Generational bonding

Pictured are a bonded cow and calf at grass on a crisp morning, taken as part of a study investigating the effect of pasture-based cow-calf contact from birth to weaning, measured by looking at dairy cow and calf health, welfare, production and labour. 

This study was part of wider research addressing a growing need to look into how cow-calf contact could be incorporated into current systems to improve animal welfare, while remaining practical and feasible for farmers. 

Photo and description by: Alison Sinnott, PhD student, Teagasc Moorepark

Teagasc project: Cowtact