Haltung, Gesundheit und gegenseitiges Besaugen von Kälbern auf biologischen Betrieben in Österreich

The aim of this project was to collect data about housing and health of dairy calves and the occurrence of cross-sucking in organic dairy farms. A questionnaire was sent to 300 organic dairy cow farms in Lower Austria. 99 questionnaires were returned (33%). On average the farms kept 15 cows, nearly half of them in tie-stalls and half loose-housed. 52 farms declared to keep calves group-housed from the first or the second week of life (lw), 14 farms kept their calves always in single pens. 23 farms weaned calves before lw 12, starting with lw5. Cross-sucking in calves occurred on 62 farms, intersucking in cows on 26 farms. Cross-sucking in calves was observed on less farms with single housed calves compared to farms with group-housed calves, according to expectations. But early group housing (start at latest on second week) did not differ from later group housing (lw 3 – 8). Also, diseases were not associated with type of housing. In sum, there is need for further advancement and advice to improve calf housing and welfare