Norway

Laufzeit

06.01.2022 - 30.04.2026

Abstract

Animal welfare is at the forefront of societal and scientific considerations in Europe. Traditionally the emphasis of legislation was to alleviate animal suffering, but today’s Animal Welfare Act states that the welfare of animals should be good. The CalfComfort project focuses on an important knowledge gap related to better understanding and assessment of animal welfare, namely on indicators of positive welfare. The project aims to improve dairy calf welfare by developing positive welfare indicators of good health and fulfilled behavioral needs. A controlled clinical trial will compare three management groups (each n = 24): Calf-cow-contact (housed with their dams until 8 weeks of age), conventional enriched (ad libitum milk, group pen from day 10) and conventional barren (restricted milk feeding, group pen from week 4). A prospective cohort study will be performed to investigate the levels of passive immunity in calves sufficient for protection against diseases under Norwegian conditions. We will also conduct a questionnaire among Norwegian dairy farmers to identify motivation and barriers to improve rearing conditions for dairy calves. The project will identify behavioural indicators of positive welfare (WP2), and evaluate and validate selected biomarkers as indicators of positive welfare in the short and the long run (WP3). The effect of prolonged maternal contact for the development of calf gut and rumen microbiome will be investigated (WP4) and be linked to the onset of rumination. We will document ad libitum intakes of colostrum on calf growth and health, and assess the transfer of immunoglobulins and associated health effects (WP5). Finally, farmers’ motivation for improving rearing conditions, and what they regard as barriers, will be identified and practical tools to document positive calf welfare on-farm will be developed (WP6). New insights into the assessment of positive welfare may have significant implications for our understanding of animal welfare.Prof. Jean-Loup from the Vetmeduni-ITT will assist with physiological analysis.