A preliminary study on the feasibility of two different cow-calf contact systems in a pasture-based, seasonal calving dairy system: effects on cow production and health

•Three pasture-based systems (two cow-calf contact and one no-contact) were compared.•Cow-based parameters of milk production, health, and udders were investigated.•Saleable milk yield was lower in cow-calf contact systems during the contact period.•After separation, saleable milk yield did not recover for the rest of the lactation.•Cow-calf contact systems did not appear to affect cow health or mastitis risk. Internationally, consumer dissatisfaction with cow-calf separation at birth has led to increased interest in alternative calf−rearing methods, specifically cow-calf contact (CCC) systems. The objectives of this preliminary study were to estimate whether CCC could be incorporated into an Irish spring-calving, pasture-based system, and to investigate the effects on cow milk production and health. Three systems were compared: the conventional Irish system (CONV;18 cows), cow and calf were separated < 1 h postbirth, cows were pasture-based and milked twice-a-day; a full-time access system (FT;14 cows), cow and calf were allowed constant, unrestricted access, were pasture-based, and cows were milked twice-a-day; and a part-time access system (PT;18 cows), cow and calf had unrestricted access when indoors at night, cows grazed outdoors by day while calves remained indoors, and cows were milked once-a-day in the morning. Cows were blocked and balanced across the three systems by previous lactation machine milk yield (MMY), BW, and body condition score (BCS). Following an 8-week CCC period, all calves were weaned (FT and PT underwent a 7-d gradual weaning and separation process) and all cows were milked twice-a-day. Cow MMY was recorded daily and milk composition was recorded weekly; milk data were analysed from weeks 1 to 8 (CCC period), weeks 9 to 35 (post-CCC period), and weeks 1 to 35 (cumulative lactation). Cow BW and BCS were taken weekly for weeks 1–12, and at the end of the lactation. During the CCC period, all systems differed (P