Dairy Farms Separate Calves from Cows After Birth

The issue was raised by Fernando Fonseca, a producer from Buritis in Minas Gerais, and addressed by animal scientist Guilherme Marquez in an interview with Giro do Boi. The practice involves moving the newborn directly to a pen or an individual calf facility rather than leaving it with the cow.

Marquez described early separation as a standard biosafety and survival protocol in dairy production. He said animal welfare on large farms requires productive cows to remain healthy, free from stress and supplied with their biological needs.

His explanation also referred to breeding history. High-yield dairy breeds, including Holsteins and Jerseys, have been strongly selected for milk production and are less suited to maternal care than beef breeds, according to Marquez. This can leave a cow less able to manage a newborn during its first hours.

A calf left in a pasture with its mother may face exposure to weather, accidental trampling, contamination of the navel and inadequate intake of colostrum, the specialist said. These risks occur during a period when the newborn depends on precise sanitary management.

Separating the calf allows the farm to apply its health and immunisation procedures in a controlled setting. Colostrum is provided during the critical early period, followed by individual milk feeding in a clean environment. After weaning, the female calves are moved into social paddocks.

Marquez said the system protects the cow’s health, supports the calf’s survival and lowers mortality during the initial stage of life. He also linked the approach to the creation of future high-production breeding animals and described it as part of sustainable dairy farming.