Management factors related to calf morbidity and mortality rates

Pérez, E.; Noordhuizen, J.P.T.M.; Wuijkhuise, L.A van; Stassen, E.N.

doi:10.1016/0301-6226(90)90043-6

Cited by 63 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The prevalence of diarrhoea was highest in the second week of age. In a previous Dutch study, the cumulative incidence of diarrhoea in calves between 1 and 21 days was estimated to be 24.0% (Perez et al, 1990) with the peak incidence of diarrhoea being within the first 2 weeks. In a Canadian study, the rate of diarrhoea between birth and weaning was estimated to be 20% (Waltner-Toews et al, 1986b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Prevalence, prediction and risk factors of enteropathogens in normal and non-normal faeces of young Dutch dairy calves

Bartels

Holzhauer

Jorritsma

et al. 2010

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

210

175

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Between January and April 2007, 424 calves under 22 days of age from 108 Dutch dairy herds were sampled to estimate the prevalence of non-normal faeces ('custard-like'-yellowish-coloured with custard consistency or diarrhoea: watery-like faeces) and the shedding of enteropathogens Escherichia coli K99 (E. coli), Coronavirus, Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), Rotavirus and Clostridium perfringens (Cl. perfringens). In addition, information was collected on animal characteristics and herd-management practices. The probability of detecting each one of five enteropathogens given a calf with 'custard-like' faeces or diarrhoea was estimated using Bayes' rule and was based on the predicted probabilities from a multinominal model including each of five enteropathogens as independent variables. In addition, putative risk factors for the presence of each of five enteropathogens were analysed using logistic regression models with random herd effects. Fifty-seven percent of calves had faeces of normal colour (brownish) and consistency (firm), 23.8% (95%CI: 19.8-28.2%) had 'custard-like' faeces and 19.1% (95%CI: 15.5-23.2%) had diarrhoea. E. coli was the least detected enteropathogen (2.6% (95%CI: 1.3-4.6%) of calves, 9% (95%CI: 5-16%) of herds) and Cl. perfringens was most detected (54.0% (95%CI: 49.1-58.8%) of calves, 85% (95%CI: 77-91%) of herds). E. coli and Coronavirus were detected incidentally in only one or two calves per herd, whereas C. parvum and Cl. perfringens were frequently detected in up to four calves per herd. For calves with 'custard-like' faeces, the probability of detecting Rotavirus from a calf in its first week of age was 0.31 whereas for a calf in its second week, there was a 0.66 probability of detecting C. parvum. The probabilities of detecting E. coli, Rotavirus and C. parvum in calves with diarrhoea in their first week of age were 0.10, 0.20 and 0.43, respectively. In calves with diarrhoea between 1 and 2 weeks of age, the probability of detecting enteropathogens was 0.43 for C. parvum. None of the tested enteropathogens were related to 'custard-like' faeces or diarrhoea in the third week of age. Putative risk factors for E. coli, Coronavirus and C. parvum included the presence of peer-calves shedding Coronavirus, C. parvum or Rotavirus, respectively. Additionally, managerial risk factors such as non-optimal hygienic housing (for Coronavirus) and the routine use of antibiotics for diarrhoeic calves (for C. parvum) were found. No animal or managerial factors were associated with shedding of Cl. perfringens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Prevalence, prediction and risk factors of enteropathogens in normal and non-normal faeces of young Dutch dairy calves

Bartels

Holzhauer

Jorritsma

et al. 2010

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

210

175

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Similar results were found by [49], who reported that calves kept in group pens with automatic milk feeding had a 2.8 times higher risk of developing respiratory diseases than calves kept in individual pens. Furthermore,[19,37,36]found that group pens represented a higher risk for outbreaks of diarrhoea than did individual housing. A positive effect of group housing was reported by [59] calves in group pens started eating concentrates earlier than calves in individual pens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increased knowledge about their situation is important for offering these animals rearing conditions in which they can maintain good health and adjust to milk production. A link between housing and health during the rearing period has been established by several authors; [19,11,37,36] and [49] found group housing to be a risk factor for disease, while [45] reported conflicting results. Furthermore, it has been shown that heifers suffering from a high incidence of disease as young calves have an increased risk of disease later in life, as well as a higher age at first calving [56].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Housing, Feeding and Management of Calves and Replacement Heifers in Swedish Dairy Herds

2001

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Pettersson K, Svensson C, Liberg P: Housing, feeding and management of calves and Replacement heifers in Swedish dairy herds. Acta vet. scand. 2001, 42, 465-478. -A questionnaire was sent to 1500 randomly selected dairy herds in Sweden, asking for general information about the herds, including routines from birth to first calving and also routines at breeding, calving and during the grazing period. Fifty-eight percent of the questionnaires were returned. The preweaned calves were kept in individual calf pens in 68% and in group housing systems in 28% of the herds. Pens with slatted floors were the main housing system for replacement heifers from weaning to breeding, and tie stalls from breeding to first calving. Whole milk was used in 44% and milk replacements in 42% of the herds. The calves received, as a median, 2.5 litres of milk per meal and 2 meals per day. The median age at weaning was 8 weeks. Age was the single most common criteria used for deciding both weaning and breeding time. The median age when the heifers were first turned out to pasture was 6 months. Prophylactic anthelmintic treatment was used by 65% of the herds. The most common diet for replacement heifers before calving was a combination of grain, hay and silage. colostrum; wearing; rearing; breeding; feed plan; pasture.

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“…Housing has been shown to play an important role in the health of pre-weaned calves [6,7,9,15]. Co-housing pre-weaned calves particularly has been identified as a high risk factor for calf health due to an increased tendency to suckle the ears or teats of fellow calves [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host adapted intramammary infections in pregnant heifers which were co-housed and reared on fresh milk as calves

et al. 2013

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BackgroundHeifers can calve down with intramammary infections (IMI) and udder damage. This will have a negative impact on their longevity, future milk yield and financial return. Co-housed pre-weaned calves that are fed fresh milk have the opportunity to suckle each other’s teats and may infect udders of fellow heifer calves with pathogens present in milk. The prevalence of IMI in pregnant heifers in South Africa (SA) which were co-housed and reared on fresh milk as calves, is not known. Quarter secretion samples from both pregnant heifers (n = 2065) and dry cows (n = 5365) were collected for microbiological analysis from eight SA dairy herds. All heifers tested in this study were co-housed pre-weaning and were fed fresh milk as calves.ResultsThe prevalence of coagulase negative staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, environmental streptococci, coliforms and samples with no bacterial growth in heifers was 26%, 0.9%, 0.08%, 1.4%, 0.4% and 66%, respectively. The overall prevalence ratio between heifers and cows for Staphylococcus aureus IMI was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.98). Four of the individual herds had prevalence ratios of less than one (p < 0.05), one herd had a prevalence ratio of 3.15 (95% CI: 1.52, 6.32), and the remaining 3 herds had a prevalence ratio not significantly different from 1.0. Marginally significant differences were found between Staphylococcus aureus IMI in pregnant heifers compared to cows in their second and later lactations (p = 0.06, p = 0.05, respectively) but no significant differences between heifers and cows in their first lactation.ConclusionsThe presence of Streptococcus agalactiae IMI in heifers came as a surprise, especially as herd infection rates were low. The high prevalence ratio of Staphylococcus aureus between heifers and cows in one herd warrants further investigation due to the potential danger of udder damage in a young cow at the start of her productive life. The IMI in heifers with host adapted pathogens can also act as a source of new IMI for lactating dairy cows.

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Management factors related to calf morbidity and mortality rates

Cited by 63 publications

References 13 publications

Prevalence, prediction and risk factors of enteropathogens in normal and non-normal faeces of young Dutch dairy calves

Prevalence, prediction and risk factors of enteropathogens in normal and non-normal faeces of young Dutch dairy calves

Housing, Feeding and Management of Calves and Replacement Heifers in Swedish Dairy Herds

Host adapted intramammary infections in pregnant heifers which were co-housed and reared on fresh milk as calves

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