JLZK2ZNS

3509

26 avril 2021 08:44

26 avril 2021 08:44

Cow-Calf-Contact is practiced on more and more dairy farms in Germany. It is characterized by the fact that calves are not separated from their mother immediately after birth, and they also have physical contact to an adult cow. Little was known about the individual im-plementation and marketing of farmers who are practicing this rearing system. The project investigated the potential of cow-calf-contact systems as an animal-friendly and sustainable system for the marketing of milk and beef. For this purpose, 60 German dairy farms were surveyed, which have established a cow-calf-contact system. In addition, surveys were car-ried out along the value chain of milk and beef (dairies, fattening farms, retailers). The par-ticipators were asked about their knowledge of the cow-calf-contact systems and their point of view regarding marketing opportunities. In addition, 120 consumers filled out a question-naire. There, the focus was on their opinion about cow-calf-contact systems as well as their interest in food from this type of husbandry. Cow-calf contact is practiced almost exclusively on organic dairy farms. The main motivation of farmers is to improve animal welfare and their work situation. The system is not uniform. For example, on half of the farms the calves have contact to their own mother and on the other farms the calves have contact to foster cows. Meat products from cow-calf-contact systems were mostly not labelled as such by farmers. Only six of the 60 respondents used the option of labelling milk and dairy products. Nevertheless, a majority of farmers welcome labelling. The practice of cow-calf contact is known to many actors in the value chain. However, rather small dairies plan to market such products. Until now, fattening farms see no economic advantage in collaboration with dairy farmers who raise their calves with contact to a cow. The few retailers we surveyed are generally open for marketing products from cow-calf-contact systems, and half of the con-sumers we surveyed were aware of the early separation of cow and calf. In particular, wom-en and costumers of organic food markets reject this practice. It is expected that in future products from cow-calf-contact systems will be more common in supermarkets. Smaller companies will start the marketing. Since many actors are currently developing their own criteria and labels, communication will not be uniform. However, it is expected that neutral labelling will be used without referring to the term “mother”.

None

• AB - Utile à l'AB
• FREDO mode élevage, bien-être et qualité
• FREDO production et filière
• FREDO qualité des produits
• FREDO santé animale
• GEO Allemagne
• label
• lait
• viande
• élevage

2021

1 janvier 2021