Innovative Weaning Strategies for Cattle to Improve Calf Welfare and Performance

Abstract

Weaning in cattle is a crucial stage of production management because it directly affects the health, performance, and welfare of calves. Traditional methods such as abrupt weaning are often used because they are practical and straightforward. However, they cause physiological stress in including increased cortisol levels, behavioral stress such as excessive vocalization and pacing, and decreased feed intake, which can lead to immune disorders and an increased risk of respiratory disease. This study aims to review the scientific literature on various cattle weaning methods, compare their advantages and disadvantages, and identify management innovations to reduce stress and improve production sustainability. The study was conducted using a systematic review approach of peer-reviewed articles. The survey results show that sudden weaning increases stress and disease risk, while fence-line weaning reduces vocalization and increases feed intake. Two-step nose flaps provide a smoother transition with minimal stress, creep feeding prepares calves with supplemental feed, thereby reducing weight loss, and gradual separation allows for better adaptation despite requiring more complex management. Recent innovations include more comfortable biodegradable nose flaps, precision feeding systems for cost efficiency, and sensor-based digital technology and automatic gates for gradual separation. Biodegradable nose flaps help reduce stress by allowing calves to interact with their mothers without suckling, facilitating a smoother transition to independence without excessive vocalization. The precision feeding system will enable calves to become accustomed to supplemental feed before weaning, maintain stable nutritional intake, reduce weight loss, and improve growth performance. Meanwhile, sensor-based digital technology and automatic gates support gradual separation by monitoring calf behavior in real time, enabling management to adjust the separation process based on individual conditions. This approach minimizes stress from environmental changes and separation from the mother, accelerates feed intake, maintains immunity, and improves calf performance post-weaning. In conclusion, alternative methods have proven more welfare-friendly than sudden weaning, and integrating technological innovations could improve the sustainability of weaning practices. Future research should evaluate the long-term impact on calf health and productivity, develop smart-farming integration for real-time stress monitoring, and conduct cost-benefit analyses across various business scales to support sustainable weaning practices that promote animal welfare.