Dairy farms are increasingly criticised for separating cow and calf within hours after birth. This early separation (ES) has negative effects on animal welfare, as it prevents cow and calf to perform parts of their natural behaviour. Some farmers use cow-calf contact (CCC) systems allowing cow and calf to stay together for a prolonged period of time. However, there is limited knowledge about the impact of CCC on the welfare of cows on farms. Therefore, in this study, we compared the welfare of 50 dairy cow herds in Austria across the two rearing systems (25 CCC farms, herd size: 10 – 82 cows and 25 ES farms 13 – 63 cow). We assessed cow welfare using the Welfare Quality® protocol (WQP). Different types of CCC systems were included (dam-calf contact, foster cow system; with whole-day or part-time contact). Due to non-normality of most variables, we conducted a Mann-Whitney-U test for metric variables and a Pearson Chi Square Test for the categorical variable dehorning. We used linear regression models for social behaviour and integument alterations to control for the confounding variable horn status. More cows on ES farms were moderately lame compared to CCC farms (p=0.01), and cows were less often disbudded on CCC farms leading to a higher score in the criterion ’absence of pain induced by management decisions’ (p = 0.006). Further, CCC farms had higher scores in the principle ’Appropriate behaviour’ (p = <0.001) based on the criterion score ”expression of other behaviours” (p = <0.001), reflecting longer access to pasture both per day and year. No differences between rearing systems were found for any other measure, criterion, or principle score or in the overall classification. Our results suggest a limited beneficial effect on the welfare of cows on CCC farms with differences primarily related to management factors rather than CCC per se. This may reflect that (i) housing conditions of cows in CCC farms are similar to those of ES cows, (ii) CCC cows still only had a limited amount of time with their calves (in dam-calf contact systems) or that only a small proportion of cows had contact (in foster cow systems) and (iii) cow-calf interactions were not assessed. Further studies are needed using welfare assessment protocols adapted to the specific conditions of CCC systems, including adjusted recording schedules and the inclusion of more positive welfare indicators, as well as comparisons between different CCC system types.

Dairy farming systems adopting prolonged cow–calf contact (CCC; where calves can suckle a cow (their dam or a foster cow) for all, or a substantial part, of the milk-feeding period) are gaining attention due to growing concerns about animal welfare, ethical considerations, and better alignment with societal values. However, CCC systems can be managed in various ways, including continuous (whole-day) or scheduled part-time contact, full or partial physical contact, and dam or foster-cow rearing. The CCC management practices can impact cow and calf welfare, performance and societal perceptions differently. This systematic review synthesises findings from 60 studies across five continents, comparing the effects of CCC systems on animal welfare, performance, and economics, as well as examining how dairy stakeholders perceive CCC. Peer-reviewed, published articles, written in English, directly comparing the effects of CCC systems in which calf and dam, or foster cow, are kept together for at least two weeks post-partum on one or more of the aforementioned four fields on either dairy cattle or water buffalo were eligible for inclusion. No single CCC management emerged as consistently superior in terms of animal welfare, but for many aspects of CCC the research is scarse. Maternal motivation to access calves appeared unaffected by daily contact duration, but reduced contact reduced the quantity of maternal care in terms of nursing and grooming, which may pose a welfare challenge. Behavioural responses to weaning and separation appeared more influenced by separation management and calves’ nutritional dependence than by daily contact duration. Regarding performance, suckling compared to CCC without suckling commonly conferred an early growth advantage that typically diminished later in rearing, consistent with compensatory growth. For cows, CCC reduced machine-harvested milk because milk was redirected to calves; part-time management often increased milk available from machine milking after no-contact periods, but incomplete milk ejection remained a challenge. Economic comparisons between CCC regimens were not found. Evidence on stakeholders’ perceptions showed strong public preference for systems avoiding early separation and substantial willingness-to-pay for CCC products in some contexts, whereas farmers reported both intrinsic motivation and practical challenges, notably separation distress, housing and space limitations, and reduced saleable milk. Despite the growing body of literature on CCC, comparisons of dam vs. foster-cow rearing are scarse, few studies directly compared various CCC systems with dams, and methodological inconsistencies limit generalisability. Overall, CCC can support key aspects of natural maternal behaviour and calf development, but outcomes are context-dependent and affects milk harvest, and practical challenges for implementation exists. Future work should prioritise controlled, longitudinal and economically informed comparisons across various CCC systems, supported by standardised reporting to improve reproducibility and synthesis.

Early separation (ES) of cow and calf in dairy farming is a contested topic from an animal welfare point of view. Moreover, farmers often face severe challenges with regards to their work satisfaction and well-being. Both animal welfare and social aspects are crucial for sustainable farming but often play a minor role in sustainability assessments. Fifty-seven cow-calf contact (CCC) and 57 ES farmers from 25 CCC and 25 ES farms, all family-run, filled in a questionnaire on work satisfaction and load as well as personal well-being on a 5-, 7-, or 11-point Likert scale. The items of the questionnaire were grouped into 9 factors based on a principal component analysis, and linear mixed models were calculated to determine potential differences in the factors between rearing systems. Rearing system was associated with work satisfaction and personal well-being depending on the number of calves. Whereas "Professional satisfaction" and "Personal well-being" decreased with increasing number of calves in CCC farmers, there was no such association for ES farmers. However, on farms with a lower number of calves, "Personal well-being" was higher in CCC farmers. In addition, CCC farmers, independent of number of calves, "disliked negative contact with cows" more, a factor that also correlated with higher "Workplace satisfaction" and lower "Perceived workload." Independent of rearing system, a lower number of calves or cows, having an agricultural education, and less experience in working with cattle positively influenced different aspects of work satisfaction and "Personal well-being," and having grown up on a farm was associated with a reduced "Perceived workload." The amount of holiday did not influence any of the factors. Across rearing systems, farmers in our sample reported high work satisfaction and personal well-being. Whereas CCC farming may partly contribute to a higher social sustainability, rearing system-independent factors seem to largely influence farmer well-being.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1610084.].

Telomere length (i.e., the length of the repeated sequences of DNA at the end of chromosomes) is a promising indicator of overall stress. Our study aimed to compare the effects of a stress-inducing separation process between dams and their calves, with either a gradual or a nose-flap separation method after a three-months dam-calf contact since calving, on relative telomere length (RTL). Due to their nature, the nose-flap and gradual separation method have different effects on behaviour, stress hormone levels and physical development during and after dam-calf separation, which requires an overall measure of the weaning and separation stress during both procedures. We also investigated correlations between behavioural and other physiological stress indicators on RTL. We found no significant effect of the weaning and separation method on RTL in dairy calves after weaning and separation from their dams, but a tendency for shorter RTL in gradually separated dams compared to nose-flap separated dams. No correlations between behavioural and other physiological stress indicators and RTL were found, which may be due to a short interval between the two RTL measurement points. Future studies should aim to analyse the effect of various separation methods over a longer period and preferably include a non-separation group as reference.

Scratching and stroking are tactile interactions used to improve the animal-human relationship and reduce stress in pigs. Both interactions resemble behaviours from the behavioural repertoire of pigs and have been applied in previous studies. To investigate the relative efficacy of these tactile interactions in eliciting positive emotions, we examined pigs' preferences for one of these interactions. Twelve recently inseminated gilts habituated to human contact were trained to discriminate between two handlers standing in two different locations in their home pen. One handler was providing stroking, the other one scratching. After 5 weeks of training, the pigs were tested for their preference. According to the preference index calculated based on the time the pigs spent being stroked and scratched, they did not significantly prefer one type of contact (p = 0.182, preference index median = 0.09, with -1 indicating an absolute preference for stroking and 1 an absolute preference for scratching). There was no significant difference between how often the pigs chose to approach the scratching or the stroking handler (p = 0.115, median scratching = 3.0, median stroking = 1.5), and neither did they approach one of them significantly earlier than the other (day 1: p = 0.126, median of difference between latency to approach scratching handler and latency to approach stroking handler = -55 s; day 2: p = 0.148, median of difference between latencies = -27 s). We did not find evidence for a general preference of one type of contact over the other. To improve the animal-human relationship, it might thus be most efficient to offer both types of tactile contact and adjust the contact depending on the pig's behaviour indicative of enjoyment.

Early separation (ES) of cow and calf in dairy farming is increasingly questioned due to implications on animal welfare. The aim of this study was to compare the welfare of animals on commercial dairy farms with cow-calf contact (CCC) or ES using a comprehensive welfare assessment protocol. We hypothesized that the welfare of calves and heifers on CCC farms is better than the welfare of those on ES farms. Fifty Austrian dairy farms, 25 practicing CCC and 25 ES, were visited. The Welfare Quality® (WQ) Protocol for dairy calves and heifers was used to assess animal welfare. The two rearing systems were compared using a t-test for qualitative behavior assessment (QBA) scores, a Mann-Whitney U Test for quantitative behavioral indicators, prevalences of clinical scoring, management parameters, and Criterion and Principle scores, and a Fisher Exact Test for dichotomous variables (occurrence yes/no) and overall classification. CCC calves and heifers scored higher in QBA (calves: p < 0.001, heifers: p = 0.022). CCC calves showed a lower frequency of non-nutritive oral behaviors (p = 0.038). Both CCC calves and heifers had more space (calves and heifers: p < 0.001), were less often disbudded (calves: p = 0.032, heifers: p = 0.020) and had more access to pasture (p < 0.001). Fewer CCC farms had calves with lesions (p = 0.049) and heifers with overgrown claws (p = 0.017). Accordingly, rearing systems differed in Criterion and Principle scores. Both CCC calves (p = 0.011) and heifers (p = 0.043) scored higher in "Appropriate Behavior" and calves scored higher in "Good housing" (p = 0.001). CCC farms had a better WQ classification than ES farms (calves: p = 0.022, heifers: p = 0.046) with 20% or 32% of CCC farms reaching "excellent" for calves or heifers compared to 4 or 8%, respectively. The better welfare of CCC animals may be related to contact to cow(s) but also to other management practices that emphasize animals' physical and behavioral needs more. Holistic practices prioritizing animal welfare including CCC systems should be considered in the transition toward more sustainable farming.

A new generation of transformative policies has recently led to conceptual advances that map and evaluate agrifood innovation dynamics that contribute to the fulfillment of a societal mission within clearly defined time frames. In the context of the “European Green Deal”, national policies are being implemented with varying levels of government ambition and rigor, which is not yet reflected in these concepts. This article provides a framework and a methodology to help multi- and transdisciplinary teams to operationalize the transformation of an agrifood innovation system (AIS) into a mission-oriented agrifood innovation system (MAIS) in the absence of clear policy goals and objectives, i.e., where policymakers do not provide for the development of a mission. Within the safe space of a transdisciplinary research project, researchers and practitioners aim to understand where to start a sustainability transformation by examining subsectoral, transformative and directable drivers of change (DoC) in Austrian beef and dairy. To gather and integrate knowledge from different scientific and societal perspectives on how to transform this specific subsector, they established and facilitated a policy-independent, transdisciplinary mission arena. Besides context-specific results related to Austrian beef and dairy supply, we discuss the contribution of our transdisciplinary research to identify transformative and directable DoC as leverage points for transforming an AIS into a MAIS. Moreover, we explore the potentials, challenges and limitations of a policy-independent, transdisciplinary mission arena to provide orientation in the absence of national sustainability goals and objectives. Our conclusion includes a brief outlook for further research.

Research on the welfare of pet guinea pigs and connections between their behaviour and husbandry practices is scarce. Through an online survey among 1181 German-speaking guinea pig caretakers, we investigated husbandry practices (including social composition, housing type, free roaming, enrichment, and feeding), human–animal interactions, and guinea pig behaviour. Most participating caretakers seemed attentive to their animals’ needs and welfare, as shown by the prevalence of self-built enclosures (42.8%) and fenced floor areas (21.1%), with various enrichment and furnishings, and mostly balanced nutrition. Husbandry practices that can negatively impact welfare, such as individual housing and no constant access to hay, were observed for 7.5% and 0.4% of the animals, respectively. Eating and resting next to conspecifics and locomotor play occurred several times per day in 87.6%, 48.1%, and 19.9% of animals, respectively. Biting, running up and down and bar chewing were rare (several times per day in 0.4%, 2.9%, and 0.7% of animals, respectively). We found significant associations of guinea pig behaviour with human–animal interactions and housing conditions. For instance, affiliative behaviour and locomotor play and use of enrichment were more frequently reported in the case of more frequent positive human–animal interactions and food enrichment. Our results provide additional knowledge to support consultations on behaviour and husbandry practices.

Weaning and separation remain among some of the biggest challenges for cow-calf contact systems, making the development of practical and low-stress separation methods mandatory for future success of these systems. This study aimed to compare behavioral and physiological responses of dairy cows to separation from their calves after 3 mo of full-time contact, with either the 2-step method (NF, 2 wks full-time contact while calves wore a nose flap, 1 wk fence-line contact before total separation, n = 18) or by gradual reduction of contact time between cow and calf (GR, 1 wk half day contact, 1 wk morning contact, 1 wk fence-line contact before total separation, n = 18). Vocalizations and searching behavior were observed on 4 d/wk from 1 wk before separation until 1 wk after total separation. During the same period, lying behavior and rumination time was automatically assessed via accelerometers and pressure sensors. Fecal and blood samples were collected twice per week from day -1 until +23 relative to separation start for analysis of fecal cortisol metabolites and the immune response. Milk yield in the parlor was continuously recorded. Statistical analysis was conducted using linear mixed effects models. We found no difference between the 2 separation methods in any of the examined behavioral and physiological response variables. However, a significant increase in vocalizations and searching behavior compared with baseline was present with both methods. Furthermore, there was a transient increase in physiological distress markers and a short-lived retention of milk yield at initiation of treatments, indicating that both methods induced distress for the cows. Descriptively, there were large interindividual differences between cows as well as a different temporal distribution in occurrence of behavioral responses, as GR cows vocalized most frequently during the week with fence-line contact and after total separation from the calf, while NF cows reacted strongest during the 2 wk while calves wore the nose flap. Milk yield was higher in NF than GR cows during the 2 wk while GR calves had time-restricted access to their dams and NF calves were prevented from suckling, but showed no difference afterward. However, similar evening milk yields of GR cows in the weeks with half-day and morning contact, indicated that the weekly reductions in contact time worked in a rather stepwise than gradual manner, which warrants further improvement of the GR method. Taken together, results showed that cows experienced distress during separation with the GR method, when implemented over 3 wk in 3 steps, as well as with the NF method, but differences between individuals were considerable.

Early separation of the calf from the dam, mostly within 24 h after birth, is common for dairy cows, but cow-calf contact (CCC) rearing gets increasing interest from both practice and science. CCC rearing allows calves suckling their dam or foster cows for several weeks after birth. The early social environment can impact the development of social behaviour and personality traits. In this study, we investigated the effect of CCC as compared to early separation and rearing in a calf group during the first three month of life on social traits. Eighteen female Blackand-White-German-Holstein heifers and calves reared in a CCC system (Contact, n = 9) or with early separation and milk from an automated milk feeder (Automat, n = 9) in the first 12 weeks of life were studied after weaning (at least 6 months old) in two situations - in their respective social group and in a sociality test. The spontaneous social behaviour was recorded for 5 h per animal in the home pen via direct observation. The sociality test was performed in a familiar environment and comprised an isolation phase of 5 min followed by a 5 min reinstatement phase. Behaviour during the sociality test was analysed from video recordings. In addition, video material from the calving pens provided insights into the type and quantity of maternal care six Contact animals had received on the 1st and on the 3rd day of their life. Treatments were compared using linear mixed models for observations in the home pen and ANOVA for the sociality test with treatment, group and, partly, their interactions, as well as age and weight as independent variables. Potential associations of maternal contact behaviour with Contact animals' affiliative interactions later in life were analysed by Spearman rank correlations. Contact animals showed more subordinate behaviours in the herd (P = 0.004). In isolation they were vigilant more often (P <0.001) and looked longer towards the exit (P =0.014) than artificially reared animals. However, we found no treatment effect on the frequency and duration of affiliative behaviour, nor animals' latency to re-join their peers during the reinstatement-phase. There was a positive correlation between the amount of maternal contact received in the first days of life and the initiated affiliative (P = 0.043) and received affiliative interactions (P = 0.016) of Contact animals later in life. The results of our pilot study add some evidence in line with earlier findings suggesting that the allowance of maternal contact affects animals' sociality and their social competence, i.e. reacting appropriately in social situations, later in life. In addition, the amount of maternal care seems to affect later affiliative behaviour. However, further research is needed with a larger number of animals and further social situations and challenges.

Virtual fencing (VF) is a modern fencing technology using Global Positioning System-enabled collars which emit acoustic signals and, if the animal does not respond, electric pulses. Studies with cattle indicate successful learning and no distinct negative impact on the animals' behaviours and stress level. However, the number of studies testing VF with goats is relatively small. In this study, we used VF collars to test a VF training protocol recently applied to heifers to assess the development of goats' learning to avoid the electric pulse, their behaviour, and faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) as an indicator for physiological stress in a grazing experiment. Twenty adult 'Blobe' goats with offspring were divided into two groups and assigned to the VF or physical fencing treatment in a cross-over design with two periods of 12 days each. The VF treatment involved a virtual fence at one side of the paddock, to which the goats were gradually introduced over the first 2 days (additional physical fence or posts as visual support). On day eight, the grazing areas were enlarged by shifting the virtual fence and one side of the physical fencing treatment. The experiment lasted 4 h per day. During this time, the following behaviours were recorded via instantaneous scan sampling of all goats every 2 min: grazing, lying, standing, standing vigilant, walking, and running. Additionally, faecal samples were collected once, or twice daily and FCM concentrations were measured. The VF collars delivered the number of acoustic signals and electric pulses and the duration of the acoustic signals. The daily number of acoustic signals and electric pulses of each goat was used to calculate a 'success ratio'. A significant increase in the success ratio and a general decrease in the signal duration indicate the successful association of acoustic signals and electric pulses at the group level. Behavioural analyses revealed no clear influence of the VF treatment except for standing vigilant. Virtually fenced goats stood significantly more vigilant than physically fenced ones. However, free-moving kids could have had an influence. The VF treatment had no significant effect on the FCM concentrations, which decreased significantly over time. In summary, goats showed signs of learning when avoiding receiving electric pulses by responding appropriately to the acoustic signals. A higher occurrence of vigilance behaviour may suggest insecurity, but FCM concentrations did not indicate increased physiological stress. Future research needs to confirm these results and test VF with goats under practical conditions. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The animal Consortium. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

For pet chinchillas, limited data are available on husbandry and the human–animal relationship despite their impact on health, behavior, and welfare. We conducted an online survey with pet chinchilla caretakers (n = 336), targeting husbandry practices, health, behavioral indicators of welfare, and human–chinchilla relationships. We further investigated associations between caretakers’ perceptions of stress in their chinchillas and emotional closeness to their animals. Basic needs such as keeping with conspecifics, constant access to water and hay, or offering dust baths were mostly fulfilled. Potential welfare issues included individual keeping (14.3%), undersized cages/enclosures (reported by 27.6% of the Austrian respondents), and suffering from a disease (14.7%). Behavioral indicators of good welfare, such as playing and cuddling with conspecifics, were observed several times per day by 40.9% and 87.9% of the respondents, respectively. Repetitive and unwanted behaviors were less common (fur biting, for instance, occurred ‘never’ in 82.9%). Caretakers rated their animals as generally more stressed if the animal was ill and more often showed fearful behavior toward them. Caretakers feeling closer to their animals spent more time engaging with them. Correct identification of this kind of association could be used as guidance for recommendations to improve chinchilla welfare at home and in the veterinary setting.

The weaning and separation phase remains one of the biggest challenges for cow-calf contact systems, but a gradual process that better mimics the naturally occurring reduction in milk intake has not yet been scientifically investigated. Therefore, the aim of our study was to compare behavioral and physiological indicators of distress in 3-mo-old dam-reared dairy calves (with previous full-time cow-calf contact) weaned and separated either via gradual reduction of contact time with the dam (GR; 1 wk of half-day contact, 1 wk of morning contact, and 1 wk of fence-line contact before complete separation, n = 18) or via 2-step weaning using a nose flap (NF, 2 wk of access to the dam with a nose flap, 1 wk of fence-line contact before complete separation, n = 18). Behavior was recorded 1 wk before (or for lying 3 wk before) weaning start and during the 3 wk weaning and separation period with direct observations on 4 d/wk or via accelerometers (locomotor play, lying behavior). Blood and fecal samples were taken twice per week from weaning start until 3 wk after weaning start. Calves were weighed weekly. Statistical analysis was conducted using (generalized) linear mixed models. Over the whole weaning and separation phase, NF calves showed a stronger decrease in the number of lying bouts, amount of locomotor play, and ADG, as well as a higher increase in TMR feeding time compared with GR calves, whereas GR calves vocalized more often and showed more searching behavior than NF calves. Also, the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio of NF calves was elevated on d 3 after insertion of the nose flaps compared with baseline, but showed no change for GR calves on any sampling day. Overall, results point toward a favorable effect of a gradual weaning strategy on reduction of weaning and separation distress in dam-reared dairy calves, but the method requires further improvement from the protocol used in our study.

Although originally developed for weaning of beef calves, nose flaps are also used on dairy farms nowadays to wean calves which are reared with contact to their dam or a foster cow. These calves are often weaned younger than beef calves and the time they wear nose flaps is highly variable, since it is unknown for how long younger calves need to wear the nose flap in order to induce an effective weaning. The aim of our study was therefore to track changes in dam-contact initiated by dairy calves after insertion of a nose flap in order to determine the minimum duration a nose flap needs to be worn to effectively reduce suckling motivation of calves. The study was conducted in two sequential experiments using 3-month-old dairy calves that were reared with full-time dam contact. Calves were weaned with a nose flap over either 14 (experiment I, 9 calves in herd A and 9 calves in herd B) or 7 days (experiment II, 11 calves in herd A and 12 calves in herd B) before they were fence-line separated from their dams. The total time a calf spent within the cow herd (TIC) per day was determined from continuous video recordings during 7 days before nose flap insertion (baseline), as well as during the 7 or 14 days in which calves had free access to the cow area while wearing the nose flap. Statistical analysis was conducted using linear mixed effects models. Results from both experiments showed that calves reduced their TIC at the fourth day of wearing the nose flap compared to their individual baseline (p=0.03 =0.03 and p=0.001 =0.001 respectively). In experiment I, calves showed a further numerical reduction in TIC from day 4 to day 5, while in experiment II, calves showed no further reduction in TIC after the 4 days of wearing the nose flap. After these 4 or 5 days respectively, TIC of calves in both experiments stayed at a constant low level of several hours per day. Taken together, these results indicate that in 3-month-old dairy calves it needs at least 4 days until the motivation to spend time with the cow decreases after insertion of a nose flap, while there seems to be no further decrease in motivation when using a nose flap longer than this time. However, results were subject to considerable inter-individual variability already during the baseline week and need replication in a pasture-based setting with less space-restrictions.

In recent years, injection of clove oil was investigated as potential alternative to the use of a hot iron for disbudding due to its cytotoxic and anaesthetic properties. Isoeugenol, the isomer of the main component of clove oil, is available as a pure substance and has some advantages as compared to clove oil, but its effects were studied rarely. In this paper we investigated behaviour, heart rate, heart rate variability and surface temperature around the horn bud of 40 calves in four treatments (N = 10/treatment): injection under each horn bud of 1.5ml clove oil (CLOV), isoeugenol (ISO) or saline (CON), or hot-iron disbudding (BURN) with local anaesthesia and sedation. Behaviour, heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) as well as surface temperature around the horn buds were measured before and at different time points after the treatment up to 7 days post treatment; behaviour was also observed during the treatment. Behavioural observations were performed real-time or per video recording. HR and HRV were analysed during undisturbed lying periods and post-treatment changes relative to baseline were calculated. The maximum surface temperature in the region around each of the two horn buds was used for further analysis. LMM, ANOVA or, for behaviour during treatment, non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. There was a treatment*time point interaction (LMM, p<0.05) for behaviours associated with pain (ear flicking, head shaking, head scratching) as well as for self-grooming. HR or HRV changes from baseline did not differ between treatments, but sample size was strongly reduced due to lack of data. The development of the maximum surface temperature around the horn buds differed clearly between treatments. Our findings suggest that the injection of clove oil and especially isoeugenol causes less pain compared to the use of a hot iron without analgesia, but more pain compared to the injection of saline solution.

This Scientific Opinion addresses a European Commission request on the welfare of calves as part of the Farm to Fork strategy. EFSA was asked to provide a description of common husbandry systems and related welfare consequences, as well as measures to prevent or mitigate the hazards leading to them. In addition, recommendations on three specific issues were requested: welfare of calves reared for white veal (space, group housing, requirements of iron and fibre); risk of limited cow-calf contact; and animal-based measures (ABMs) to monitor on-farm welfare in slaughterhouses. The methodology developed by EFSA to address similar requests was followed. Fifteen highly relevant welfare consequences were identified, with respiratory disorders, inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour, gastroenteric disorders and group stress being the most frequent across husbandry systems. Recommendations to improve the welfare of calves include increasing space allowance, keeping calves in stable groups from an early age, ensuring good colostrum management and increasing the amounts of milk fed to dairy calves. In addition, calves should be provided with deformable lying surfaces, water via an open surface and long-cut roughage in racks. Regarding specific recommendations for veal systems, calves should be kept in small groups (2-7 animals) within the first week of life, provided with similar to 20 m(2)/calf and fed on average 1 kg neutral detergent fibre (NDF) per day, preferably using long-cut hay. Recommendations on cow-calf contact include keeping the calf with the dam for a minimum of 1 day post-partum. Longer contact should progressively be implemented, but research is needed to guide this implementation in practice. The ABMs body condition, carcass condemnations, abomasal lesions, lung lesions, carcass colour and bursa swelling may be collected in slaughterhouses to monitor on-farm welfare but should be complemented with behavioural ABMs collected on farm. (c) 2023 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.

Measurement of fecal cortisol metabolites (FGCM) is a well-established, noninvasive method to assess stress in adult dairy cattle. However, this procedure has not yet been validated for unweaned dairy calves, and it can be expected that the milk proportion of the diet may influence the resulting FGCM concentrations. The aim of this study was therefore to assess whether a peak in FGCM concentrations in response to a stressor can be measured in unweaned dairy calves on a largely milk-based diet. If so, further objectives were to examine whether maximum FGCM concentrations, as well as the time lag until they are reached, are comparable to the values in the same calves on a solid-based diet after weaning. For this study, 5 German Holstein calves of about 3 mo of age (93 to 102 d preweaning) were exposed to a 45 min transport stressor once before and once after weaning, which was 3 wk apart. All voided fecal samples were collected for 24 h after termination of the transport. Fecal cortisol metabolites were analyzed with an 11-oxoetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay and changes in FGCM concentrations relative to the individual baseline (FGCMrel) were calculated. Results showed a clear peak in FGCM concentrations on both diet types. The peak FGCMrel concentrations tended to be higher when the calves were on the preweaning diet (at peak: +233 ± 25% increase relative to baseline) in comparison to the postweaning diet (+124 ± 23%). Considering the whole 24 h sampling period, the FGCMrel concentrations for all calves were significantly higher on the preweaning diet than on the postweaning diet. There was also a numerical difference in the delay between occurrence of the stressor and appearance of the peak FGCMrel concentrations in feces, as the time lag was 1.5 ± 1.2 h longer when the calves were on the preweaning diet compared with the postweaning diet. In conclusion, our results suggest that FGCM concentrations are a useful stress marker for unweaned dairy calves in the same way they are for older cattle, but that FGCMrel concentrations tend to be higher in unweaned than in weaned calves and are thus not directly comparable.

Regular welfare monitoring throughout rearing of pullets may help to identify problems early and take counteractions timely, which helps in guaranteeing good welfare. The aims of our observational study were (i) to establish and test a welfare monitoring system that can be used during (short) routine veterinary and technical staff visits for pullet flocks, (ii) to use the monitoring system to investigate variability between flocks and (iii) to analyse factors that potentially affect pullets' body weight, uniformity in body weight and mortality. The developed monitoring system tries to minimise the time required while not losing important information. Age-specific recording sheets comprise animal-based indicators of welfare and relevant environmental factors (housing, management, care) to allow for identifying causes of problems and targeted action. Finally, the system was implemented in a cross-sectional study and data collected in 100 flocks (67 organic, 33 conventional) on 28 rearing farms in Austria. Linear mixed models were used to identify factors influencing body weight, uniformity and mortality, both including all flocks (A) and only organic flocks (O) and a linear regression model with all flocks to investigate associations within animal-based indicators. High variability was found between flocks in animal-based indicators. Body weight was higher when the pre-rearing period was shorter (p ≤ 0.001, A&O), with higher intensities of light (p = 0.012, O), with only one compared to more stockpersons (p ≤ 0.007, A&O), with a higher number of flock visits per day (p ≤ 0.018, A&O), and a lower avoidance distance (p = 0.034, A). Body weight uniformity increased, with age and decreased with the duration of the light period (p = 0.046, A), and, amongst others, was higher on organic farms (farming type; p = 0.041). The latter may reflect a more uniform level of welfare due to a lower stocking density and lowered effects of social competition. Within organic flocks mortality was lower if pullets had access to a covered veranda (p = 0.025) resulting in an overall lower stocking density inside the barn, while in the model including all farms mortality was higher in cases where a disease had been diagnosed. We conclude that our monitoring system can easily be implemented in regular veterinary and technical staff visits, but could also be used by the farmers'. Several easy-to-record animal-based indicators of animal welfare could be analysed more frequently to increase early detection of problems. Implementation of such a routine-based monitoring system with easy-to-assess animal-based parameters and input measures can contribute to better animal health and welfare in pullets.