Publikationsdatenbank

Factors associated with calf mortality and poor growth of dairy heifer calves in northeast Germany (2020)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Tautenhahn, A. (WE 18)

Merle, R. (WE 16)

Müller, K. E. (WE 18)

Quelle

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

Bandzählung: 184

Seiten: 105154

ISSN: 0167-5877

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587720308382

DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105154

Pubmed: 33069140

Kontakt

Institut für Veterinär-Epidemiologie und Biometrie

Königsweg 67
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 56034
epi@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

A cross-sectional study was conducted on fifty German dairy farms to identify risk factors for high mortality and poor growth in calves. Between 2012 and 2014, farm visits took place and a questionnaire on farm management practices was completed by in-person interview. In addition, heart girth measurements of calves around weaning were performed to estimate average daily weight gain. Furthermore, blood and faecel samples of calves were collected and a score addressing calf welfare was determined. The epidemiological associations between risk factors and high mortality and poor growth were estimated using two regression models. The factors significantly associated with high calf mortality (> 5%) were a high rate of calves with failure of passive transfer (> 25%) and the metaphylactic use of halofuginone lactate. A small amount of concentrates consumed around weaning, relocating calves more than twice until weaning and a low incidence risk of milk fever (< 5%) were found to be significantly associated with poor growth (median: 675 grams). Although the fifty farms cannot be considered as a representative sample for North-East Germany, the results indicate that the farm management has a big impact on growth and survival of dairy calves and needs to be addressed more thoroughly when raising the future dairy cow.