What does complete weaning involve for calves?

Complete weaning for calves is primarily about the process of separating them from their mothers in a way that encourages them to become independent and less reliant on maternal care. Moving cows completely out of sight of calves serves to facilitate this weaning process by eliminating the visual and auditory contact that can encourage the calves to continue seeking milk from their mothers. This method minimizes the stress for both calves and cows, as it allows calves to adjust to the absence of their mothers without the temptation to nurse, promoting a smoother transition to a diet consisting entirely of solid food.

The other options imply different approaches to weaning but do not encapsulate the key component of complete weaning. Keeping calves with their mothers would contradict the concept of complete weaning. Gradually reducing milk may be part of a gradual weaning process but does not represent the decisive step of complete separation. Allowing calves to stay with other calves does not address the necessary removal of the cow, which is crucial for complete weaning, focused on fostering independence from maternal dependence.