The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) sets out the standards used for the welfare of dairy cattle in South Africa. However, these standards are not mandatory or enforced, thus implementation is inconsistent across farms, potentially hindering widespread improvements in calf welfare. Additionally, only a fraction of dairy farms in South Africa choose to take part in yearly audits that are performed by the Dairy Standards Agency (DSA) of MilkSA, the national dairy producer regulator. Global research highlights best practices for optimizing calf welfare but limited region-specific data exists on how South African farmers implement and perceive calf welfare standards. Certain problem areas are known, including promoting the standard use of anti-inflammatory drugs during painful procedures (e.g. disbudding and castration), the use of teats rather than buckets when feeding calves ensuring that their need to suckle is met, and the adoption of twin/group calf housing.

If the knowledge gap surrounding dairy calf welfare standards in South Africa were to be addressed, it would enable farmers of the dairy industry, retailers, animal welfare organizations, and policymakers to develop more effective welfare policies. Possible approaches could include establishing legally defined minimum standards, similar to those seen in other countries, or adopting private certification initiatives to promote the best welfare practices. Strengthening welfare regulations in this way would enhance consumer confidence, as there is growing awareness and concern for farm animal welfare in both local and global markets.

This study aims to evaluate the current state of dairy calf welfare in the Western Cape of South Africa. The research seeks to identify key management practices, assess compliance with current SABS welfare standards, and explore areas for improvement to enhance calf well-being within the dairy industry.