"We had to learn by trial and error": Perceptions and attitudes of committed adopters of dam-calf contact in the USA and Canada.

There is limited research in North America on alternative rearing systems that allow calves to remain with their dams for extended periods of time, despite cow-calf separation being largely unsupported by the public. While some farms have decided to transition to dam-calf contact from conventional calf-rearing, what motivated these producers to adopt and retain this practice on their operation is unknown. To explore how committed adopters of dam-calf rearing approach this practice, researchers interviewed producers from 12 dairy farms (10 in the USA, 2 in Canada) who rear calves in dam-calf contact systems. A total of 18 individuals participated (2 participants per farm on 6 of the farms), including farm owners, co-owners, and herd managers. Half of the participants were aged 41-60, with 11 men and 7 women. The farms averaged 70 ± 55 lactating cows (range: 23-200). Interviews followed a semi-structured format, addressing reasons for adopting dam-calf contact, perceived advantages and challenges, and views on this system's place in dairy farming. Conversations were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. Four core themes emerged: animal health and productivity, animal behavior and emotions, farm-level considerations, and the outside world (i.e., influences beyond the farm gates). Participants felt that calf growth and health, as well as rates of mastitis, had improved. They also discussed the emotional bond between cows and calves, alongside herd dynamics and human-animal relationships. Ethical values and job satisfaction influenced participant decision-making as it related to dam-calf contact. Labor shifted in the tasks to be performed but not all farms reported saving time. Farmers believed major changes to the farm's operations and economic model were necessary to compensate the loss in saleable milk. Participants also reflected on peer and public perceptions of dam-calf contact, and compared this system to other calf-rearing methods. They experienced challenges during implementation, for example with adapting infrastructures or developing a low-stress weaning method. All farmers now viewed dam-calf rearing positively and expressed a strong commitment to continuing the practice, with some indicating they would stop dairy farming rather than return to early separation of calves from their dams. Results from this study highlight that producers who have retained dam-calf contact on their dairy farms believe it is a sustainable practice within the dairy industry, and highlighted areas for future research such as low stress weaning. Moreover, the producers felt as though resources, such as peer-learning, would benefit those who wish to adopt dam-calf contact.