Publikationsdatenbank

Risk factors for omphalitis in neonatal dairy calves (2024)

Art

Vortrag

Autoren

Meier, Kim Kristin (WE 18)

Stock, Annegret (WE 18)

Merle, Roswitha (WE 16)

Arndt, Heidi

Dachrodt, Linda

Hoedemaker, Martina

Kellermann, Laura

Knubben-Schweizer, Gabriela

Volkmann, Maria

Müller, Kerstin-Elisabeth (WE 18)

Forschungsprojekt

PraeRi: Tiergesundheit, Hygiene und Biosicherheit in deutschen Milchviehbetrieben – eine Prävalenzstudie

Kongress

XXIII Middle European Buiatrics Congress

Brno, Czech Republic, 23. – 27.04.2024

Quelle

XXIII Middle European Buiatrics Congress : proceedings book — University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Association for Buiatrics, Facultas Medicinae Veterinariae (Hrsg.)

1st. Auflage

Brünn: University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, 2024 — S. 10

ISBN: 978-80-7305-956-9

Sprache

Englisch

Kontakt

Nutztierklinik

Königsweg 65
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62261
klauentierklinik@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Background: Omphalitis presents one of the most common neonatal diseases in dairy calves. As the well-being of calves with omphalitis and related diseases is impaired, the omphalitis prevalence should be decreased by systematically diminishing potential risk factors. Umbilical infections are marginally investigated but come more and more into focus of scientific research. Therefore, the specific search for evidence-based risk factors was the aim of this study in order to provide practical guidance for dairy farmers to improve umbilical health.

Methods: As part of a cross-sectional study in Germany (2016 to 2019) 3,445 dairy calves (age 5 to 21 days) from 567 farms were clinically examined on a single farm visit with special regard to the umbilicus. While information regarding calving management was obtained via interviewing farmers, rearing conditions (e.g., hygiene) and mothers of the calves (e.g., BCS) were rated visually. Multifactorial statistical analyses confirmed potential risk factors for omphalitis, which were individually put into models with all possible confounders. OR (logistic regression, animal level) or IRR (generalized linear regression, farm level) incl. 95% CI were calculated for the respective risk factor.

Results: On animal level, the median omphalitis prevalence for calves was 30.9%. Per dairy farm every fourth calf exhibited signs of omphalitis (farm level, median: 25.0%, interquartile range: 0.0% - 50.0%). Identified risk factors for omphalitis included the dampness of the lying area in the first two weeks of life, a body condition score of the dam around calving outside the target range (depending on breed) and the general period of time calves spent with the dam after calving. Calves from farms with predominantly dry lying areas in the first two weeks of life were 23.0% less at risk compared to calves from farms with predominantly damp lying areas (p = 0.001, IRR = 0.77, 95 % CI: 0.66- 0.9). When the dams were judged under- or over-conditioned after calving, their offspring had a 1.4-times higher omphalitis risk, respectively, compared to calves from normally conditioned dams (p = 0.026). Calves on farms that separated the calf from the dam beyond 12 hours after birth had 0.75-times the risk for omphalitis compared to calves from farms that performed immediate separation (p = 0.185). Other management decisions (e.g., use of navel disinfection (p = 0.202), offered amount of first colostrum (p =0.653)) did not reveal a statistically significant impact on the omphalitis prevalence.

Conclusions: The dampness of the lying area in the first two weeks of life, the BCS of the dam after calving and the general period of time calves spent with the dam after calving were proven to be risk factors for omphalitis in dairy calves. The results deliver practical guidance for farmers for potential approaches to enhance umbilical health.