The TransformDairyNet project promotes farming systems where calves stay with their mothers for months, rather than being separated shortly after birth, as is common in traditional dairy farming. Cow-calf contact (CCC) has the potential to improve animal welfare and health. It is a project funded by the EU with 26 veterinary and dairy farming partners, including the FVE, in 14 countries.
Webinar on cow-calf-contact systems
Earlier this month, FVE hosted a webinar on behalf of TransformDairyNet, with a focus on veterinary insights into cow-calf-contact dairy systems, with contributions from Siobhan Mullan (University College Dublin), Ulrike Sorge (Bavarian Animal Health Services) and Willam McCarthy (Galloway Vets). Missed it? Recordings are available here.
Survey about CCC: deadline 31 October
TransformDairyNet is now running a survey on cow-calf contact systems, and your experience is greatly valued. The survey is open in ten languages (EN, DA, ET, FR, DE, EL, IT, NO, RO, SV) — find yours and have your say! The survey is open until 31 October 2025.
Please share your experience
Input from the survey will help shape practical best-practice guidelines, farmer-led living labs to tackle real challenges, recommendations for advisors, researchers & policymakers and tools for those starting with CCC. Whether you already have experience with CCC, have just started to explore it, or have doubts about it, your perspective matters.
(Photo ©Levke Hanneman/Pixabay)