A Survey of Management Practices That Influence Performance and Welfare of Dairy Calves Reared in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Here we report dairy calf management practices used by 242 smallholder family farmers in the South of Brazil. Data were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire with farmers, inspection of the production environment and an in-depth interview with a sample of 26 farmers. Herds had an average of 22.3 lactating cows and an average milk production of 12.7 L/cow/day. Calves were dehorned in 98% of the farms, with a hot iron in 95%. Male calves were castrated in 71% of the farms; methods were surgery (68%), emasculator (29%), or rubber rings (3%). No pain control was used for these interventions. In 51% of the farms all newborn male calves were reared, sold or donated to others; in 35% all newborn males were killed on the farm. Calves were separated from the dam up to 12 h after birth in 78% of the farms, and left to nurse colostrum from the dam without intervention in 55% of the farms. The typical amount of milk fed to calves was 4 L/day until a median age of 75 days. In 40% of the farms milk was provided in a bucket, in 49% with bottles, and in 11% calves suckled from a cow. Solid feeding in the milk-feeding period started at a median age of 10 days. Calves were housed individually in 70% of the farms; in 81% of the farms calves were housed in indoor pens, in 6% in outdoor hutches and in 13% they were kept on pasture. Diarrhoea was reported as the main cause of calf mortality in 71% of the farms. Farmers kept no records of calf disease, mortality, or use of medicines. Changing the scenario identified in this survey is essential to support the sustainable development of dairy production, an activity of great economic and social relevance for the region.

Evaluation of nutrition models to estimate performance of young dairy calves: a meta-analytical study under tropical conditions

“…Similar to our study, Hotzel et al (2014) reported that most calves were fed with up to 4 l of milk or milk replacer per day, or the equivalent to 10% to 15% of BW. This survey was made from 242 small holder family farms in the South of Brazil.…”

“…In Asia and other tropical countries, inadequate heifer management is a main problem for numerous small holder dairy farms (Moran, 2011). In the South of Brazil, 71% of 242 smallholder families reported that diarrhea was the main cause of calf mortality (Hotzel et al, 2014). Santos and Bittar (2015) reported that in three important milk production regions from Brazil almost 48% of all calves present diarrhea and that 22% have respiratory problems.…”

Early pair housing increases solid feed intake and weight gains in dairy calves

“…Dairy farms often separate calves from their dams within 24 h after birth and then house calves individually (USDA, 2008;Vasseur et al, 2010;Hötzel et al, 2014). Housing milk-fed calves in pairs or groups is increasing in popularity, in part due to the potential of reducing labor requirements per head.…”

South Brazilian farmers’ perceptions concerning sheep tail docking

“…Similarly, other studies have reported that sheep and dairy farmers carried out some management practices as part of well establish traditions, rather than following technical knowledge, and do not recognize the need to justify these practices (MoloNy & KENt, 2007;HötzEl et al, 2014). Because some breed standards require that animals be docked, it is clear that these standards are a hindrance to improve sheep welfare.…”