This production system was easy to manage, preferred by the farmer, and …

• Abstract
• Background
• Case presentation
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• Miscellaneous
• References

Weight gain and health in a dairy herd performing natural suckling up to 6–8 weeks of age revealed an mean weight gain of 1.2 kg/d for calves up to 13 weeks of age, and absence of illness in calves, young stock and growing bulls. The production system allows natural behaviour as suckling and play, and may satisfy the public concern regarding immediate separation of cow and calf in commercial milk production. Furthermore, the farmer found it easy to manage and preferable to conventional production.