Thesis: Removing dairy calves from their mothers at birth is a compassionate management technique that protects the security of the mother and the newborn calf and meets the baby’s essential social and nutritional needs.
Annotated Bibliography
Busch, Gesa, et al. “American and German attitudes towards cow-calf separation on dairy farms.” PloS one 12.3 (2017): e0174013. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0174013.This study explores how the public perceives the practice of separating cows and calves right after delivery, which has drawn attention due to concerns about animal welfare. The study examines the opinions of Americans and Germans on this matter. However, scientific literature provides conflicting findings regarding the practice’s effects, including less acute responses to separation and an increased risk of uterine disease in cows. Based on participant preferences for early or later separation and assessments of related arguments, the study’s quantitative segmentation approach identifies three groups of participant viewpoints. Although a small percentage of people advocate early separation, most participants oppose it. This source offers a distinct viewpoint by concentrating on the opinions of the general people regarding cow-calf separation. It enhances previous articles by illuminating societal perspectives and their potential impact on calf management techniques. This source offers insightful information about the social implications of calf separation practices. It is especially helpful for highlighting the wider ethical issues raised by the subject and backs up the claim that addressing public concerns is essential for more humane management techniques.
Carulla, Patricia, et al. “Welfare implications on management strategies for rearing dairy calves: A systematic review. Part 1–feeding management.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10 2023: 1148823. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1148823/full. It highlights how vulnerable calves are to stress in their formative years and the need to ensure their complete wellness. The management of feeding is recognized as a significant risk factor affecting the welfare and health of calves. With an emphasis on the three areas of animal welfare—biological functioning and health, natural living, and affective states or cognitive judgment—the study used an electronic search tool to comprehensively analyze alternative management techniques for producing dairy calves. The evaluation identifies and classifies literature into two key categories: socialization and eating. From various welfare perspectives, the feeding management group examines particular subjects, including milk substitutes, colostrum, and weaning. Comparison: This source complements previous articles by providing a thorough analysis of feeding management techniques and the resulting effects on welfare. It improves understanding of the broader effects of early calf care by offering in-depth insights into calf nutrition, health, and welfare. Analyzing feeding management practices and their impact on calf welfare in an organized manner, this source is very beneficial for your research paper. The methodical approach and identification of knowledge gaps strengthen the rationale for humane calf-rearing procedures’ significance.
Creutzinger, Katherine, et al. “Perspectives on the management of surplus dairy calves in the United States and Canada.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2021: 344. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8076512/. The authors stress that a fragmented production structure frequently produces poor welfare for surplus dairy calves. They discuss problems brought on by calf management procedures, long-distance travel, and calf marketing. The article suggests addressing issues by improving colostrum supplies, transportation reforms, and adjustments to calf-raising procedures. The authors argue for a comprehensive strategy to enhance calf outcomes and propose that the dairy business needs a thorough change. Comparatively, this source enhances other articles by offering a thorough analysis of feeding management techniques and their implications for animal welfare. It provides in-depth insights into calf nutrition and well-being by delving into certain areas of concern, such as milk substitutes, colostrum, and weaning. Considering that it thoroughly examines feeding management systems and their effects on calf welfare, this source is quite helpful for research papers. The claim that good feeding methods contribute to dairy calves’ general health and well-being is supported by scientific research, which emphasizes the significance of humane management.
Godden, Sandra M., Jason E. Lombard, and Amelia R. Woolums. “Colostrum management for dairy calves.” Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice 35.3 2019: 535–556. https://www.vetfood.theclinics.com/article/S0749-0720(19)30027-1/fulltext. An important factor in determining the health and survival of calves is colostrum management. Due to the agammaglobulinemia condition of newborn calves, the paper highlights the critical need for maternal immunoglobulin (Ig) absorption via colostrum. The most important management strategy for ensuring calf well-being is a prompt and appropriate intake of high-quality colostrum. Until the calf’s immune system reaches maturity, successful passive transfer of maternal Ig during the first 24 hours after birth protects against common illnesses. The advantages go beyond early survival, including decreased culling rates, increased growth rates, delayed age at first calving, higher milk output in first and second lactations, and reduced morbidity and death postweaning. These benefits are credited to vital nutrients, bioactive substances, and protection in foods. This material lends credence to the general idea of the significance of colostrum intake raised in the previous sources. It emphasizes the crucial part colostrum plays in calf health and lists immediate and long-term advantages. This site is extremely useful since it offers verifiable proof of the importance of colostrum management in calf rearing. The study is a significant addition to your research because of the experience of the writers and the emphasis on practical applications. It provides solid evidence to support the claim that removing dairy calves at birth will ensure optimal colostrum consumption, increasing calf health and survival.
Koenneker, Katja, et al. “Comparative assessment of the stress response of cattle to common dairy management practices.” Animals 13.13 2023: 2115. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2115. This study underlines the significance of preserving animal well-being in the dairy business through low-stress animal husbandry approaches. The study intends to evaluate dairy cattle’s stress reaction to common management approaches in recognition of the effect on producers and customers. The study examines the impact of eight typical stimuli on stress hormones and milk production in Holstein-Friesian cattle through a comparative investigation of each one, including milking, veterinary and ultrasound examinations, artificial insemination, embryo transfer, hoof trimming, and natural breeding. The results show considerable differences in serum cortisol levels following different stimuli, with hoof trimming (HT) and natural breeding (NB) producing the most pronounced cortisol increases.
Interestingly, neither the tested stimulus nor the control groups show a significant difference in daily milk output. According to the study’s findings, elements including increased physical activity, social engagement, sexual arousal, and physical restraint have an impact on cattle’s perceptions of controllability and predictability, which in turn affect how they react under stress. The findings imply that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is mildly activated during management procedures within the animals’ regular group and when restrained in a headlock. This source enhances other articles by revealing information about the physiological stress reactions of calves to particular dairy management approaches. It emphasizes the significance of reducing stress for animal well-being and its possible effects on output.
Works Cited
Busch, Gesa, et al. “American and German attitudes towards cow-calf separation on dairy farms.” PloS one 12.3 (2017): e0174013. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0174013
Carulla, Patricia, et al. “Welfare implications on management strategies for rearing dairy calves: A systematic review. Part 1–feeding management.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10 2023: 1148823. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1148823/full
Creutzinger, Katherine, et al. “Perspectives on the management of surplus dairy calves in the United States and Canada.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2021: 344. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8076512/.
Godden, Sandra M., Jason E. Lombard, and Amelia R. Woolums. “Colostrum management for dairy calves.” Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice 35.3 2019: 535–556. https://www.vetfood.theclinics.com/article/S0749-0720(19)30027-1/fulltext
Koenneker, Katja, et al. “Comparative assessment of the stress response of cattle to common dairy management practices.” Animals 13.13 2023: 2115. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/13/2115
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