Challenging Tradition: Moving Beyond Folklore Husbandry in Animal Care

In the world of animal husbandry, tradition often holds a powerful grip. Practices passed down through generations can become entrenched, accepted simply because “it’s how we’ve always done it.” This is known as folklore husbandry—a term used to describe methods adopted out of habit or convenience rather than science, where “falsehood quickly becomes fact.”

Take the common myth about goldfish having a three-second memory. It’s long been debunked, yet it once justified keeping these intelligent creatures in small, featureless bowls—an approach now widely recognized as inappropriate and harmful.

The same pattern appears across animal husbandry. Anecdotal practices, while often rooted in good intentions or practicality, can sometimes overshadow evolving science. The challenge lies in separating what works from what’s merely tradition—and more importantly, understanding why a practice works. Blending best-practice insights with evidence-based research enables us to enhance both animal welfare and productivity.

Many folklore practices persist because they’re simple and time-efficient—two major factors in a fast-paced, cost-sensitive industry. But are these practices delivering the best outcomes? What happens when we look beyond “the way it’s always been done”?

Science has significantly advanced how we manage livestock, from genetics and nutrition to housing design and reduced antibiotic use. These improvements are driven by a deeper understanding of animal health and welfare, and the industry’s growing commitment to ethical, sustainable farming.

Consider the guidance from Bovine Medicine: Diseases and Husbandry, first published in 1991. It suggests that calf scours (diarrhoea) are often due to overfeeding and recommends ceasing milk feeds. It also advises delivering 2 litres of colostrum within 12 hours via bucket feeding. While this may save time, some modern calf-rearers now question its long-term impact.

We now know that feeding from a teat, in a natural upright position, aids the closure of the oesophageal groove, improving digestion and mimicking natural behaviours. This insight doesn’t discredit past advice—it simply builds on it, using science to achieve better outcomes.

Modern research also shows that calves benefit from more milk, not less. They not only have the capacity to drink more, but doing so improves their resilience to enteric diseases and supports healthier growth. Robust gut health and strong early immunity contribute to higher yields in the first lactation—clear evidence that early-life nutrition is an investment, not a cost.

Folklore husbandry served a purpose in its time. But to deliver gold standard care, we must evolve. Reliable information is not static—it’s continually being refined, and as stewards of animal welfare, we have a responsibility to keep learning, questioning, and applying what we discover.

By challenging old norms and embracing evidence-based approaches, we ensure our practices are not only practical, but truly progressive.