{"id":171,"date":"2023-11-02T14:44:14","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T13:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/veaux\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T22:12:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T21:12:19","slug":"","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/en\/dossiers\/veaux\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving from current practices to keeping calves with their mothers","raw":"Moving from current practices to keeping calves with their mothers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Download Study on dairy calves 2025<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking a stand for dairy calves in terms of animal welfare and environmental impacts, as part of a LESS and BETTER approach<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This bibliographic study, rich in references, is easy to consult <\/strong>thanks to its table of contents. The main findings are highlighted or in bold. It provides some update on animal welfare (summer 2025) and reports on the controversies surrounding environmental impacts. It discusses research and pioneering initiatives in France and Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it possible that absurdities such as iron restriction and unnatural feeding of calves can still be accepted and imposed?<\/strong> And that more than 1.5 million European calves are transported across borders (and treated with antibiotics)? And for most of them, the only setting for their short lives will be a small pen shared with a few equally miserable fellow creatures, a slatted floor and a bucket to (more or less) satisfy their hunger twice a day by drinking industrial milk replacer. This is the work of the veal industry. If the discourse around \u2018One Health\u2019 and \u2018One Welfare\u2019 were taken seriously, all this would have ended long ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calves born to dairy cows, which have to be milked, are separated from their mothers within hours or days after their birth. <\/strong>This has \u2018always\u2019 been the case, but the general public is largely unaware of it. Yet it is not insignificant. Our human species shares the biology of the maternal bond of mammals with dairy cows. More and more consumers are clear about one thing: the separation has a considerable impact on both the cow and the calf and poses a moral problem.<\/strong> A newborn calf is not like an apple that falls from a tree and can be picked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few pioneering farmers no longer want to separate calves from their mothers<\/strong>. They are developing new systems (as many different systems as there are farms). Scientists in many countries are also studying these solutions. The European project https:\/\/transformdairynet.eu\/<\/strong><\/a> offers hope; it promises concrete results and changes to be rolled out over the coming years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is high time to provide clear and massive societal support and proactive and effective public financial support<\/strong> in order to rescue dairy calves from their distress and to build and ensure the economic viability of a new dairy system<\/strong> that no longer separates calves from their mothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also a question of putting grazing back at the heart of the sustainability of the cattle industry<\/strong> for all categories of cattle, without exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A previous text (2021, updated 2023) discusses the same principles, but details the potential of the Common Agricultural Policy to improve the welfare of dairy calves:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download: A plea for CAP aid to enhance the welfare of dairy calves<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n

Download Study on dairy calves 2025<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking a stand for dairy calves in terms of animal welfare and environmental impacts, as part of a LESS and BETTER approach<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This bibliographic study, rich in references, is easy to consult <\/strong>thanks to its table of contents. The main findings are highlighted or in bold. It provides some update on animal welfare (summer 2025) and reports on the controversies surrounding environmental impacts. It discusses research and pioneering initiatives in France and Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it possible that absurdities such as iron restriction and unnatural feeding of calves can still be accepted and imposed?<\/strong> And that more than 1.5 million European calves are transported across borders (and treated with antibiotics)? And for most of them, the only setting for their short lives will be a small pen shared with a few equally miserable fellow creatures, a slatted floor and a bucket to (more or less) satisfy their hunger twice a day by drinking industrial milk replacer. This is the work of the veal industry. If the discourse around \u2018One Health\u2019 and \u2018One Welfare\u2019 were taken seriously, all this would have ended long ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calves born to dairy cows, which have to be milked, are separated from their mothers within hours or days after their birth. <\/strong>This has \u2018always\u2019 been the case, but the general public is largely unaware of it. Yet it is not insignificant. Our human species shares the biology of the maternal bond of mammals with dairy cows. More and more consumers are clear about one thing: the separation has a considerable impact on both the cow and the calf and poses a moral problem.<\/strong> A newborn calf is not like an apple that falls from a tree and can be picked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few pioneering farmers no longer want to separate calves from their mothers<\/strong>. They are developing new systems (as many different systems as there are farms). Scientists in many countries are also studying these solutions. The European project https:\/\/transformdairynet.eu\/<\/strong><\/a> offers hope; it promises concrete results and changes to be rolled out over the coming years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is high time to provide clear and massive societal support and proactive and effective public financial support<\/strong> in order to rescue dairy calves from their distress and to build and ensure the economic viability of a new dairy system<\/strong> that no longer separates calves from their mothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also a question of putting grazing back at the heart of the sustainability of the cattle industry<\/strong> for all categories of cattle, without exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A previous text (2021, updated 2023) discusses the same principles, but details the potential of the Common Agricultural Policy to improve the welfare of dairy calves:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download: A plea for CAP aid to enhance the welfare of dairy calves<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false,"raw":""},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":163,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_fr_post_content":"\n

Des pratiques actuelles au maintien des veaux aupr\u00e8s de leur m\u00e8re<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T\u00e9l\u00e9charger l'Etude sur les veaux laitiers<\/strong> :<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prendre position pour les veaux laitiers au vu du bien-\u00eatre animal et des impacts environnementaux, dans le cadre d'une approche MOINS et MIEUX<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cette \u00e9tude bibliographique, enrichie de rencontres, est facilement consultable par sa table des mati\u00e8res. Les principaux constats sont encadr\u00e9s ou en gras. Elle propose une mise \u00e0 jour (\u00e9t\u00e9 2025) sur le bien-\u00eatre animal et relate les controverses sur les impacts environnementaux. Elle discute des travaux de recherche et des d\u00e9marches pionni\u00e8res en France et en Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comment est-ce possible que des absurdit\u00e9s comme la restriction en fer et une alimentation contre nature des veaux puissent encore \u00eatre admises et impos\u00e9es ?<\/strong> Et que plus de 1,5 millions de petits veaux europ\u00e9ens soient transport\u00e9s \u00e0 travers des fronti\u00e8res (et trait\u00e9s aux antibiotiques) ? Et la majorit\u00e9 d'eux aura comme seul cadre de sa courte vie une petite case partag\u00e9e avec quelques cong\u00e9n\u00e8res tout aussi mis\u00e9rables, un sol en caillebotis et un seau pour calmer (plus ou moins) la faim deux fois par jour en buvant un lactoremplaceur industriel. Voil\u00e0 l\u2019\u0153uvre de la fili\u00e8re dite vitellerie. Si les discours autour du \"One health\" et \"One welfare\" \u00e9taient tant soit peu s\u00e9rieux, tout cela serait termin\u00e9 depuis longtemps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les veaux des vaches laiti\u00e8res, qui doivent \u00eatre traites, sont s\u00e9par\u00e9s de leur m\u00e8re dans les premi\u00e8res heures ou jours apr\u00e8s leur naissance. <\/strong>Cela s'est \"toujours\" fait ainsi, mais le grand public l'ignore tr\u00e8s largement. Pourtant ce n'est pas anodin. Notre esp\u00e8ce humaine partage la biologie du lien maternel des mammif\u00e8res avec la vache laiti\u00e8re. De plus en plus de consommateurs ne s'y trompent pas : la s\u00e9paration a des impacts consid\u00e9rables sur la vache et le veau et pose un probl\u00e8me moral. Le veau qui na\u00eet n\u2019est pas assimilable \u00e0 une pomme qui tombe de l\u2019arbre et qui peut \u00eatre ramass\u00e9e.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quelques \u00e9leveurs pionniers ne veulent plus enlever les veaux \u00e0 leur m\u00e8re<\/strong>. Ils d\u00e9veloppent de nouveaux syst\u00e8mes (autant de syst\u00e8mes diff\u00e9rents qu'il y a de fermes). Aussi, des scientifiques dans de nombreux pays \u00e9tudient ces solutions. Le projet europ\u00e9en https:\/\/transformdairynet.eu\/<\/strong><\/a> donne de l'espoir; il promet des r\u00e9sultats et des changements concrets \u00e0 diffuser pour les prochaines ann\u00e9es. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Il est grand temps d'accorder un soutien soci\u00e9tal clair et massif et un soutien financier public volontariste et efficace afin de sortir les veaux laitiers de leur d\u00e9tresse et de construire et d'assurer la viabilit\u00e9 \u00e9conomique d'un nouveau syst\u00e8me laitier, qui n'enl\u00e8ve plus son veau \u00e0 la m\u00e8re<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Il s'agit aussi de replacer le p\u00e2turage pour toutes les cat\u00e9gories de bovins, <\/strong>sans exception, au c\u0153ur de la durabilit\u00e9 des fili\u00e8res bovines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Un texte pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent (2021, mise \u00e0 jour 2023) parle des m\u00eames principes, mais d\u00e9taille le potentiel de la Politique Agricole Commune pour am\u00e9liorer le bien-\u00eatre des veaux laitiers :<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Des aides pour am\u00e9liorer le bien-\u00eatre des veaux laitiers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","_fr_post_name":"veaux","_fr_post_excerpt":"","_fr_post_title":"Sortir les veaux laitiers de leur d\u00e9tresse","_en_post_content":"\n

Download Study on dairy calves 2025<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking a stand for dairy calves in terms of animal welfare and environmental impacts, as part of a LESS and BETTER approach<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This bibliographic study, rich in references, is easy to consult <\/strong>thanks to its table of contents. The main findings are highlighted or in bold. It provides some update on animal welfare (summer 2025) and reports on the controversies surrounding environmental impacts. It discusses research and pioneering initiatives in France and Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it possible that absurdities such as iron restriction and unnatural feeding of calves can still be accepted and imposed?<\/strong> And that more than 1.5 million European calves are transported across borders (and treated with antibiotics)? And for most of them, the only setting for their short lives will be a small pen shared with a few equally miserable fellow creatures, a slatted floor and a bucket to (more or less) satisfy their hunger twice a day by drinking industrial milk replacer. This is the work of the veal industry. If the discourse around \u2018One Health\u2019 and \u2018One Welfare\u2019 were taken seriously, all this would have ended long ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calves born to dairy cows, which have to be milked, are separated from their mothers within hours or days after their birth. <\/strong>This has \u2018always\u2019 been the case, but the general public is largely unaware of it. Yet it is not insignificant. Our human species shares the biology of the maternal bond of mammals with dairy cows. More and more consumers are clear about one thing: the separation has a considerable impact on both the cow and the calf and poses a moral problem.<\/strong> A newborn calf is not like an apple that falls from a tree and can be picked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few pioneering farmers no longer want to separate calves from their mothers<\/strong>. They are developing new systems (as many different systems as there are farms). Scientists in many countries are also studying these solutions. The European project https:\/\/transformdairynet.eu\/<\/strong><\/a> offers hope; it promises concrete results and changes to be rolled out over the coming years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is high time to provide clear and massive societal support and proactive and effective public financial support<\/strong> in order to rescue dairy calves from their distress and to build and ensure the economic viability of a new dairy system<\/strong> that no longer separates calves from their mothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also a question of putting grazing back at the heart of the sustainability of the cattle industry<\/strong> for all categories of cattle, without exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A previous text (2021, updated 2023) discusses the same principles, but details the potential of the Common Agricultural Policy to improve the welfare of dairy calves:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download: A plea for CAP aid to enhance the welfare of dairy calves<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","_en_post_name":"","_en_post_excerpt":"","_en_post_title":"Moving from current practices to keeping calves with their mothers","edit_language":"en","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-171","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":677,"href":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/171\/revisions\/677"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elevage-ethique.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}