My Experience in the Ethical Dairy, a Cow–Calf Contact (CCC) Farm in Scotland

During the past weeks, I had the unique opportunity to spend time on a Cow–Calf Contact (CCC) dairy farm in Scotland, an experience that has deeply enriched my understanding of animal welfare, sustainable dairy farming, and the practical challenges and benefits of keeping cows and calves together.

Over the last four years, I have focused my research on animal welfare, especially the welfare of dairy cows. Since I was young, I have always wanted to experience living on a dairy farm and become actively involved with its daily activities. Through this experience, I finally had the chance to gain a view of what sustainable dairy farming truly looks like in practice.

Coming from Greece, where such systems are not implemented, I was eager to experience this alternative and ethical approach to dairy farming. The ‘TransformDairyNet’ project allowed me to gain hands-on experience and gather valuable insights that could contribute to the development of our pilot CCC farm in Greece, as part of our Living Lab.

During my stay, I observed how CCC systems promote natural behaviour and improve animal welfare. At the same time, I learned in depth how a dairy farm operates, from management practices to the daily activities required to make such systems function.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Charles, the dairy manager, also known as ‘The Ethical Herdsman’, for his warm welcome and for being my guide throughout this journey. He generously shared his knowledge, experience, and practical insights, helping me understand both the philosophy behind and the everyday realities of running a CCC system.

Special thanks also to all the people on the farm who made me feel welcome and part of the team. Their kindness and willingness to share their daily routines and experiences made this learning experience even more meaningful and enjoyable.

I am also deeply grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Evangelia N. Sossidou, for providing me with this opportunity and encouraging me to explore innovative approaches to dairy sustainability through the ‘TransformDairyNet’ project. Her continuous guidance and support have been invaluable.

Overall, this experience strengthened my belief that the future of dairy farming must combine productivity with compassion. This collaboration showed that through knowledge exchange across countries, we can move towards more ethical and sustainable dairy systems.

Chrysa Adamakopoulou

Chrysa is an animal welfare researcher and the national facilitator for the TransformDairyNet project in Greece. 

TransformDairyNet aims to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the European dairy sector by creating a collaborative network to compile, co-create, and share practical knowledge and innovations in Cow-Calf Contact (CCC) systems across Europe. The project involves 26 partners across Europe, including farmers, researchers, and industry experts, and it focuses on:

  • Driving dairy innovation through Living Labs in National Practice Hubs, fostering new ideas and testing sustainability solutions.
  • Accelerating the adoption of CCC systems by mobilising a European Multi-Actor Network to address farmer needs and bridge knowledge gaps.
  • Building capacity for long-term impact by collaborating with EU FarmBook and ensuring future-ready CCC knowledge sharing.
  • Modernising the sector by combining science and practice to deliver validated best practices for CCC systems.
  • Amplifying impact with digital tools and harmonised farmer resources to promote CCC systems widely.

The project also aims to inspire transformation in other agricultural practices, addressing citizen demand for sustainable farming methods like regenerative agriculture and zero-carbon systems.