Stakeholders opinion and perception on feasibility of Cow-Calf Contact on Italian dairy farms

Animal welfare and environmental sustainability have been priorities in the EU, leading to initiatives like Green Deal and End the Cage Age. Calves being separated from dams early after birth is a concern, yet EU cow-calf contact (CCC) legislation is lacking. Several countries promote CCC systems, but there are still gaps in scientific knowledge and no gold standard, thus traditional farmers prefer their own methods. This study assessed Italian stakeholders’ views on CCC as alternative to early separation. One-hundred stakeholders participated in a questionnaire-based survey to assess CCC opportunity and feasibility, the primary factors driving changes, and the business investments that they could support. Participants were 38.9±15.9 years old veterinarians, farmers, students, technicians/agronomists and others. Social aspects and technology were perceived as the main drivers of possible changes, scoring respectively 4.1±1.7 and 3.8±1.6 on a 0 (min) to 6 (max) scale, while product quality, sustainability, economy, and animal welfare received less importance. On a 0-5 scale CCC systems were rated 2.7±1.7 for opportunity and 2.2±1.5 for feasibility. Farmers perceived them as less feasible (1.27) than students (2.94), with intermediate values for veterinarians and technicians (p=0.001). Higher milk prices (3.8±1.2) and market demands (3.6±1.2) can drive the increase in ethical factors, while feeding and watering (3.8±1.1), structures and housing (3.7±1.2), and environmental control (3.6±1.3) were considered as suitable intervention areas to enhance ethical value of products. As potential investments, only providing extra space was supported by more than half of farmers (65%), followed by the adoption of selection gates (42%) and new housing layout (38%). Results show that stakeholders participating in the survey prioritize social concerns but also consider economic issues in the feasibility of CCC, although targeting their investments for welfare improvements. To ensure the applicability of CCC, it is critical to establish a common ground in which stakeholders can engage. CCC practices in Italy should be examined to build a roadmap that considers stakeholders and consumers’ needs.